This time: April 15-18
Previous installment: April 6-14

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

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement. In most cases, these players began the season on the 40-man roster but lost their place and were outrighted to the minors.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Esmerling Vasquez*, 2B Ryan Roberts*
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Esmerling Vasquez
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Kris Benson
Reinstated from DL: OF Pete Clifford

Atlanta Braves
Recalled: LHP Mike Dunn, LHP Jonny Venters
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Mike Dunn
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Cole Miles
Reinstated from DL: RHP Brett Butts

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Jose Diaz, C Austin Rauch, SS Robert Andino*, OF Tyrell Worthington
Recalled: RHP Kam Mickolio, OF Lou Montanez
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Oliver Drake, RHP Dennis Sarfate, SS Greg Miclat
Placed on temporarily inactive list: SS Jason White

Like the name Jeeves may predispose one toward a career as butler, the name Jose Diaz would seem to do the same for the position of righthanded pitcher. Five pitchers by that name were under contract in ’09—four from the Dominican and one from Venezuela—and the one signed by the Orioles here appears to be Jose Rafael Diaz, who pitched for Double-A Frisco in the Rangers organization last year before drawing his release on April 2. Baltimore has preliminarily assigned Diaz to Double-A Bowie.

An update on the other Jose Diazes: Jose Rosendo Diaz, late of the Tigers, is a free agent after his release in April; Jose Luis Diaz is on the restricted list with the Royals, where he's been stationed since October ’07; Jose Alberto Diaz, released last August, made it as high as high Class A with the Pirates; Joselo Diaz is a free agent—he signed with the Dodgers for ’09 but did not appear in a game.

Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Ramon A. Ramirez*, LHP Fabio Castro*, C Dusty Brown*
Recalled: RHP Ramon A. Ramirez
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Ramon A. Ramirez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Santo Luis
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Drake Britton, OF Shannon Wilkerson
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jordan Flasher, OF Ronald Bermudez

Luis struck out nearly 13 batters per nine innings as a 25-year-old in the Carolina League last year. But he also gave up 11 home runs in 56 innings. The Red Sox transferred Jed Lowrie to the 60-day DL to make room for Luis, so they obviously see something they like. Luis signed with the Astros out of the Dominican in ’02, then made his way to the White Sox via the ’07 minor league Rule 5 draft.

Chicago Cubs
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jon Nagel, LHP Chris Rusin, OF Sam Fuld
Reinstated from DL: RHP David Patton, C Mark Johnson

Chicago White Sox
Signed: C Jason Bour, OF Marcus Spencer (Windy City (Frontier))
Recalled: RHP Santo Luis
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Leroy Hunt, C Logan Johnson, C Josh Phegley
Reinstated from DL: RHP Scott Elarton

Spencer signed on in the Frontier League after going undrafted last year out of Alabama A&M. He went 1-for-16 (.063) for Windy City, but his lone hit was a home run. The statistical oddities don't end there. Spencer stole four bases in four attempts, despite not recording a hit that would have placed him in stealing position. He reached first base four times by virtue of two walks and two hit-by-pitches.

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: OF Wladimir Balentien*
Released: 1B Logan Parker, OF Carson Kainer
Loaned to Mexican League: RHP Oscar Castro
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: OF Wladimir Balentien
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Aguido Gonzalez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Mark Serrano, RHP Sean Watson

Cleveland Indians
Signed: 2B Anderson Hernandez*
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Michael Brantley

Colorado Rockies
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Esmil Rogers
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Joe Beimel
Reinstated from DL: LHP Jimmy Gobble

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Jacob Turner*

Florida Marlins
Signed: RHP Jorge Sosa
Recalled: RHP Chris Leroux
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Jose Veras
Optioned to Triple-A: 3B Emilio Bonifacio
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Marcell Ozuna
Placed on temporarily inactive list: C Neil Wilson

Houston Astros
Signed: RHP Jonah Bayliss, LHP Nelson Payano, C Buck Afenir, C John Curtis
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jeremy Johnson, RHP Shane Loux, OF Brian Kemp

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Anthony Lerew*, LHP Brandon Barrow, OF Cameron Monger
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Josh Rupe
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Blake Johnson, RHP James Thompson, C Ryan Eigsti
Reinstated from DL: RHP Chris Hayes, LHP Rowdy Hardy, C Juan Graterol, C Jeff Howell
Placed on temporarily inactive list: C Edwin Bellorin

Monger, a 27th-round pick of the Padres in 2009 out of New Mexico, had been released by the Padres, signed by the Frontier League's River City Rascals and then signed by the Royals in the span of two weeks.

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: C Ryan Budde*
Released: OF Brad Coon
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: OF Terry Evans
Placed on 7-day DL: C Anel de los Santos

Evans, 28, entered spring training camp this year out of minor league options. He made the Angels' Opening Day roster—along with Brandon Wood and Bobby Wilson, who also were out of options—because an injury to Reggie Willits cleared room for another outfielder. But when the Angels needed room to restore both Willits and Scott Kazmir from the DL, it was Evans who lost his spot on the roster. Because he could not be optioned back to Triple-A, he first had to clear waivers before he could be outrighted to Salt Lake. He did, and he was.

Evans has produced during his time in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, batting .301/.349/.505 over more than 1,300 Triple-A plate appearances. But he may need a change of scenery before he gets another big league look. In the three seasons prior to this one, he garnered all of 18 big league at-bats while a member of Los Angeles' 40-man roster. This season, he struck out in his lone plate appearance. Even if he winds up spending the full year at Salt Lake, Evans will at least have a light at the end of the tunnel. He will qualify for minor league free agency at season's end.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Vince Perkins, RHP J.J. Whetsel (NDFA—Troy), C A.J. Ellis*, C John Otness, C Mike Rivera, SS Nick Green (re-signed), SS Chin-lung Hu*, OF Gerard Moses, OF Xavier Paul*
Recalled: RHP Jon Link
Option transferred: C Lucas May (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Brian Ruggiano
Reinstated from DL: C Alex Garabedian, SS Justin Sellers, OF Andres Perez

Milwaukee Brewers
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Mitch Stetter
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Mark Willinsky, OF Kentrail Davis
Reinstated from inactive list: C Angel Salome

Minnesota Twins
Signed: OF Jason Repko
Recalled: RHP Alex Burnett
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Alex Burnett
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Ron Mahay
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Steve Hirschfeld, RHP Anthony Swarzak
Reinstated from DL: RHP Matt Williams

New York Mets
Signed: LHP Raul Valdes, C Omir Santos*
Traded: 3B Shawn Bowman to Blue Jays for future considerations
Outrighted to Double-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Clint Everts
Recalled: RHP Tobi Stoner
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Johan Figuereo

New York Yankees
Signed: LHP Josh Romanski, C Chad Moeller
Recalled: LHP Boone Logan
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andrew Brackman, RHP Dustin Moseley
Reinstated from DL: RHP Adam Olbrychowski, RHP Brad Rulon

Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Dan McDaniel, OF Jack Cust*

Philadelphia Phillies
Signed: C Torre Langley
Released: LHP Jake Woods
Added to 40-man roster: SS Wilson Valdez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Oscar Villarreal, 2B Keoni DeRenne, OF Brian Stavisky

Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: LHP Corey Hamman (re-signed), OF Brandon Moss*
Recalled: RHP Daniel McCutchen
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Hayden Penn
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Quinton Miller, LHP Corey Hamman
Reinstated from DL: LHP Justin Thomas
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Kevin Hart

St. Louis Cardinals
Recalled: C Bryan Anderson
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Kyle Conley, OF Chris Swauger
Reinstated from DL: 3B Jermaine Curtis

San Diego Padres
Draft pick signed: RHP Josh Cephas (34)
Signed: C Brandon Fowler, 2B Anthony Contreras (re-signed), 3B Duanel Jones
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Adam Russell
Recalled: LHP Wade LeBlanc
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Eric Gonzalez, RHP Bryan Oland, 2B Josh Barfield
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jackson Quezada

The Padres' 34th-round pick last June, Cephas signed on April 6 as a Southern Nazarene (Okla.) senior. The August signing deadline does not pertain to those who have no remaining college eligibility. The 23-year-old Cephas earned all-Sooner Athletic Conference (NAIA) honors as a relief pitcher last season after striking out 70 in 47 innings. In our regional draft report last year we wrote that Cephas was one of the more intriguing senior signs in the draft.

"Though he drew little attention and went undrafted in two years at Contra Costa (Calif.) JC and his first at Southern Nazarene, his fastball touched 95 mph this spring. The 6-foot, 195-pounder starts with a methodical delivery before he cranks it up and the ball jumps out of his hand. He also has a hard slider."

A Dominican third baseman, Duanel Jones signed for $900,000, even though he'll need to serve a 50-game suspension first. The Giants had previously tried to sign Jones, but then MLB stepped in and voided his contract.

San Francisco Giants
Signed: RHP Reinier Roibal, 1B Jesus Guzman
Recalled: 2B Matt Downs
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Tyler Graham, OF Eddy Martinez-Esteve
Reinstated from DL: RHP Osiris Matos, 1B Andy D'Alessio
Placed on temporarily inactive list: 1B Jesus Guzman

Reportedly one of the top young hurlers in Cuba, the hard-throwing, 20-year-old Roibal defected to Mexico in ’09 and signed with the Giants this April.

Seattle Mariners
Signed: RHP Brian Sweeney (Nippon-Ham (Japan)), OF Ryan Langerhans
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Maikel Cleto, RHP Wes Littleton
Reinstated from DL: OF Matt Cerione

Sweeney signed with Seattle after three seasons spent abroad, pitching for Nippon-Ham of Japan's Pacific League. The 35-year-old pitched in the U.S. major league for the Mariners and Padres in ’03, ’04 and ’06, totaling 80 innings, but he enjoyed a good deal more success in Japan, compiling a 4.10 ERA over 391 innings.

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: RHP Logan Kensing, 2B Elliot Johnson*, OF Leslie Anderson
Optioned to high Class A: OF Leslie Anderson
Option transferred: C Jose Lobaton (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dane de la Rosa
Reinstated from DL: SS Tim Beckham, OF Desmond Jennings

The Rays signed Anderson, a 28-year-old Cuban defector, to a four-year deal worth $1.7 million. Tampa Bay executive VP Andrew Freidman told correspondent Marc Topkin: "We're going to take some time to get him in shape, and then we'll figure out where to start him. On the front end, we're going to place a lot of emphasis on the assimilation process . . . We still need to go through what is the best city for him to do that in, to get his feet on the ground and to put himself in a position to be able to exclusively focus on baseball."

Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Guillermo Moscoso*
Reinstated from DL: C Leonel de los Santos, OF Brandon Boggs

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: C Joe Bowen, C Tyler Hauschild, C Garrett Maines, 3B Christian Colonel
Released: LHP Willie Collazo
Acquired: 3B Shawn Bowman from Mets for future considerations
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Jeremy Reed
Optioned to high Class A: 3B Shawn Bowman
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Brad Emaus, SS Justin Jackson, OF Aaron Mathews
Reinstated from DL: LHP Willie Collazo, C Alberto Quintana, OF Chris Aguila

Washington Nationals
Signed: LHP Scott Olsen*, LHP Ron Villone (re-signed), C Ty Weeden, 2B Ofilio Castro (re-signed), 3B Wilberto Ortiz, OF Roger Bernadina*
Released: RHP Stephen Englund
Placed on restricted list: 2B Ofilio Castro
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Roger Bernadina
Recalled: LHP Scott Olsen, OF Justin Maxwell
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Robinson Fabian, SS Nick Arata, OF Nick Moresi, OF Boomer Whiting
Reinstated from DL: RHP A.J. Morris, 3B Luis Ordaz
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Justin Maxwell

The Nationals parted ways with Englund amid his 50-game suspension for failing a test for amphetamines. The outfielder-turned-pitcher had just embarked on his new career on the mound in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last August when the suspension took effect. As a position player last season, Englund batted a miserable .109/.182/.139 in 29 games for low Class A Hagerstown.