Prospect Insider - M's sign Angel Salome

M's sign Angel Salome

By Jason A. Churchill

By 04-20-2011

The Seattle Mariners, getting as thin at the Triple-A level as Jay "Bone" Buhner is under his John Deere hat, have signed former Milwaukee Brewers farmhand Angels Salome to a minor league deal, according to numerous reports -- I learned about it via a tweet by Mike Curto who saw a report by Baseball America.

Salome, a catcher, is short in stature at 5-foot-7 but is capable defensively and is not without some abilities at the plate. His numbers in the low minors were very good, both in the power department and in terms of hitting for average and getting base, but a few nagging injuries and the advanced pitching in the upper levels of the minors stunted his development.

He'll likely replace Jose Yepez on the Rainiers' roster and help Josh Bard fill out the week's schedule behind the plate, but he hasn't caught since 2009.

It's not a surprise that Salome would be the choice, as GM Jack Zduriencik was the Scouting Director in Milwaukee when Salome was signed of the Dominican Republic.

If he's 100 percent, Salome may even be a better backup option than Chris Gimenez or Bard, but we're probably a ways off from the 24-year-old showing that is a possibility.

"Last time I saw him catch he showed a lack of urgency, as if he was hurt, but he didn't hit the DL at all that year. I wouldn't expect him to do much."

One other aspect to think about with Salome is the odd nature of his return, or lack thereof, to the organization after the birth of his first child when he told the club he wasn't mentally prepared to come back.

He's also had a major ankle injury and was suspended for 50 games for failing a test for PEDs. The biggest factor here may be Salome's request to be removed from the catcher's position to the outfield last summer. So perhaps he's going to help the outfield depth rather than the catching depth?

I guess we'll see. Maybe Pedro Grifol, the club's player development director, should be on my call list this afternoon.

m\'s-sign-angel-salome

Comments
The following 8 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: rjfrik on 04-20-2011 17:08:36
Speaking of guys who can't hit breaking balls. Brandon Wood was placed on waivers today.

hmm. If I'm the M's why not put a claim on the guy. You never know, maybe he figures it out here. doubt it but its possible

2. By: Adam P. Boyd on 04-20-2011 18:15:13
Interested to hear what Pedro says - if anything.

He is mildly intriguing. Crushed AA as a 22 year old - .974 OPS. Then sort of sputtered and played last year in A+ mostly.

Still young, does not turn 25 until June.

3. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-20-2011 18:35:35
Word is, Salome will catch.

Thanks to a twitter follower who shed some more light on the matter, Salome's suspension apparently stemmed from the medication he was taking. Once off those meds -- to stop failing tests -- his anxiety problems made it difficult for him to catch, thus the request to play elsewhere.

As for Wood -- I don't see the point.

4. By: Adam P. Boyd on 04-20-2011 20:40:31
Speculating based off of the move adding Haveman to the roster - sounds like your word is correct, Jason.

That makes him more interesting. Saw Goldstein said he cannot catch on twitter. Why the conflicting reports on him? Just because of the way he switched positions due to the medical issues?

5. By: Adam P. Boyd on 04-20-2011 20:40:31
Speculating based off of the move adding Haveman to the roster - sounds like your word is correct, Jason.

That makes him more interesting. Saw Goldstein said he cannot catch on twitter. Why the conflicting reports on him? Just because of the way he switched positions due to the medical issues?

6. By: Adam P. Boyd on 04-20-2011 20:42:39
Gross, sorry for the double post.

7. By: Jason A. Churchill on 04-20-2011 22:31:24
Salome isn't a big league regular. It's not that he can't catch, he just can't catch well. But we aren't talking about a prospect. We're talking about a Triple-A player.

8. By: Manatee on 04-26-2011 21:54:32
I've been following Salome since A Adv Florida State League in 2007. The guy is a fantastic hitter. He reminds me of Jimmy Wynn The Toy Cannon. For a short guy he's got power to right-center and a quick bat. He's a streak hitter and when he's hot he's unstoppable. He hit .360 in AA Huntsville and had a "off" year at .286 in AAA Nashville in the Brewers system, then had problems that have been discussed here and elsewhere.

I hope the Mariners give him a chance to succeed - either work with him on his catching or give him some playing time in the outfield. I remember him having some lower back problems during spring training a couple of years ago which may have been a factor in his request to switch to RF.

The Brewers didn't really give him a chance last year - he played just 5 games in the OF and DH'd in the clean-up spot the rest of the season, then they released him in the off-season. He's an exciting player with potential that I would hate to see go to waste.

Hey Angel - you have fans out there who want to see you play.

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