Reggie released « Barnstormin’

Reggie released

March 30, 2007 by Jason Guarente

Reggie Taylor didn’t make the cut with the Washington Nationals. He was released earlier in the week.

Taylor found himself in an uphill climb this spring. He wasn’t invited to Nationals camp until two weeks after it started and the organization already had an excess of veteran outfielders.

With the Double-A and Triple-A seasons set to begin Thursday, it will be nearly impossible for Taylor to immediately land another job in affiliated ball. This is the time of year when teams are releasing players — not signing them.

That means Taylor is likely headed back to Lancaster.

“There should be a spot for me there if I want to come back,” he said. “I don’t know why not.”

Manager Frank Klebe said the Barnstormers would welcome back Taylor, even though the team already has four outfielders under contract — including Quincy Foster, Clyde Williams, Jutt Hileman and Chris Van Rossum.

Klebe said it would be difficult to keep five outfielders on the team’s regular-season roster because of playing time and financial constraints, but he didn’t rule it out.

Although this is a huge setback for Taylor, it’s a potentially giant boost for the Barnstormers. Taylor hit .302 with 23 home runs and posted a .948 OPS, which was second on the team behind Jeremy Todd. The center fielder was arguably the Atlantic League’s best all-around player.

When last season ended Taylor was optimistic he would find work with a big-league organization. It didn’t happen. Now he probably faces another summer of independent ball.

“It’s going to be hard,” he said. “I hope to come back for half a season. I have to do what I have to do. They don’t pay enough there, but at least I had a good time. I was happy playing there and we were winning. Maybe I can help that team win another championship.”

Posted in Atlantic League, Lancaster Barnstormers, MLB, Pennsylvania, Sports, Washington Nationals, baseball, minor leagues | 18 Comments

18 Responses to “Reggie released”

on March 30, 2007 at 9:35 am1 Mr. Barnstormer

Got to love his honesty. I hope we can land him!… even though he’ll be pissed all year.
on March 30, 2007 at 10:00 am2 maize & blue

Were the Barnstormers too hasty in signing 25 players to the roster? Reggie was one of the more productive players in the league last year. Barnstormers have to be interested, even if it’s “only for half a season.” How about a “sign” with one of Keystone Baseball’s other teams. York? Camden? And a trade back to lancaster.
on March 30, 2007 at 10:15 am3 Jason Guarente

The Barnstormers can bring as many players as they want to spring training. Last year I think they brought 28. They just need the roster to be at 25 (or fewer) by opening day.
on March 30, 2007 at 12:17 pm4 Mr. Barnstormer

It’s funny, even in Taylor’s Glamor shot (pictured above), he looks like he’s not to happy wearing a Minor League Uniform. Or maybe he just had bad gas that day?
on March 30, 2007 at 1:42 pm5 Amy Ditzler

Truth be told Reggie never looks like he’s happy. And why is everyone dwelling on the fact that the Barnstormers have ”too many players”? In affiliated baseball teams take “too many players” and thats considered a good thing. Like was mentioned yesterday…there is competition for jobs on the team…and that’s never a bad thing either. That should help out the team in the long run. Where do teams only take the roster limit number to spring training??? As long as the roster has 25 on opening night..it doesnt matter how many players we have now. Any team should (and will) take as many players as they feel necessary to spring training and then cut the roster down accordingly. And my other question…why sign Taylor to York or camden and trade him back here? We have his rights already…no need to trade him or whatever.
on March 30, 2007 at 2:26 pm6 Jason Guarente

Taylor has always been friendly to me and I’ve had to interview him during some of the low points of his career.

The above comments were made while he was driving home to Georgia minutes after he was released. I don’t think he was angry. I think he was immensely disappointed. The guy had a great season in the Atlantic League, led the Puerto Rican winter league in home runs and ended up exactly where he was at this point in 2006. I don’t blame him for being frustrated.
on March 30, 2007 at 2:34 pm7 Mr. Barnstormer

Let’s just hope that in his current mindset he doesn’t resort to alcohol to numb the frustration. I have a feeling he would be an angry drunk.
on March 30, 2007 at 2:51 pm8 Hurtman

I would be glad to have him back. I remember batting practice the night before opening night las year and seeing him launching them left and right of the canopy in right.

At the end of last year we had 13 pitchers, 1 catcher, 7 infielders, and 4 outfielders. (1 catcher and 1 pitcher were on the DL). Right now we have 12 pitchers, 3 catchers, 6 infielders, and 4 outfielders signed for a total of 25. I am not sure if there are any other signings that have not been released to the public.

I don’t think we need 3 catchers so that could definatly drop to 2. I don’t see Dietrick making it wth Burkhart and Santana unless something drastic happens. That would put it back at 25 with Reggie. The question is can we do with 12 pitchers at the start which I think is doable. We had 10 at some points last season and some not all healthy. I could see them picking up some more pitchers for spring training and then keep the ones that gets you down to 25. Just my thoughts.
on March 30, 2007 at 3:23 pm9 Jason Guarente

Scott,

There’s no guarantee the Barnstormers will carry 25 players. Last year they carried 23 until the end when they had some injuries. My guess is they’ll carry 11 pitchers and 12 or 13 position players to start. It will depend on money. They have to fit everyone into their budget.
on March 30, 2007 at 3:56 pm10 Mr. Barnstormer

So which teams in the Atlantic League have the most money? I’m not sure how that works or if that info is even available to the public.
on March 30, 2007 at 4:30 pm11 maize & blue

That is an excellent question Mr. Barnstormer. Jason, can you or some from the league enlighten us? Are there team and or player salary caps? Also, are there player guaranteed to make the team contracts?
on March 30, 2007 at 5:17 pm12 Amy Ditzler

You’ll never find out that information although if you look at some of the teams with the biggername guys…they would most likely be the ones with the most money.!
on March 30, 2007 at 5:36 pm13 Jason Guarente

There are no guaranteed contracts and the max player salary is $3,000 a month. Not many guys make the max.

As for team expenses, the Barnstormers operate under a salary cap. They set a certain amount for player payroll — I don’t know the amount — and Adam Gladstone is allowed to build his roster any way he wishes as long as he stays under that figure. ALL of the teams are supposed to follow this cap, but I have my doubts as to whether that’s actually the case.

Often times, teams will sign more higher-cost players and keep their roster below the 25-man maximum as a way of balancing costs. That’s why the Barnstormers carried 23 players for most of last season.

Hope that helps.
on March 30, 2007 at 9:25 pm14 Hurtman

Thanks for the information Jason. It helps to understand the behind the scenes process.
on April 1, 2007 at 2:49 pm15 rachel

I hope that the Barnstormers change their minds about Reggie. He has a new born son and could really use the job.
on April 1, 2007 at 7:18 pm16 Mr. Barnstormer

WHOA!
on April 2, 2007 at 9:01 am17 STORMERDUDE

Just Read Reggie Taylor Was signed by the national….
is this correct
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/news/263625.html
check it out
on April 2, 2007 at 10:20 am18 Jason Guarente

Minor league transactions are sometimes reported days — or even weeks — after they happen. That listing shows that Taylor was signed, then if you scroll down it shows that he was released.