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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.

Bear in mind that these transactions updates come directly from the horse's mouth. That is, MLB sends us updates from its massive eBis database, we work them into a form fit for publication and disseminate them as soon as we can. So keep reading to find out where potentially useful relievers like Kevin Cameron, Chris Schroder and John Parrish landed.

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

Chicago Cubs
Signed: RHP Jeff Kennard

Chicago White Sox
Signed: OF Jason Botts, OF Josh Kroeger (re-signed), OF Ozzie Lewis

Botts left midway through the 2008 season to play for Hokkaido of Japan's Pacific League. He batted .254/.327/.423 with five homers in 55 games that season but did not play for the club at all in ’09. [Correction, as pointed out by reader Ken: Botts played for Hokkaido in ’09, batting .238 with a homer in 11 games.]

Cleveland Indians
Signed: RHP Anthony Reyes (re-signed), RHP Saul Rivera
Released: RHP Franklin Soto

Colorado Rockies
Signed: RHP Juan Rincon (re-signed), C Anthony Aguilera (NDFA—San Jose State)

Detroit Tigers
Signed: 1B Jason Stokes

Stokes in 2004 bashed 24 home runs, mostly with Double-A Carolina in the Marlins system. At the time, the 22-year-old appeared poised to make his mark as a slugger. Consider that he had hit 17 homers in the Florida State League in ’03 and a whopping 27 in the Midwest League in ’02. But then injuries befell Stokes, Florida's second-rounder in ’00, and he missed huge swaths of the ’05 through ’07 seasons. He didn’t play at all in ’08 and ’09, meaning that in the past five years, Stokes, now 27, has made just 395 plate appearances.

Florida Marlins
Signed: RHP Chris Schroder, 2B Danny Richar, OF Jeff Pruitt

The Cubs signed Pruitt on June 15 as their 23rd-round pick, but they voided the contract shortly thereafter, making him a free agent. This is the first we've heard of him since.

Houston Astros
Signed: RHP Josh Banks

Kansas City Royals
Signed: LHP John Parrish

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Hyang-Nam Choi (re-signed), C Gabriel Gutierrez (re-signed), 1B Doug Mientkiewicz (re-signed), SS Angel Berroa, OF Brian Barton, OF Jay Gibbons

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: C Matt Treanor

New York Mets
Signed: RHP R.A. Dickey, C Luke Montz, 2B Andy Green (re-signed)

New York Yankees
Signed: C Mike Rivera, OF Reid Gorecki
Traded: RHP Arodys Vizcaino, LHP Mike Dunn and OF Melky Cabrera to Braves for RHP Javier Vazquez and LHP Boone Logan

Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: RHP Tyler Yates (re-signed), LHP Brian Burres, LHP Neal Cotts

San Diego Padres
Signed: LHP Derrick Loop

San Francisco Giants
Signed: RHP Kevin Cameron

Seattle Mariners
Traded: RHP Brandon Morrow to Blue Jays for RHP Brandon League and OF Johermyn Chavez

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: 1B Ryan Shealy

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: C Raul Chavez (re-signed), OF Chris Lubanski
Traded: RHP Brandon League and OF Johermyn Chavez to Mariners for RHP Brandon Morrow

Washington Nationals
Signed: LHP Eddie Guardado, 1B Josh Whitesell, SS Eric Bruntlett
Released: RHP Julio Perez, RHP Jose Pinales, LHP Kevin Light, LHP Jose Taveras, SS Valerio Heredia, OF Yhonson Lopez

Based upon the data above the Dodgers did really good in filling up their minor league system with some really good players who still can contribute in certaiin situations. Berroa still has some pretty good speed, Mientkiewicz is a solid defender at 1B, and Barton still has some great potential. I also liked the Pirates signing Brian Burres because Burres was most likely shell shocked in the AL east and now he will be pitching where the DH does not exisit. It will be interesting to see how Yates and Cotts will contribute. As for teams wo filled their minor eague system with players who will not be contributors to their major league team are the Nationals and Royals. The Royals just signed a pitcher who has been away from the game for awhile after taking a beating in the AL east not too long ago. The Nationals just signed a reliever in Guardado, no longer a closer, who is most likely past his prime. Josh Whitsell did not do much to keep him in Arizona as his bat was never a factor there, and Eric Bruntlett was allowed to walk from the Phillies even though he did perform an unassisted triple play, what does that tell you?

Posted by Will | January 12, 2010 at 10:30 am | Shortcut

The info on Jason Botts is slightly incorrect, as he did play a bit in 2009 for the Fighters.

http://bis.npb.or.jp/eng/players/43345116.html

Posted by Ken **** | January 12, 2010 at 11:53 am | Shortcut

Good call on Botts. Thanks for the link.

Posted by Matt Eddy | January 14, 2010 at 2:41 pm | Shortcut

I think people have really underestimated Boone Logan, he is one of those guys that wont blow the game open, but wont shut the door, he can give the (hated, im a sox fan) Yanks some stability and take pressure off Hughes to be a reliever. Not saying he's the gem, but alot of people feel like the yanks overpaid for Javier, when the also recieved a solid lefty reliever. I agree they might have paid a little too much, but only slightly.

Posted by FutureGM | January 17, 2010 at 9:53 pm | Shortcut

I feel that the underated signing of jeff bailey for the dbacks was a great deal. Even with the addition of adam laroche bailey could see time at 1B or LF and could be a factor as a late inning pincher vs lefties. Cheap costing bench guy who can provide power and a litlle veristlity by being even an emergency catcher.

Posted by rob | January 20, 2010 at 12:40 am | Shortcut

Hi
Matt are you keeping up with the minor league signing and if so is their new minor league signings update for your minor league transition?

Posted by Michael | January 20, 2010 at 1:19 pm | Shortcut