Major League Baseball announced 50-game suspensions for two minor league players, including one who had just recently had his lucrative contract voided.

Earlier this week, MLB announced that it had voided the seven-figure deal that Dominican third baseman Duanel Jones had signed with the Giants. Now, they state that Jones has been suspended for "violating the minor league drug prevention and treatment program," providing no further details. His 50-game suspension will take effect if he signs with another team.

Marlins first baseman Adam Kam signed in August as Florida's 50th-round pick and played in two games in the Gulf Coast League, going 0-for-1 with a walk. A product of Douglas High in Parkland, Fla., the 18-year-old tested positive for the performance-enhancing substances Boldenone and Boldione.

This time: Jan. 19-24
Previous installment: Jan. 1-18

A question to readers: Do you know where to find accurate player statistics (with English text) for Korea Baseball Organization or the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan? We're in the process of editing our Super Register and that's a question that comes up each year.

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Chris Resop

Boston Red Sox
Signed: C Gustavo Molina

Chicago White Sox
Signed: OF Brady Clark
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: C Cole Armstrong

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Jose Arredondo

After a splendid rookie season with the Angels in ’08, Arredondo appeared poised to take over a high-leverage bullpen role in Anaheim. But then Arredondo slumped badly in ’09 as he dealt with elbow discomfort. The club non-tendered him in December, and the Reds signed him even knowing he'll miss 2010 while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. [...] Continue Reading »

Major League Baseball has voided the contract of Dominican third baseman Duanel Jones, who had agreed to terms for a seven-figure deal with the Giants.

One American League international scouting director last month called Jones, a solid contact hitter with power potential, "one of the better players available from this year's July 2 class." According to one source, Jones had waited until after July 2 to sign in part due to an oblique strain that hampered him before July 2.

Athletics outfielder Grant Desme has retired to become a Catholic priest. A's farm director Keith Lieppman confirmed that Desme, who led the Arizona Fall League with 11 home runs en route to MVP honors, has given up the game.

Lieppman said Desme called A's general manager Billy Beane earlier in the week to inform him of his decision. Lieppman, who has since spoken with Desme, said the organization respects Desme's decision but will miss him on the field.

"To do that when you are at the top of your game, it's a powerful thing, and the organization has to respect that," Lieppman said. "Somebody will step up, somebody will take advantage of the opportunity they may not otherwise have gotten, but he will not be easy to replace. With the tools he has, he had tremendous potential. But I would imagine his potential is equally great on this new path considering his commitment."

Desme, 23, was the only player in the minor leagues to post a 30-30 season last year, with 31 homers and 40 stolen bases between low Class A Kane County and high Class A Stockton. It was the first full season for the 2007 second-round pick out of Cal Poly, who had missed most of his debut year and 2008 with wrist and shoulder injuries. [...] Continue Reading »

The playoffs for each of the four major winter leagues are under way, with the champion of each league slated to head to the Caribbean Series in Venezuela from Feb. 2-7. Here's a quick look at each league's playoff picture.

Dominican League

Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez went 5-for-6 with a three-run homer for Escogido in the Leones' 13-4 victory yesterday over the Gigantes, who lead the best-of-nine championship series 2-1 after squeaking out a 2-1 and a 1-0 victory to open the series.

Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano allowed one run (unearned) in five innings for Escogido while striking out six in the Leones’ Game One loss, keeping his ERA at 0.00 through 27 playoff innings with a 30-5 K-BB mark. Reds outfielder Wladimir Balentien also fueled Escogido’s playoff push, hitting .403/.452/.522 in 17 postseason games.

Reds third baseman Juan Francisco struggled in the postseason, but hit .302/.352/.566 with 11 home runs for the Gigantes in 46 regular-season games. Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz was a standout for the Gigantes in the postseason, hitting .273/.407/.682 with three home runs in eight playoff games.

[...] Continue Reading »

This time: Jan. 1-18
Previous installment: 21-31

Our first transactions update for 2010. Information furnished by MLB.

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: SS Jake Wald
Released: RHP Tony Barnette

Atlanta Braves
Signed: 3B Joe Thurston

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: C Phillip Britton, SS Andy Gonzalez, OF Jeff Salazar

Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Chad Paronto, RHP Scott Patterson, RHP Kelvin Pichardo, RHP Jorge Sosa, LHP Brian Shouse, 2B Ray Chang, 3B Christian Colonel
Released: RHP Matt Goodson, SS Zach Borowiak, OF Brad Wilkerson
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Brad Wilkerson [...] Continue Reading »

This time: Dec. 21-31
Previous installment: Dec. 11-20

The transactions update you've been clamoring for is here . . . in part. This installment takes us up through the end of 2009. We'll get caught up next week.

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: 1B Jeff Bailey, SS Ed Rogers (re-signed)

Atlanta Braves
Traded: RHP Javier Vazquez and LHP Boone Logan to Yankees for RHP Arodys Vizcaino, LHP Mike Dunn and OF Melky Cabrera

Baltimore Orioles
Released: RHP Chase Phillips [...] Continue Reading »

Major League Baseball meted out 50-game suspensions to three players, a group including a 2000 first-round pick and a pair of Latin pitchers who spent '09 as teenagers in the Dominican Summer League.

• White Sox Triple-A outfielder Miguel Negron, 27, failed his second test for a "drug of abuse." Selected 20th overall by the Blue Jays back in 2000, the Caguas, Puerto Rico, native has also played in the Cubs, Mets and White Sox systems, never recording a big league plate appearance. Negron batted .279/.324/.365 with four homers and 14 stolen bases in 103 games for Charlotte.

• Yankees lefthander Rony Bautista (metabolite of Boldenone) and Angels righty Roberto Toribio (metabolites of Stanozolol) each garnered 50-game suspensions of the performance-enhancing substance variety.

When Aroldis Chapman defected during the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands in July, the conventional wisdom was that he would eventually sign with one of the big-revenue teams like the Yankees, Angels or Red Sox.

But today in Cincinnati, the Reds have pulled off a shocker. They are announcing that they have signed the Cuban lefthander to a five-year major league deal valued at $25 million with a $5 million player option for a sixth season. According to Baseball America correspondent John Fay, the deal is structured with deferred money over the next 10 years. Chapman will receive $1 million in 2010 and will not become a significant factor on the big league payroll until 2014.

Chapman, who has been clocked as high as 102 mph in the past, immediately becomes the top prospect in the Reds system, surpassing third baseman/outfielder Todd Frazier. [...] Continue Reading »