This time: May 2-9
Previous installment: April 24–May 1

Check out the Transactions Glossary for help in deciphering the various inactive lists presented below. Last wek’s Prospect Injury Watch features updates on the status of Josh Reddick and Jose Tabata.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: LHP Doug Slaten
Recalled: RHP Leo Rosales, 1B Josh Whitesell
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Greg Thomson
Reinstated from DL: RHP Cristian Beltre

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Tony Armas Jr., C Mike Payne
Released: RHP Chen-En Hung, RHP Junior Rojas, RHP Chris Vines
Optioned to Triple-A: C Clint Sammons, OF Brandon Jones
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Rudy Darrow
Reinstated from DL: RHP Chris Vines

Baltimore Orioles
Traded: OF Ryan Freel to Cubs for OF Joey Gathright
Recalled: RHP Bob McCrory
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Brandon Erbe, C Dashenko Ricardo, 3B Matt Tucker, SS Pedro Florimon
Reinstated from DL: 2B Ryan Adams
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Cliff Flagello

Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Devern Hansack
Placed on restricted list: OF Brad Wilkerson
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Jonathan Van Every
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Devern Hansack, 2B Jeff Natale
Reinstated from DL: C Sandy Madera, 2B Jeff Natale, OF Kade Keowen
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Jason Rice

Chicago Cubs
Released: OF Min Sung
Traded: OF Joey Gathright to Orioles for OF Ryan Freel
Recalled: RHP Randy Wells
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Chad Fox, 2B Bobby Scales
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jeff Samardzija
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: OF Joey Gathright
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kevin Kreier, RHP Steve Vento, OF So Taguchi
Reinstated from DL: RHP Todd Blackford, RHP Dan McDaniel, SS Matt Matulia

Congratulations to Scales, who in his 11th pro season and with his fourth organization, at long last made his big league debut. The 31-year-old switch-hitter has gone 5-for-his-first-13 for the Cubs, filling in at second and third base. A Padres’ 14th-round pick from Michigan in ’99, Scales spent his first seven seasons in the San Diego organization, before flitting from the Phillies to the Red Sox and finally to the Cubs as a minor league free agent. Scales has been a steady Triple-A performer, offering positional versatility (he also plays corner outfield), switch-hitting ability, a good idea of the strike zone and some speed. In 573 games at the Triple-A level (the better part of the past six seasons), he’s batted .290/.377/.455 with 51 home runs and 39 stolen bases.

Chicago White Sox
Signed: 1B Daryle Ward
Granted free agency: OF Jerry Owens
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Kyle Aselton, LHP Garrett Johnson
Reinstated from DL: LHP Justin Edwards, OF Kent Gerst

Chicago’s third-round pick in ’06, Edwards made his first start since Sept. 1, 2007, last Wednesday, striking out nine Lakewood batters in five innings for low Class A Kannapolis. He missed all of ’08 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He’s a finesse lefty with a repeatable delivery and the potential for two average secondary offerings, so the strikeouts were an encouraging sign for the 21-year-old.

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: 1B Stephen Chapman
Released: OF Brandon Menchaca
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dallas Buck, RHP Lance Janke, C Jordan Wideman, SS Jake Kahaulelio, SS Chris Valaika
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jordan Smith, 2B Drew Sutton, SS Jake Kahaulelio
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Jesus Carnevale
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Brandon Menchaca
Activated player signed for 2009: RHP Juan Carlos Sulbaran

The Reds’ 30th-round pick last year, Sulbaran did not sign until the Aug. 15 deadline, when he netted $500,000 to forego his commitment to Florida. (His bonus established a record for the 30th round.) Born in Curacao, Sulbaran moved to the U.S. in 2006 to attend American Heritage High in Plantation, Fla., and he also pitched for the Dutch national team in the Beijing Olympics last summer. The 19-year-old made his pro debut on May 1 for low Class A Dayton.

Cleveland Indians
Released: RHP Juan Salas
Recalled: LHP Jeremy Sowers, 2B Josh Barfield, 2B Luis Valbuena
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Matt Herges, OF Matt LaPorta
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Rafael Perez, OF Trevor Crowe
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: 2B Tony Graffanino
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Scott Roehl
Reinstated from DL: RHP Greg Aquino, 3B Jared Goedert, OF George Lombard

The Triple-A International League proved to be little challenge for LaPorta, who batted .333/.414/.640 with five home runs, four doubles and just 10 strikeouts in 75 at-bats prior to his callup from Columbus. On the other end of the spectrum, the 27-year-old Perez’s slider has been flat this spring, leading to an uncharacteristic 15.19 ERA and just five strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. Worse, he walked nine and allowed 19 hits. For what it’s worth, Perez pitched for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Colorado Rockies
Released: RHP Andy Groves
Option transferred: RHP Ryan Mattheus (short-season to High-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Edgmer Escalona, LHP Adam Bright, C Johnny Bowden

Detroit Tigers
Recalled: 1B Jeff Larish, OF Clete Thomas
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Clay Rapada
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Chris Carlson
Activated player signed for 2009: LHP Chad Linder

Linder, 24, signed with the Tigers last October after spending his first two pro season in indy ball. He made his debut as a reliever for high Class A Lakeland on Friday. He went 7-3, 4.14 in 17 starts for Alexandria (United) last year, striking out 110 and walking 31 in 113 innings.

Florida Marlins
Signed: RHP Nic Ungs, OF Brandon Tripp
Recalled: RHP Carlos Martinez
Added to 40-man roster: 2B Chris Coghlan
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Graham Taylor
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Tim Wood, 1B Gaby Sanchez, OF Jai Miller
Reinstated from DL: 2B Geraldo Valentin
Reinstated from inactive list: 3B Jacob Blackwood

The Marlins’ supplemental first-round pick from Mississippi in ’06, Coghlan has batted a steady .298/.388/.451 in his minor league career, spent mostly at second and third base. The 23-year-old’s first big league exposure, though, will come in left field, the result of a shifting outfield dynamic on the heels of center fielder Cameron Maybin’s demotion. Coghlan parlayed a very strong week into a place atop last week’s Prospect Hot Sheet.

Houston Astros
Signed: RHP Brendan Donnelly
Released: RHP Clay Hensley, 1B Eric Taylor
Granted free agency: SS Jason Smith
Recalled: RHP Alberto Arias
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: SS Jason Smith
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Albert Cartwright, SS Wladimir Sutil
Reinstated from DL: RHP Leandro Cespedes, LHP Polin Trinidad

Smith started the season by going 0-for-21 and then being outrighted to the minors. He refused that assignment, becoming a free agent, but only briefly. Though not reflected here (yet), Smith, 31, re-signed with the Astros.

Kansas City Royals
Released: RHP Ryan Acosta, RHP Kyle Crist, 2B Alwin Perez
Added to 40-man roster: SS Luis Hernandez
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: C Brayan Pena
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Luis Cota, RHP Jason Godin, LHP Brent Fisher, LHP Craig Rodriguez, C Cody Clark, OF Chris Lubanski
Reinstated from DL: RHP Blake Johnson, C Matt Tupman, SS Edward Lucas, OF Nick Van Stratten

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Matt Oye, RHP Michael Rocco, RHP Taylor Wilding
Released: RHP Matt Wilhite
Recalled: OF Reggie Willits
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Kevin Jepsen, RHP Fernando Rodriguez, SS Brandon Wood
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Drew Taylor
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jeremy Haynes, LHP Will Smith, SS Hainley Statia
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Chris Armstrong

Los Angeles Dodgers
Released: RHP Miguel Ramirez, LHP Eric Milton, C Andrick Villalobos, 1B Chris Gibson
Recalled: LHP Brent Leach, OF Xavier Paul
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Victor Garate, LHP David Pfeiffer
Reinstated from DL: RHP Travis Schlichting, LHP Marlon Arias, 2B Tony Abreu, OF Thomas Giles

Fun fact: Gibson is actually Robert Christopher Gibson, as in the son of Cardinals’ Hall of Fame righthander Bob Gibson. Chris, 24, went 1-for-15 for high Class A Inland Empire, singling once. A product of Southeast Missouri State, Gibson signed his first pro contract with independent Gateway (Frontier) in 2007 after going undrafted. He signed with the Cardinals early in ’08, earning his release in May before ever playing a game for the organization.

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: RHP Ivan Rusova
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Logan Schafer
Reinstated from inactive list: 3B Erick Almonte

Minnesota Twins
Released: LHP Ben Julianel, C Eli Tintor
Recalled: 2B Matt Tolbert
Optioned to Triple-A: C Jose Morales, 2B Alexi Casilla
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Yangervis Solarte, SS Alejandro Machado
Reinstated from DL: RHP Tim Lahey, C Juan Richardson, 1B Brock Peterson, 3B Tommy Watkins

New York Mets
Signed: RHP Nelson Figueroa, 3B Mike Lamb
Recalled: LHP Jonathon Niese
Placed on 7-day DL: C Mike Nickeas, 2B Andy Green, OF Caleb Stewart, OF Seth Williams
Reinstated from DL: 2B Ramon Martinez, 3B Jose Jimenez

New York Yankees
Signed: RHP Humberto Sanchez, LHP Casey Fossum
Released: RHP Richard Cowan
Recalled: RHP Alfredo Aceves, RHP Anthony Claggett, C Francisco Cervelli
Added to 40-man roster: C Kevin Cash
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Anthony Claggett, RHP Mark Melancon
Option transferred: LHP Wilkins de la Rossa (High-A to AA)
Designated for assignment: RHP Steven Jackson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Humberto Sanchez, SS Garrison Lassiter
Reinstated from DL: C Kevin Cash, C Neall French, 2B Kevin Russo
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Richard Cowan

The Yankees re-signed Sanchez, 25, to a minor league deal about a week after releasing him—and removing him from the 40-man. The key acquisition from the Tigers in the ’06 trade of Gary Sheffield, Sanchez is no stranger to the disabled list, where he’s now stationed at Double-A Trenton. He missed all of the ’07 season after having Tommy John surgery and he pitched just 14 2/3 innings last season.

Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Andrew Brown
Released: 1B Greg Dowling
Acquired: 2B Adam Kennedy from Rays for player to be named
Placed on restricted list: C Dante Love
Recalled: RHP Sean Gallagher, RHP Jeff Gray, LHP Jerry Blevins, LHP Gio Gonzalez
Added to 40-man roster: 2B Adam Kennedy
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Dana Eveland, LHP Gio Gonzalez, 2B Eric Patterson, SS Gregorio Petit
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andrew Brown, RHP Jared Lansford, RHP Scott Mitchinson, 2B Yung Chi Chen, OF Chris Denorfia
Reinstated from DL: RHP Tyson Ross, RHP Jerome Williams, LHP Brad Kilby, LHP Lance Sewell, C Matt Smith, OF Corey Brown, OF Yusuf Carter

This player to be named has been determined and will be Joe Dillon, another veteran. He’ll be reflected officially in next week’s installment.

Philadelphia Phillies
Signed: 3B Todd Waller
Released: RHP Joe Rocchio, RHP Pete Sikaras
Optioned to Triple-A: C Lou Marson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Joe Bisenius, RHP Julian Sampson, RHP Tyler Walker, C Kevin Nelson, SS Freddy Galvis
Reinstated from DL: RHP Mike Cisco, LHP Ryan Ariail, 3B Cody Overbeck, OF Gus Milner
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Francisco Butto

Pittsburgh Pirates
Released: RHP Gary Amato
Placed on restricted list: RHP Allen Ponder
Placed on suspended list: RHP Ramon Aguero, 1B Calvin Anderson, OF Robbie Grossman
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Tony Watson
Reinstated from DL: RHP Dan McCutchen
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Ramon Aguero, 1B Calvin Anderson, OF Robbie Grossman

Aguero, Anderson and Grossman, all members of the low Class A West Virginia club, were suspended for their role in a benches-clearing brawl with Hagerstown.

St. Louis Cardinals
Released: RHP David Brito, RHP Carlos Gonzalez, RHP Carlos Noguera, RHP Jose Penaloza, RHP Adam Prange, LHP Senger Peralta, 1B Brandon Buckman, OF Brian Buck, OF Charlie Kingrey
Recalled: RHP Brad Thompson
Added to 40-man roster: OF Shane Robinson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP P.J. Walters
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Marco Gonzalez, RHP Elvis Hernandez, LHP Kristhiam Linares, 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir
Reinstated from DL: RHP Marco Gonzalez, 1B Brandon Buckman, OF Matt Arburr, OF Shane Robinson
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Josh Wilson

San Diego Padres
Signed: RHP Eulogio de la Cruz
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Gabe DeHoyos, LHP Nick Schmidt, 2B Eric Sogard

San Francisco Giants
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Kelvin Marte
Option transferred: SS Brian Bocock (AA to High-A)

Seattle Mariners
Signed: RHP Steve Bray, RHP Steven Shell, OF Jerry Owens
Released: OF Freddy Guzman
Recalled: LHP Garrett Olson, LHP Jason Vargas
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Denny Stark
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: C Jamie Burke
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Danny Carroll, OF Kalian Sams

Lefties Olson and Vargas, both of whom were acquired in offseason trades and both of whom were pitching well for Triple-A Tacoma, replace the injured Shawn Kelley and Carlos Silva. Vargas, 26, was 1-1, 2.49 with 22-8 K-BB in 22 innings; Olson, 25, was 2-2, 3.08 with 19-12 K-BB in 26 innings.

Tampa Bay Rays
Traded: 2B Adam Kennedy to Athletics for player to be named
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jeremy Hellickson, 2B Elliot Johnson, OF Jason Corder
Reinstated from DL: C Christian Lopez

Texas Rangers
Released: RHP Daniel Sattler
Recalled: C Max Ramirez, SS Joaquin Arias, OF Greg Golson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Luis Mendoza, C Max Ramirez, OF Greg Golson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Thomas Diamond, LHP Tim Murphy
Reinstated from DL: RHP Daniel Sattler, 1B Jared Bolden
Option transferred: RHP John Bannister, RHP Tommy Hunter (both AA to AAA)

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: RHP Bubbie Buzachero, RHP Jamie Lehman, RHP Keith Meyer, LHP Dan DeLucia
Voluntarily retired: OF Jon Baksh
Recalled: RHP Bryan Bullington, LHP Brian Burres
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Bryan Bullington, LHP Brian Burres
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Joe Inglett, SS Justin Jackson

Trading Buzachero to the Indians in January ’06 netted the Blue Jays lefty Briant Tallet. Now he re-joins the organization after beginning the year in indy ball. Unsigned as a minor league free agent after last season, Buzachero, 27, signed on with Long Island (Atlantic), but appeared in just three relief outings with the Ducks before signing with Toronto.

Washington Nationals
Released: RHP David Slovak, RHP Josh Towers
Voluntarily retired: RHP Caleb Staudt
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Ron Villone
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Saul Rivera
Option transferred: C Luke Montz (AAA to AA)
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Jemel Spearman
Reinstated from DL: RHP Cole Kimball, RHP Josh Towers, RHP Colton Willems
Reinstated from inactive list: SS Joel Guzman