MLB TEAMS NOT BUYING PLAYERS, BUT INDEPENDENT VETS STILL PROSPERING

 After a year without a great many games and with the major leagues streamlining their minor league systems starting in 2021, the purchasing of Independent Baseball players is nearly at a standstill (temporarily, we hope), but for those who entered the affiliated ranks prior to COVID-19 the opportunities with the 30 big-league organizations continue to be available.

IndyBaseballChatter.com has tracked many interesting--and mostly positive--transactions in recent weeks.  We're doing some grouping here by category with the player's Independent team(s) and league(s) in parenthesis.  *Indicates player started his professional career in an Independent league:

Moving from one major league organization to another:  Pitchers John Brebbia (Sioux Falls and Laredo, American Association) from St. Louis to San Francisco, Ross Detwiler (York, Atlantic League) from Chicago-AL to Miami, and Nik Turley (Somerset, Atlantic) from Pittsburgh to Oakland and outfielder-first baseman Jose Martinez (Rockford, Frontier League) from Chicago-NL to New York-NL. 

Non-40-man roster players invited to major league spring training camps: Pitchers Anthony Bender (Sioux City, American Association) from Milwaukee to Miami, and Zac Grotz (Washington, Frontier, and York and Bridgeport, Atlantic) from Seattle to Boston.

Promoted to a higher minor league level: Pitchers Jordan Brink (Southern Illinois and River City, Frontier, and Pittsburg, Pacific Association) from AA to AAA and from St. Louis to Tampa Bay, *Luis Contreras (Eastside, United Shore League, and Puerto Rico, Empire League) from Class A to AA by Milwaukee, Alec Kisena (Gateway, Frontier) from A to AA by New York-NL, Adam Oller (Windy City, Frontier) from AA to AAA by New York-NL, and *Austin Warner (River City) from AA to AAA by St. Louis, and outfielder Matt Hearn (Gateway) from AA to AAA by Colorado.

Free Agents Newly Signed: Pitchers Fernando Abad (Long Island, Atlantic) from New York-AL to Baltimore, Chase DeJong (Sugar Land, Atlantic, and Team Skeeters, Constellation Energy League) from Houston to Pittsburgh, Tim Dillard (Lancaster, Atlantic) re-signed by Texas and Kevin Munson (Lancaster and Southern Maryland, Atlantic) re-signed by Seattle, and D. J. Snelten (Chicago, American Association) from Tampa Bay to Chicago-NL.

Joining a foreign league: Pitchers Matt Dermody (Sugar Land and Team Skeeters) from Chicago-NL to Seibu Lions, Japan, and Drew Rucinski (Rockford) returns to NC Dinos, Korea.