This time: May 24-30
Previous installment: May 17-23

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here. Last week’s Prospect Injury Report features updates on the status of the Twins’ Shooter Hunt and the Mariners’ Josh Fields.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Daniel Schlereth
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Doug Slaten
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Guillermo Reyes

The 26th overall pick last year, Schlereth joins his former University of Arizona teammate (and fellow first-round pick) Ryan Perry in the big leagues. Perry, a righthander, broke camp with the Tigers, while Schlereth, 23, received a 15-game apprenticeship in Double-A, where he posted a 1.42 ERA and a 21-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 19 innings with Mobile. The quick-armed, 6-foot, 210-pound lefty features good life on a 91-95 mph fastball and a hard-biting, high-70s curveball that’s a true strikeout pitch.

Atlanta Braves
Released: OF Quentin Davis
Reinstated from DL: OF Calvin Culver, OF Quentin Davis

Baltimore Orioles
Recalled: RHP David Hernandez
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Jason Berken, C Matt Wieters
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chris Ray, LHP Dave Davidson
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Jacob Julius

Triple-A Norfolk began the season as one of the International League’s more prospect-laden clubs. That’s no longer the case, not with the Orioles’ latest wave of callups. Righthander Brad Bergesen (who debuted April 21) and left fielder Nolan Reimold (May 14) were the first to leave for Baltimore, only to be followed last week by Berken, Hernandez and, most notably, Wieters. It’s a glimpse of future Orioles clubs that includes five of the organization’s top 18 prospects, and may include a sixth, righthander Chris Tillman, before too long.

Wieters, the No. 1 prospect, overcame a slow April to compile more typical numbers in May: .330/.398/.582 with 13 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs in 25 games. Bergesen, Berken and Hernandez formed the core of Double-A Bowie’s playoff rotation in 2008. An accomplished strikeout artist, Hernandez, 24, won league strikeouts titles in ’07 (168, Carolina) and ’08 (166, Eastern) and ranked second in the minors in strikeouts per nine innings (12.46) at the time of his callup. (His career mark is a robust 10.4) A 16th-round pick from Cosumnes River (Calif.) JC in ’05, he baffles hitters with a deceptive delivery and not with overpowering stuff. Unlike his low-90s fastball, Hernandez’s slider and changeup have not always been reliable.

Davidson joined his third organization in the span of about a month. The 25-year-old lefty reliever joined the Marlins on a waiver claim from the Pirates in late April, only jump from the Marlins to the Orioles via the same process at the end of May.

Boston Red Sox
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dave McKae, RHP Josh Papelbon, C John Otness
Reinstated from DL: RHP Adam Mills, LHP Andrew Dobies, C Carlos Maldonado
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Randor Bierd

Chicago Cubs
Released: RHP Jesse Estrada, OF Richie Robnett
Acquired: 3B Anderson Machado from Pirates for future considerations
Recalled: 1B Jake Fox, 2B Bobby Scales
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Jason Waddell, SS Andres Blanco
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Neal Cotts, 2B Bobby Scales
Reinstated from DL: LHP Jeremy Papelbon, 2B Robinson Chirinos

Like good magicians, the Cubs made Michael Wuertz disappear into thin air. Chicago dealt the righthanded reliever, who’s doing fine in Oakland, thank you, to the Athletics in the February trade for middle infielder Justin Sellers and outfielder Richie Robnett. Sellers the Cubs simply dumped on the Dodgers for minimal compensation, while Robnett they recently flat-out released.

Congratulations to Fox, who has gone 3-for-7 in his first four big league games of ’08. If you followed the minors at all this season, then you’re aware of the huge numbers posted by the slugging first baseman (who’s seen a bit of time at third, too) at Triple-A Iowa. The 26-year-old Fox batted .424/.503/.881 in 151 at-bats, mashing 17 home runs in 41 games while leading the minors in average, on-base percentage and slugging.

The Cubs liked what they saw in spring training from Waddell, a 27-year-old lefty reliever who joined the organization as a minor league free agent after eight years and nary a taste of Triple-A with the Giants. He received the callup despite not being all that effective with Iowa, posting a 12-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 16 2/3 innings and allowing an .893 OPS to lefthanded batters. At his best, the quick-working Waddell pumps strikes across the plate with a high-80s fastball and a sweeping curveball that he delivers from a cross-body delivery. The Giants made him an eighth-round pick out of Riverside (Calif.) CC in ’01.

Chicago White Sox
Released: OF Jordan Kendall
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Matt Zaleski, OF Miguel Negron
Reinstated from DL: RHP Matt Long, RHP Matt Zaleski

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: LHP Mark Pawelek
Released: RHP Justin Mallett
Recalled: C Wilkin Castillo
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Derrik Lutz, RHP James Avery, SS Jose Gualdron
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Homer Bailey, C Wilkin Castillo
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: OF Darnell McDonald
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Jesus Carnevale

Pawelek, 22, latches on with the Reds after being unceremoniously dumped by the Cubs at the end of spring training. That can happen when one spends just two games above short-season ball in four seasons—especially when one is the recipient of a $1.75 million bonus as Chicago’s first-round pick in ’05. Pawelek had been pitching for St. George in the independent Golden League.

Cleveland Indians
Released: RHP Sandy Mendez
Traded: SS Wilson Valdez to Mets for future considerations
Recalled: LHP Rafael Perez, LHP Zach Jackson, OF Trevor Crowe
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Tomo Ohka
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Rich Rundles, LHP Zach Jackson, OF Matt LaPorta
Placed on 7-day DL: 3B Jeremie Tice, OF Matt Brown
Reinstated from DL: OF Tim Fedroff

LaPorta, 24, batted just .190/.286/.286 in his first big league trial, which lasted just 13 games and 42 at-bats after the Indians swapped him for Crowe to give the club another center field option in the wake of Grady Sizemore’s elbow injury.

Colorado Rockies
Signed: RHP Juan Rincon
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Josh Fogg, C Paul Phillips
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Matt Belisle
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andy Graham, LHP Greg Smith, SS Chris Nelson
Reinstated from DL: RHP Scott Munter, LHP Adam Bright

Detroit Tigers
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Duane Below
Reinstated from DL: 2B Michael Hollimon

Florida Marlins
Released: RHP Mike Wood
Recalled: RHP Cristhian Martinez, OF Brett Carroll
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Chris Leroux
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kyle Gunderson, LHP Matt Vieira
Reinstated from DL: RHP Tim Wood

Houston Astros
Signed: 2B Jason Smith
Released: RHP J.J. Pacella, RHP Rob Semerano
Added to 40-man roster: 2B Matt Kata
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Wesley Wright
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: 2B Jason Smith
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Phil Disher, SS Jhon Florentino
Reinstated from DL: LHP Mark McLemore, OF T.J. Steele

Kansas City Royals
Signed: 2B Chase Fontaine
Released: LHP Josh Newman
Recalled: 2B Tug Hulett
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Roman Colon
Option transferred: SS Mario Lisson (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Joe Dickerson
Reinstated from DL: C Cody Clark

An Atlanta second-round pick in ’06 who was released by the Rays in spring training, Fontaine ought to see at least a few familiar faces with the Royals, an organization whose ranks of formers Braves grows almost weekly.

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: OF Branden Florence
Released: 1B Chris Garcia, OF Anthony Norman
Recalled: RHP Rafael Rodriguez, RHP Rich Thompson
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Reggie Willits
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Robert Fish, 3B Freddy Sandoval
Reinstated from DL: RHP Tim Schoeninger, C Chris Rosenbaum, 3B Jon Townsend

Los Angeles Dodgers
Released: OF John-Ford Griffin
Recalled: C A.J. Ellis
Placed on 7-day DL: 3B Austin Gallagher
Reinstated from DL: RHP Miguel Pinango, OF Jason Repko

Milwaukee Brewers
Added to 40-man roster: OF Frank Catalanotto
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP R.J. Swindle
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: OF Chris Duffy
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Nick Green, LHP Sam Narron

Minnesota Twins
Reinstated from DL: RHP Loek Van Mil

New York Mets
Signed: OF Matt Watson
Acquired: SS Wilson Valdez from Indians for future considerations
Added to 40-man roster: SS Wilson Valdez, OF Fernando Martinez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Lance Broadway
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Carlos Muniz, RHP Dillon Gee, 3B Eric Campbell, SS Juan Lagares, SS Mark Kiger
Activated player signed for 2009: RHP Daniel Carela

Watson, who had spent time in Japan’s Pacific League in ’06 and ’07, returned from a stint with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. An injury to Ryan Church (not to mention a lack of other options) encouraged the Mets to call up the 20-year-old Martinez, who was just beginning to find his stroke with Triple-A Buffalo. He batted .291/.337/.552 with eight home runs in 165 at-bats for the Bisons, and then went 0-for-his-first-8 in the big leagues before connecting for two hits against the Marlins’ Josh Johnson on May 30.

The Mets acquired Broadway, 25, from the White Sox in the deal that shipped catcher Ramon Castro (and cash) to the South Side. Though the righthander’s downer curveball can be overwhelming when it’s on, very little about his performance in Triple-A can be described as such. In 55 games (53 of them starts) at that level (mostly for Charlotte), Broadway compiled a 4.66 ERA to go with a pedestrian 1.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 322 innings. The 15th overall pick in ’05, Broadway will continue on his path as a reliever, a course he first began charting this year in Chicago’s big league bullpen. The hope is that he can emphasize his breaking ball more in relief, where he won’t have to expose his high-80s sinker and sinking changeup quite as frequently.

New York Yankees
Signed: RHP Paul Bush, OF Noah Hall
Recalled: RHP Dave Robertson
Optioned to Triple-A: C Kevin Cash
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP J.B. Cox, OF Ray Kruml
Reinstated from DL: 3B Carlos Mendoza

Both Bush and Hall were playing for Somerset of the independent Atlantic League when they were signed by the Yankees. Bush spent seven years in the Braves system, making it as high as Triple-A, before finding no takers after the ’08 season. The 31-year-old Hall, who spent half the ’07 season in the Yankees system, has strung together a deceptively long minor league career of 14 years. A 27th-round pick by the Expos in ’95, he’s batted .285/.386/.433 in nearly 5,000 minor league plate appearances.

Oakland Athletics
Recalled: RHP Jeff Gray
Option transferred: RHP Henry Rodriguez (high Class A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Chad Kerfoot, RHP Chris Schroder, RHP Jose Guzman, OF Mitch LeVier
Reinstated from DL: 2B Jemile Weeks
Placed on temporarily inactive list: C Eric Munson

Philadelphia Phillies
Released: RHP Dave Borkowski, RHP Scott Nestor
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Carlos Leon
Reinstated from DL: RHP Joe Bisenius, RHP Julian Sampson, RHP Tyler Walker

Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: RHP Scott Nestor
Traded: 3B Anderson Machado to Cubs for future considerations
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jean Machi
Reinstated from DL: SS Chris Barnwell

St. Louis Cardinals
Released: LHP Joe Williams
Placed on restricted list: RHP Josh Wilson
Optioned to Triple-A: SS Tyler Greene
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Eddie Degerman, 1B Javier Brito
Reinstated from DL: LHP Kristhiam Linares, OF Aaron Luna, OF Joe Mather

The Cardinals informed Williams, 28, when they signed him that he had only a brief window of time to make an impression. And they weren’t kidding. The unorthodox lefty was released a mere four appearances into his stint with Double-A Springfield. Williams struck out three batters in six innings, but he otherwise allowed five runs on nine hits (including two home runs) and three walks. Texas League opponents hit .360 against him. Drafted by the Mets in ’04 and released during spring training ’06 after he refused to have surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Williams latched on to the pitching principles espoused by Dr. Mike Marshall, principles that have not gained mainstream acceptance. Follow the link to the story above for a highly recommended read on Williams and his journey, which has included failed tryouts for independent teams and a second career choice. "I was set on joining the Navy," Williams said. "I’d made peace with baseball."

San Diego Padres
Released: RHP Chris Britton, RHP Cooper Brannan, 1B Chris Hardin, 3B Derek Shunk, OF Chase Williams
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Walter Silva

Brannan served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine corporal, but his tour of pro ball was, unfortunately, not as distinguished. The 24-year-old was a three-year letterman in baseball and football in high school, but after the four-year military layoff, he couldn’t gain any traction in the Padres system. Cooper finished with an 8.18 ERA in 37 relief appearances in short-season ball during the previous two seasons.

San Francisco Giants
Added to 40-man roster: C Eli Whiteside
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Patrick Misch, 1B Jesus Guzman, 2B Kevin Frandsen
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Chance Corgan

Seattle Mariners
Released: RHP Nick Love, RHP Randy Castillo, 3B Alfredo Mateo
Added to 40-man roster: C Guillermo Quiroz
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Walter Suriel, 3B Ronnie Prettyman, OF Ezequiel Carrera
Reinstated from DL: LHP Tyler Johnson, OF Mike Wilson
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Nick Hill

Love has had makeup issues that have dogged him since his amateur days, but scouts always have liked his live arm. He was the No. 3 prospect in the MINK League in the summer of 2007. We wrote that Love had a low 90s fastball that peaked at 94 and an average-to-plus slider.

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: RHP Matt DeSalvo, 2B Henry Mateo
Recalled: LHP David Price
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Randy Choate, 3B Joe Dillon
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dewon Day, RHP Shane Dyer, OF Chris Richard, OF Jason Perry
Reinstated from DL: LHP Michael Jarman, OF John Matulia

Linked as products of the same ’07 draft and then as opponents in Triple-A this season and now as rivals in the AL East . . . David Price and Matt Wieters appropriately received callups just four days apart. In his second start for Tampa Bay, on May 30, Price struck out a career-high 11 Twins batters in 5 2/3 innings, allowing only one run, to earn his first big league (regular season) win.

Texas Rangers
Released: OF Ben Harrison
Placed on suspended list: RHP Josh Lueke
Recalled: RHP Guillermo Moscoso, RHP Tommy Hunter
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Tommy Hunter
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Joe Wieland, RHP Luis Mendoza, LHP Joe Torres, C Max Ramirez, 1B Justin Smoak, 2B Jose Vallejo
Reinstated from DL: RHP Michael Schlact, RHP Ryan Tatusko, RHP Wilfredo Boscan, C Leonel de los Santos, 2B German Duran, OF Tim Smith
Placed on temporarily inactive list: C Jose Felix
Reinstated from inactive list: C Jose Felix

Toronto Blue Jays
Released: RHP Jake Cuffman
Recalled: LHP Ricky Romero
Option transferred: LHP Davis Romero (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Kevin Howard, SS Jon Del Campo, OF Kenny Wilson
Reinstated from DL: LHP Chuck Huggins, C Matt Liuzza
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Jonah Bayliss, OF Nick Gorneault
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Nick Gorneault

Washington Nationals
Recalled: C Luke Montz, SS Alberto Gonzalez
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Mike MacDougal
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Justin Maxwell
Optioned to Double-A: C Luke Montz
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Luis Atilano, SS Freddie Bynum, OF Jesus Valdez
Reinstated from DL: LHP Cory VanAllen, SS Jemel Spearman