Here is a look at the latest news and notes from around the minor leagues from a fantasy baseball perspective in the week 18 minor league report.
The Los Angeles Angels continue to make over their team as they head down the stretch, this time with an internal move, promoting Triple-A outfielder Peter Bourjos to serve as the new center fielder. The move pushes Juan Rivera to a back up role for the time being. Bourjos was hitting .314 in Triple-A with 13 home runs, 52 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Definitely a player to target in Al and mixed leagues if your team is in need of stolen bases down the stretch. Bourjos hit ninth in the order on Tuesday night going 0-for-3 against the Baltimore Orioles.
The trade of Ted Lilly by the Chicago White Cubs opened a spot in their rotation that Thomas Diamond filled Tuesday night. Diamond fared okay in his first start against the Milwaukee Brewers going six innings, allowing seven hits, three walks and three runs. He did manage to strike out 10 hitters, six by fastball which sat in the 87-90 mph range, three by change up and one on a cutter. He still has a lot of work to do on his control as evidenced by 122 pitches in six innings of work and repeating a level three years in the minor leagues due to control issues. His numbers at Triple-A before the promotion were 5-4 with a 3.16 ERA in 108 1/3 innings with 46 walks and 104 strikeouts. He has some value in NL only leagues although wins are going to hard to come by unless his control suddenly improves, but he should be able to pick up some strikeouts along the way.
Carlos Torres got the start in the second game of the double header for the Chicago White Sox Tuesday and took the loss, allowing five runs in six innings. The start was likely a one-time thing for Torres who will likely be headed back to Triple-A and his 7-7 record with a 3.41 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 129 1/3 innings. It is his second straight year in Triple-A and now at with turning 28 in October, he looks like nothing more than insurance in case a starter gets injured.
One of the players the New York Yankees reportedly would not include in trade talks is catcher Austin Romine, currently playing in Double-A. He is hitting .272 in 334 at bats with seven home runs and 51 RBI. He still has some work to do on controlling the strike zone with 34 walks and 70 strikeouts, but looks poised to be in the mix to start at catcher in 2012.
Also looking to make his debut in 2012 for the Yankees is third basemen Brandon Laird who was just promoted to Triple-A. The younger brother for catcher Gerald Laird, Brandon is hitting .300 on the season with 25 home runs and 94 RBI with two stolen bases.
