This time: July 5-11
Previous installment: June 28-July 4

Numbers in parentheses indicate draft rounds. Visit our Draft Database for school and signing information. Subscribers can view scouting reports for many top picks as well as search for players by last name or state. Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: C Matt Tupman
Recalled: RHP Leo Rosales, LHP Doug Slaten
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Doug Slaten, 1B Brandon Allen
Option transferred: LHP Leyson Septimo (high Class A to Double-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Bobby Korecky, RHP Cesar Valdez, LHP Taylor Sinclair, C Ed Easley, SS Justin Parker, SS Yunesky Sanchez, OF Ryne White
Reinstated from inactive list: 3B Agustin Murillo

Murrillo, a Triple-A third baseman, returns from 50-game suspension for PED use.

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Patrick Currin
Released: 1B Kala Ka’aihue
Recalled: RHP Luis Valdez
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Tommy Hanson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ryne Reynoso, LHP Edgar Osuna, C Jose Camarena, OF Jordan Schafer
Reinstated from DL: LHP Edgar Osuna, C Phillip Britton

The Braves optioned Hanson to make room for an extra body in the Atlanta bullpen, but they’ll recall the rookie righthander when second-half play commences.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Orlando Alfonso (NDFA—Kishwaukee (Ill.)), RHP Andrew Huebner (NDFA—Wagner), 3B Tyler Stampone (NDFA—William & Mary)
Draft picks signed: RHP Jacob Cowan (10) RHP Kevin Landry (21), RHP Ryan Palsha (16)
Recalled: RHP Kam Mickolio
Optioned to Double-A: RHP David Hernandez
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andrew Barb, LHP Wilfrido Perez, OF Steven Bumbry
Reinstated from DL: RHP Zach Clark, LHP Brett Bordes, SS Blake Davis, OF Jacob Julius
Placed on temporarily inactive list: OF L.J. Hoes

Hernandez was optioned, in part, to make room on the active roster for Oscar Salazar. Now the Orioles can wait before deciding whether to designate the out-of-options veteran first baseman for assignment, a process that would expose him to waivers.

Boston Red Sox
Added to 40-man roster: 1B Aaron Bates
Designated for assignment: OF Jon Van Every
Optioned to short-season: SS Jed Lowrie
Option transferred: SS Jed Lowrie (short-season to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Michael Bowden, RHP Caleb Clay, OF Matt Sheely
Reinstated from DL: RHP Enrique Gonzalez, RHP Stolmy Pimentel, LHP Tommy Hottovy, SS Ivan Ochoa, OF Daniel Nava

Chicago Cubs
Signed: RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (Victoria (Golden)), LHP Casey Fossum
Released: OF Cliff Andersen
Recalled: RHP Kevin Hart, RHP Jeff Stevens, OF Sam Fuld
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Kevin Hart, RHP Kevin Hart, LHP Jason Waddell, OF Sam Fuld
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Erik Hamren, LHP J.R. Mathes, 2B Matt Cerda, 2B Dwayne Kemp, SS Matt Matulia
Reinstated from DL: LHP Casey Lambert, SS Matt Matulia
Loaned to Mexican League: RHP Oswaldo Martinez

Chicago White Sox
Draft pick signed: OF Jared Mitchell (1)
Recalled: 1B Brandon Allen
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Jorge Castillo, OF Lee Cruz, OF Jared Mitchell, OF Sergio Morales
Reinstated from DL: OF Jordan Danks, OF Kyle Shelton

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Kip Wells
Draft picks signed: RHP Daniel Tuttle (5), 1B Dave Stewart (22), OF Josh Fellhauer (7)
Recalled: RHP Robert Manuel
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Drew Sutton
Reinstated from DL: SS Alex Buchholz
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Ben Jukich

Cleveland Indians
Signed: LHP Michael Tejera (Monterrey (Mexican)), SS Justin Toole (Sioux City (American Association))
Draft pick signed: OF Jason Kipnis (2)
Released: OF George Lombard, OF Rob Mackowiak
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Rafael Perez, LHP Jeremy Sowers
Option transferred: RHP Fausto Carmona, RHP Hector Rondon (both Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jack Cassel, RHP Vinnie Chulk, RHP Vinnie Pestano, RHP Kirk Saarloos, LHP Ryan Morris, 2B Andy Cannizaro
Reinstated from DL: OF Mickey Hall, OF George Lombard, OF Rob Mackowiak

Iowa born, raised and educated (as in, the University of), Toole suited up for Sioux Falls briefly after graduating this spring before signing with Cleveland.

Colorado Rockies
Draft picks signed: LHP Rex Brothers (1s), 1B Ben Paulsen (3), 3B Nolan Arenado (2)
Recalled: RHP Jason Hirsh, LHP Franklin Morales
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Matt Belisle
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Randy Flores
Option transferred: RHP Esmil Rogers (Double-A to Triple-A)
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Jason Hirsh, C Paul Phillips
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Kurt Birkins, 2B Patrick Rose
Reinstated from DL: RHP Andrew Johnston, C Dayton Buller, SS Thomas Field
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Greg Smith
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Franklin Nunez

Rogers left the Double-A Texas League as its leader in strikeouts (83), while ranking No. 2 in ERA (2.48).

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Nate Bump (Camden (Atlantic)), RHP Nolan Moody (NDFA—Michigan State)
Draft pick signed: RHP Michael Morrison (29)
Released: RHP Ron Chiavacci
Recalled: OF Clete Thomas
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: SS Don Kelly
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Jeramy Laster

Florida Marlins
Signed: RHP Luis Ayala, 1B Ryan Keedy, 3B Taylor Krick (NDFA—Long Beach State), OF Austin Markel (NDFA—West Virginia)
Draft pick signed: SS Chris Wade (11)
Released: C Justin Knoedler
Added to 40-man roster: SS Andy Gonzalez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Tim Wood, OF Alejandro De Aza
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Nate Field, RHP Matt Montgomery, LHP Carlos Vasquez, OF Bryan Petersen
Reinstated from DL: C Andrew Jenkins, C Kyle Skipworth, C Neil Wilson, 3B Paul Gran
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Rick VandenHurk

Houston Astros
Signed: RHP Kenny Baugh (Southern Maryland (Atlantic))
Released: LHP Jeff Icenogle
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Matt Kata
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jose Trinidad
Reinstated from DL: LHP Kirkland Rivers, C J.R. Towles, OF Wilton Infante, OF Carlos Reyes
Placed on temporarily inactive list: 2B Rayner Contreras
Reinstated from inactive list: 1B Kody Hinze

Drafted twice out of Rice (including 11th overall by the Tigers in ’01) and once out of Houston’s Lamar High, local boy Baugh returns home on a Double-A deal with the Astros. Now 30, he has spent most of the past two seasons with Southern Maryland, for whom he went 6-3, 4.52 this year with 44 strikeouts and 29 walks in 69 2/3 innings.

Kansas City Royals
Draft pick signed: RHP Louis Coleman (5)
Released: RHP Matt Wright, LHP Dan Cevette
Traded: RHP Dan Cortes and LHP Derrick Saito to Mariners for SS Yuniesky Betancourt
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Tug Hulett
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Jordan Parraz
Reinstated from DL: RHP Aaron Hartsock

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: OF Jeff Jones (NDFA—William & Mary)
Draft picks signed: RHP Wes Hatton (4), 1B Casey Haerther (5)
Released: RHP David Austen, OF Chris Fox
Recalled: C Bobby Wilson, SS Brandon Wood, OF Reggie Willits
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Sean O’Sullivan, RHP Rich Thompson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Rudy Seanez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Ryan Aldridge, RHP Jose Arredondo, 2B Abel Nieves

Los Angeles Dodgers
Draft pick signed: SS Bryant Hernandez (9)
Released: LHP Jacobo Meque, OF Yosanddy Garcia
Recalled: RHP Cory Wade, LHP Scott Elbert, 2B Blake DeWitt
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Blake DeWitt
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: OF Mitch Jones
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Matt Smith, C Scott Thomas, SS Justin Fuller
Reinstated from DL: RHP Eric Krebs, RHP Dwayne Pollok, LHP Thomas Melgarejo, C Scott Thomas

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: LHP Rafael Lluberes, C Austin Stockfisch (NDFA—Grand Canyon (Ariz.))
Released: RHP Ivan Rusova, LHP Rafael Lluberes
Recalled: LHP Manny Parra, 1B Joe Koshansky
Option transferred: RHP Nick Green (Double-A to Triple-A)
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: 1B Joe Koshansky
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Chase Wright
Reinstated from DL: C Sean McCraw, 3B Taylor Green

Minnesota Twins
Draft picks signed: RHP Peter Kennelly (38), LHP Matt Bashore (1s)
Released: RHP Curtis Leavitt
Option transferred: 3B Luke Hughes (Triple-A to Doulbe-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jay Rainville
Reinstated from DL: LHP Reid Santos, 3B Luke Hughes, SS Estarlin de los Santos, OF Joe Benson

New York Mets
Draft pick signed: SS Robbie Shields (3)
Placed on suspended list: OF Cesar Puello
Recalled: 2B Argenis Reyes
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Nick Evans, 2B Argenis Reyes
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jenrry Mejia, RHP Elvin Ramirez, 2B James Ewing, SS Matt Bouchard, OF Richard Pena
Placed on 60-day DL: OF William Cherry
Reinstated from DL: RHP Scott Moviel, C Julio Rivera, 3B Eric Campbell

New York Yankees
Signed: RHP Luke Prihoda (Grand Prairie (American Association))
Draft picks signed: RHP Sean Black (7), RHP Brett Gerritse (12)
Recalled: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo, RHP Mark Melancon
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jonathan Albaladejo, C Francisco Cervelli
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jay Stephens, LHP Garrett Patterson, LHP Edwin Walker, C Chris Stewart, OF Ray Kruml
Reinstated from DL: RHP Manuel Barreda, RHP Philip Bartleski, SS Carmen Angelini, OF Noah Hall

Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Dewon Day
Draft pick signed: LHP Justin Marks (3)
Released: RHP Michael Mitchell, LHP James Heuser
Traded: RHP Craig Italiano, RHP Ryan Webb and a player to be named to Padres for OF Scott Hairston
Traded: 3B Jack Hannahan to Mariners for RHP Justin Souza
Traded: OF Danny Putnam to Padres to complete earlier trade for RHP Chad Reineke
Recalled: RHP Jeff Gray, RHP Ryan Webb, LHP Dana Eveland, 3B Jack Hannahan
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Dana Eveland, OF Travis Buck
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Michael Madsen, RHP Scott Mitchinson, SS Matt Ray
Reinstated from DL: RHP Michael Mitchell

Philadelphia Phillies
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Sergio Escalona, LHP Jack Taschner
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kyle Slate, SS Jorge Velandia
Reinstated from DL: RHP Kyle Slate

Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: 1B Tagg Bozied (Brother (Taiwan))
Released: OF Chris Snelling
Recalled: SS Luis Cruz
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Steven Jackson, C Robinzon Diaz, 1B Steve Pearce
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Derek Hankins, C Milver Reyes, C Andrew Walker, OF Jose Hernandez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Harrison Bishop, RHP Tom Boleska, RHP Yoslan Herrera, RHP Brian Slocum, 3B Jeremy Farrell, OF Lastings Milledge
Placed on temporarily inactive list: SS Pedro Lopez

St. Louis Cardinals
Draft pick signed: RHP Scott Bittle (4)
Recalled: RHP P.J. Walters, 3B Brian Barden, OF Nick Stavinoha
Optioned to Triple-A: 3B Brian Barden, SS Tyler Greene
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Eddie Degerman, RHP Kenny Maiques, C Paul Vasquez
Reinstated from DL: RHP David Kopp, RHP Fernando Salas, 3B Allen Craig, OF Daryl Jones
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Kenny Maiques

Drafted by the Yankees in both ’07 (48th round) and ’08 (second), Mississippi righty Bittle agreed to terms this year with the Cardinals as a fourth-round senior.

San Diego Padres
Signed: 2B Russ Adams
Released: LHP Mike O’Connor, OF Vince Sinisi
Traded: OF Scott Hairston to Athletics for RHP Craig Italiano, RHP Ryan Webb and a player to be named
Acquired: OF Danny Putnam from Athletics to complete earlier trade of RHP Chad Reineke
Acquired: C Yamid Haad from Mariners for future considerations
Recalled: RHP Mike Ekstrom
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Tim Stauffer, C Jose Lobaton, 3B Craig Stansberry
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Joe Thatcher
Designated for assignment: RHP Edwin Moreno
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Edwin Moreno, RHP Walter Silva, 3B Craig Stansberry
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Philip Barzilla
Reinstated from DL: RHP Rolando Valdez

We incorrectly reported that outfielder J.D. Pruitt was the Padres’ haul for trading righthander Chad Reineke. Putman is, in fact, the player to be named from that transaction. The Stanford product—and Oakland supplemental first-rounder in ’04—is batting .263/.330/.427 with 11 home runs in 77 games on the year.

San Francisco Giants
Released: RHP Brandon Grabham, RHP Keiichi Yabu, 1B Victor Santana
Recalled: 2B Kevin Frandsen, OF John Bowker
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Ryan Sadowski
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Emmanuel Burriss, 3B Angel Villalona

Seattle Mariners
Signed: SS Travis Garcia (Southern Maryland (Atlantic))
Draft picks signed: C Steven Baron (1s), C Trevor Coleman (9)
Traded: RHP Justin Souza to Athletics for 3B Jack Hannahan
Traded: C Yamid Haad to Padres for future considerations
Traded: SS Yuniesky Betancourt to Royals for RHP Dan Cortes and LHP Derrick Saito
Added to 40-man roster: 1B Chris Shelton
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Brandon Morrow, LHP Jason Vargas
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Maikel Cleto, LHP Chris Seddon, C Israel Nunez, SS Alex Cintron, OF Ezequiel Carrera
Reinstated from DL: RHP Kyle Haas, C Alexis Fonseca, C Yamid Haad, C Travis Howell, OF Gavin Dickey, OF Michael Saunders

Tampa Bay Rays
Released: 3B Cesar Suarez
Placed on restricted list: LHP Jose de la Cruz
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andy Sonnanstine
Reinstated from DL: 2B Elliot Johnson
Placed on temporarily inactive list: 2B Fernando Cortez
Reinstated from inactive list: 2B Fernando Cortez

Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Jake Geglein (NDFA—Cincinnati)
Released: OF Chris Dove
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Chris Davis, OF Julio Borbon
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jake Brigham, RHP Kevin Castner, C Max Ramirez, OF Steve Murphy
Reinstated from DL: RHP Kris Benson, C Doug Hogan, 1B Nate Gold
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Luis Mendoza

Toronto Blue Jays
Draft pick signed: C Sean Ochinko (11)
Granted free agency: 2B Russ Adams
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Marc Rzepczynski
Outrighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: 2B Russ Adams
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Zach Anderson, RHP Jason Roenicke, LHP Brad Mills, 3B Mark Sobolewski
Reinstated from DL: RHP Randy Boone, 2B Scott Campbell, OF Buck Coats, OF Kenny Wilson

It only seems like the Blue Jays have produced pitching out of thin air. In the first half, they got 37 starts from hurlers who weren’t even on the club’s active roster to begin ’08, but there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.

Rzepczynski (who has struck out 12 in 12 innings, allowing just four runs), Brett Cecil and Brad Mills all are products of the organization’s ’07 draft class. Ricky Romero (infamously selected one spot ahead of Troy Tulowitzki) and Robert Ray both joined the Jays via the ’05 draft. Scott Richmond . . . well, nobody drafted Richmond in ’05 after he completed his senior year at Oklahoma State. But Toronto did sign him out of a Northern League tryout in November ’07. Prior to that point he had been an Edmonton Cracker-Cat.

Richmond made five starts for Toronto last year, but still we have six young pitchers getting their first meaningful taste of the big leagues this season—and a seventh, ’04 first-rounder David Purcey, has spent much of the year in Triple-A after seeming to break out last year. Injuries to young big league starters like Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch and Casey Janssen underscore how unpredictable the profession can be, but if that quartet returns to health—and even if ace Roy Halladay departs—it’s going to be difficult for the Jays to squeeze all their qualified arms into starting roles. It could get especially messy once the minor league option clocks expire for the seven pitchers who got their start this season.

Washington Nationals
Released: RHP Matt Avery, RHP Cory Doyne, RHP Preston Larrison, RHP Luke Pisker, 2B Jake Rogers
Placed on restricted list: C Gianison Boekhoudt
Recalled: RHP Jason Bergmann
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Matt Chico
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Marco Estrada, LHP Ricardo Pecina, SS Adrian Sanchez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Adrian Alaniz, RHP Cory Doyne, RHP Hassan Pena, RHP Luke Pisker, C Wilfri Pena, 1B Matt Whitney, 2B Jake Rogers, SS Yeurys Tejeda, OF Jesus Valdez