Angels in agreement with infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez

[John Smith]

Chris Cotillo‏Verified account @ChrisCotillo 9m9 minutes ago

 

 

Source: Angels in agreement with infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez on a minor-league contract. 29-year-old was released by Dodgers in Nov. after strong year at AA.

 

[Stradling]

Nice 

[John Smith]

Chris Cotillo‏Verified account @ChrisCotillo

 

Dodgers signed Fernandez to $200k bonus last January after he fled Cuba in 2015. He hit .306/.366/.498 over 369 PA in AA this year. Reason for release by Dodgers unknown. Will provide depth for Halos.

[jsnpritchett]

I find the whole situation surrounding him very strange.  There must be something going on that would have caused the Dodgers to release him.  They had virtually no money invested in him, and he had a good year.  What's the secret?

[Vlad27Trout27]

Ifit's nothing big or related to Peds!!! I doubt we sign him. Since we did, wouldn't mind having him as an depth piece at AAA and he's a lefty.

[Chuck]

1 minute ago, jsnpritchett said:

I find the whole situation surrounding him very strange.  There must be something going on that would have caused the Dodgers to release him.  They had virtually no money invested in him, and he had a good year.  What's the secret?

It will eventually come out.

Maybe he porked Dave Roberts wife? 

[totdprods]

Sounds like his glove isn't all that, but as a lefty with some pop, could see him being a decent AAA insurance policy on Valbuena. He likely replaces Marte on the depth chart too. 

 

 

[Chuck]

I really wanted this guy when he became available.  Great OBP, contact and some pop.

Our 2B when Kinsler departs and INF U this season?

[totdprods]

Where would he slot into the Angelswin Top 30?

[Warfarin]

Solid, low risk move.  I’m guessing he was let go due to a behavior-related issue, but that’s just speculation on my part.  Dodgers had no incentive to release him otherwise.

That said, considering we lacked middle IF depth, this is a great move for us.  He could certainly fill in at 2B if Kinsler gets hurt.  

[Ohtaniland]

[totdprods]

I'm getting a vibe that he has more of a future as a 1B/3B/LF/2B type based on his glovework and age. Still, that fills a need in at least a AAA sense.

I really like the Walsh, Liriano, and Casali signings too. May have a decent AAA team with some of our homegrown prospects finally starting to arrive.

[Docwaukee]

MIF depth. Something we don't really have much of in the minors.  

[Chuck]

I can see the Angels turning him into a Choke Figgins type for this season, possibly a starting role in 2019.

[UndertheHalo]

12 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Where would he slot into the Angelswin Top 30?

He’s 29.  I don’t think AW should be tracking him as a prospect.  This guy is organizational depth. 

Sounds like he might impact the major league club tho.  Which is a good thing.

Edited January 4, 2018 by UndertheHalo

[Angelsfan1984]

Low risk high reward. Still intrigued by why he was released.

[Docwaukee]

1 minute ago, totdprods said:

I'm getting a vibe that he has more of a future as a 1B/3B/LF/2B type based on his glovework and age. Still, that fills a need in at least a AAA sense.

I really like the Walsh, Liriano, and Casali signings too. May have a decent AAA team with some of our homegrown prospects finally starting to arrive.

I wouldn't discount Walsh being the super util guy on the big club.  

[Chuck]

1 minute ago, totdprods said:

I'm getting a vibe that he has more of a future as a 1B/3B/LF/2B type based on his glovework and age. Still, that fills a need in at least a AAA sense.

I really like the Walsh, Liriano, and Casali signings too. May have a decent AAA team with some of our homegrown prospects finally starting to arrive.

I think he's major league ready with the bat. Let's get him,some ST at bats at 1B, 2B, 3B and LF.

[Angel Oracle]

3 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

I can see the Angels turning him into a Choke Figgins type for this season, possibly a starting role in 2019.

LOL, Chuck  

[Second Base]

JMF is very heavy footed. He's athletic but t noticeably moves around in a much more labored manner than he did 2-3 years ago, which is strange because he hasn't been playing much baseball.

Perhaps he was injured while fleeing?

The way I'm looking at this, he'll likely be a utility player in AAA in an attempt to break in with the big league team. I can see him playing 1B, 2B, 3B and LF.

Offensively, he has a ton of pull power, great bat control, great understanding of the strike zone and great instinct for the game.

As I understand, there were rumblings that JMF was unhappy with being placed in AA and being kept there as long as he was. He also wasn't "coachable".

My guess is he got into it with the coaches or minor league coordinators who told them they wouldn't play him the rest of the year and would release him in the offseason.

As far as his status as a prospect, he'll certainly contribute to the major league team at some pint. He's too good of a hitter not to. But without a defensive home, he's basically Grant Green with more plate discipline and less power. 

[Docwaukee]

less power than Grant Green?  So no power whatsoever? 

[Bobster7587]

5 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

less power than Grant Green?  So no power whatsoever? 

Beat me to it. Was going to ask the exact same thing. 

[Chuck]

20 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

less power than Grant Green?  So no power whatsoever? 

He hit 16-17 HR last season in just 300+ at bats, so bad power comp.

His lower half is 5x the size of I always miss leg day Grant Green.

[ukyah]

seems like a good enough dude.

 

[Blarg]

1 hour ago, Chuckster70 said:

I can see the Angels turning him into a Choke Figgins type for this season, possibly a starting role in 2019.

Eppler is going to trade him to the Mariners?