Winter Meetings Recap
A few former Northwoods League players will soon have a change of address. In the blockbuster trade of the 2009 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings both OF Curtis Granderson (Mankato ’01) and RHP Max Scherzer (La Crosse ’04) are on the move.
On Tuesday the New York Yankees acquired Granderson from the Detroit Tigers as part of a three-team trade also involving the Arizona Diamondbacks. Scherzer goes from Arizona to Detroit in the deal.
Granderson is coming off his first all-star appearance as he batted .249 with a career-high 30 home runs. He scored 91 runs and drove in 71 while stealing 20 bases as the everyday centerfielder in his sixth season with the Tigers. He was originally drafted by the Tigers in the third round of the 2002 draft.
Scherzer, in his first full season in the Major Leagues, went 9-11 starting 30 games for the D-Backs. In 170.1 innings he struck out 174 batters, walked 63, and carried a 4.12 ERA. He was Arizona’s first round pick (11th overall) in 2006.
The Tigers also acquired left-handed pitchers Phil Coke and Daniel Schlereth and outfielder Austin Jackson. The Diamondbacks received right-handed pitchers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy.
Rule 5 Draft
The Rule 5 draft happens annually during the Winter Meetings and this year the St. Louis Cardinals acquired a pair of former Rochester Honkers’ left-handed pitchers. In the Major League portion the Cardinals selected Ben Jukich (Rochester ’05-06) from the Cincinnati Reds. For the Cardinals to keep Jukich he will need to spend the entire 2010 season on the Major League roster. If the Cardinals choose not to keep him on the Major League roster, he’ll be offered back to the Reds at half price.
There is also a Minor League segment of the Rule 5 draft. In the Triple-A portion the Cardinals picked up Rochester, MN native Matt Meyer (Rochester ’04-05) who had been with the Cleveland Indians organization.
Jukich pitched for Triple-A Louisville in the International League in 2009. He made 17 starts and 29 total appearances going 9-6 with a 4.10 ERA. He struck out 106 and walked 40. Jukich was 13th round pick by Oakland in 2006. He was sent to the Reds to complete a trade for Chris Denorfia in 2007.
Meyer’s 2009 season was split between Class A, AA, and AAA in the Indians’ farm system. He finished a combined 3-2 with a 5.16 ERA in 44 relief appearances. In 52.1 innings he struck out 48 and walked 30. Cleveland drafted Meyer in the 15th round in 2006.