This time: April 27-May 3

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.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Traded: SS Rey Navarro to Royals for RHP Carlos Rosa
Recalled: RHP Kevin Mulvey, RHP Daniel Stange, RHP Cesar Valdez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Kevin Mulvey, RHP Carlos Rosa
Placed on 7-day DL: C Ryan Babineau, 1B Brandon Allen

Atlanta Braves
Reinstated from DL: RHP David Francis, C Braeden Schlehuber, 3B Samuel Sime

Baltimore Orioles
Placed on restricted list: SS Jason White
Recalled: RHP Brad Bergesen
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jim Johnson, RHP Kam Mickolio
Designated for assignment: LHP Wilfrido Perez
Outrighted to Double-A, removed from 40-man: LHP Wilfrido Perez
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Alfredo Simon
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Jonathan Tucker
Reinstated from DL: C Justin Dalles, SS Greg Miclat
Reinstated from inactive list: SS Jason White

Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Carlos Pinales, OF Robert Del Rosario
Released: LHP Tim Webb
Acquired: SS Niuman Romero from Indians for cash considerations
Recalled: LHP Fabio Castro
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Fabio Castro
Designated for assignment: 2B Kevin Frandsen
Outrighted to Double-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Santo Luis
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Alan Embree
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ramon A. Ramirez, RHP Kyle Weiland, C Mark Wagner, OF Jeremy Hazelbaker, OF Shannon Wilkerson
Reinstated from DL: RHP Kyle Weiland, C Gustavo Molina, OF Jeremy Hazelbaker, OF Shannon Wilkerson

The Red Sox successfully snuck Santo Luis through waivers, but lost Kevin Frandsen on a claim to the Angels. Boston needed room on its 40-man roster for Alan Embree and Jonathan Van Every.

A 31st-round pick last year from Palm Beach (Fla.) CC, Tim Webb signed at the Aug. 17 deadline but never did pitch for a Red Sox affiliate.

Chicago Cubs
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Brandon Guyer
Reinstated from DL: LHP Chris Rusin
Reinstated from inactive list: C Luis Flores

Chicago White Sox
Signed: SS Luis Rodriguez
Released: 1B Jorge Castillo, 3B Javier Castillo
Acquired: SS Rafael Vera from Indians for future considerations.
Optioned to Triple-A: C Donny Lucy
Placed on 7-day DL: C Cole Armstrong, 2B Zach Kayne, OF Kenny Williams Jr.
Reinstated from DL: RHP Justin Collop, RHP Leroy Hunt
Place on temporarily inactive list: C Adam Ricks
Reinstated from inactive list: C Adam Ricks

Cincinnati Reds
Released: RHP Misael DeJesus
Recalled: OF Chris Heisey
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Scott Gaffney, RHP Brian Pearl
Reinstated from DL: RHP Juan Carlos Sulbaran, LHP Matt Maloney, C Kevin Coddington
Place on temporarily inactive list: RHP Matt Klinker

Cleveland Indians
Released: SS Luis Rodriguez
Traded: SS Niuman Romero to Red Sox for cash considerations
Traded: SS Rafael Vera to White Sox for future considerations
Voluntarily retired: RHP Jose Campos
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Joe Smith
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Erik Stiller, LHP Scott Lewis
Reinstated from DL: OF Jordan Brown

Colorado Rockies
Signed: LHP Josh Muecke (Somerset (Atlantic))
Recalled: RHP Jhoulys Chacin, RHP Esmil Rogers
Optioned to Triple-A: C Chris Iannetta
Designated for assignment: RHP Al Alburquerque
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Juan Rincon
Outrighted to Double-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Al Alburquerque
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Juan Rincon, C Paul Phillips
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Samuel Deduno, SS Helder Velazquez
Reinstated from DL: 2B Omar Quintanilla, SS Joey Wong
Place on temporarily inactive list: LHP Josh Muecke
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Kurt Birkins

The Rockies released Muecke at the end of spring training, but they again turned to the 28-year-old veteran lefty when the big league rotation lost Jorge de la Rosa and Jason Hammel in short order. Chacin and Rogers got the call, while Muecke headed to Triple-A Colorado Springs to take their place. He had latched on with Somerset of the Atlantic League in the interim.

Detroit Tigers
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Michael Morrison, LHP Austin Wood
Reinstated from DL: RHP Lester Oliveros

Florida Marlins
Signed: 1B Doug Mientkiewicz
Recalled: LHP Hunter Jones
Option transferred: LHP Andrew Miller (Triple-A to high Class A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Scott Strickland
Reinstated from DL: RHP Matt DeSalvo, LHP Andrew Miller, C Neil Wilson, 2B Donnie Murphy
Place on temporarily inactive list: C Brett Hayes

Miller returned from a sprained ankle to make one uninspiring start for high Class A Jupiter: 2 2/3 innings, four hits, four runs, six walks and six strikeouts.

Houston Astros
Released: RHP Rafael Pio, LHP Rafael Luna, LHP German Perez, C Max Sapp, OF Mitch Einertson, OF Carlos Reyes, OF Nestor Santana
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Fernando Abad
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jeremy Johnson
Place on temporarily inactive list: RHP Jonah Bayliss
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Mitch Einertson

Two notable cuts in Astros land. The more prominent involves 2006 first-round selection Max Sapp, who last played on Aug. 11, 2008. The catcher missed all of last season as he recovered from a life-threatening bout with viral meningitis. Now 22, he batted .224/.310/.313 in his three seasons with Houston, advancing only to low Class A Lexington.

Mitch Einertson tore up the Rookie-level Appalachian League during his ’04 debut, batting .308/.413/.692 with 24 home runs in 63 games for Greeneville. A fifth-round pick that year, he was 18 and had just tied the Appy home run record and won league MVP honors. He then ranked No. 4 on our ’05 Astros prospect list, ahead of Troy Patton, Matt Albers, Taylor Buchholz, Fernando Nieve, Josh Anderson and Hunter Pence.* Einertson then scuffled through two years with Lexington before winning another league MVP award, this time batting .305/.365/.482 in 496 at-bats for high Class A Salem of the Carolina League in ’07. But after two lackluster years in Double-A (.261/.316/.410), his prospect sheen had all but disappeared. It evaporated almost entirely when he was busted last August and suspended for 50 games for failing a test for a drug of abuse. Einertson was on the restricted list just prior to his release.

*As an aside, that ’05 crop of Astros prospects was quite robust. Beyond the listed six, all of whom made the big leagues and all of whom still are active, Houston also had Chad Qualls, Juan Gutierrez, Ben Zobrist, Luke Scott, Mitch Talbot and Eric Bruntlett kicking around the system. Still others have spent at least a little time on a 40-man roster: Hector Gimenez, Jimmy Barthmaier, Chad Reineke, Brooks Conrad, Edwin Maysonet and Jason Hirsh.

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Luis Mendoza*
Released: RHP Riquy Pena
Traded: RHP Carlos Rosa to Diamondbacks for SS Rey Navarro
Recalled: RHP Victor Marte, RHP Carlos Rosa, SS Mike Aviles
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Luis Mendoza
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Victor Marte, 3B Alex Gordon
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Philip Humber, LHP Ben Swaggerty, C Jose Bonilla, 3B Jason Taylor
Reinstated from DL: RHP Philip Humber, OF Tim Smith
Place on temporarily inactive list: RHP Roman Colon
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Roman Colon

Los Angeles Angels
Released: LHP Chris Armstrong
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Kevin Frandsen
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Matt Long
Reinstated from DL: RHP Ryan Chaffee

Los Angeles Dodgers
Released: C Justin Knoedler
Placed on restricted list: OF Andrew Lambo
Added to 40-man roster: RHP John Ely
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jon Link
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Javy Guerra, LHP John Koronka, OF Preston Mattingly, OF Alfredo Silverio
Reinstated from DL: RHP James McDonald
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Scott Elbert

Lambo's redemptive season with Double-A Chattanooga was interrupted by a 50-game suspension brought on by failing a test for a drug of abuse. He was batting .342/.390/.566 in 76 at-bats with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: OF Drew T. Anderson (St. Paul (American Association))
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Donovan Hand, 2B Eric Farris, 3B Joey Paciorek, OF Lorenzo Cain
Reinstated from DL: LHP Casey Baron, SS Brent Brewer, OF Adam Stern
Place on temporarily inactive list: C Angel Salome
Reinstated from inactive list: C Angel Salome

Anderson finished last season in the Brewers system but was not retained as a minor league free agent. He signed on with independent St. Paul this year, but the American Association's season had not started play.

Minnesota Twins
Recalled: RHP Jeff Manship, C Wilson Ramos
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Luke Hughes
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Mike Maroth, 1B Whit Robbins
Reinstated from DL: RHP Steve Hirschfeld

New York Mets
Signed: C Omir Santos*
Released: RHP John Madden, LHP Travis Blackley
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jeurys Familia, LHP Eric Niesen, 1B Nick Evans, SS Matt Bouchard, OF Rafael Fernandez
Transferred to 60-day DL: RHP Sal Aguilar
Reinstated from DL: RHP Elmer Dessens, 1B Marshall Hubbard, 2B Reese Havens, OF Carlos Guzman

New York Yankees
Recalled: RHP Mark Melancon
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kevin Whelan, LHP Francisco Rondon, 2B Damon Sublett, SS Walter Ibarra, OF Abraham Almonte, OF Colin Curtis. OF Taylor Grote
Reinstated from DL: RHP Andrew Brackman, RHP Dickson Marquez, RHP Dustin Moseley, 2B Matt Cusick, OF Edwar Gonzalez

Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Edwar Ramirez*
Released: 3B Ryne Jernigan
Recalled: RHP Trevor Cahill, C Landon Powell, 2B Steve Tolleson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Edwar Ramirez, OF Matt Carson
Added to 40-man roster: C Josh Donaldson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Chris Mederos, LHP A.J. Huttenlocker, OF David Thomas
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jonathan Joseph, 2B Adrian Cardenas, SS Josh Horton

Philadelphia Phillies
Recalled: LHP Antonio Bastardo
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Antonio Bastardo (twice)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Mike Cisco, RHP Jay Stephens, 2B Keoni DeRenne
Reinstated from DL: OF Quintin Berry

Pittsburgh Pirates
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: OF Brandon Jones
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Jeff Karstens
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kevin Hart, RHP Phillip Irwin
Reinstated from DL: RHP Vinnie Chulk
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Steven Jackson

St. Louis Cardinals
Released: RHP Josh Dew
Optioned to Triple-A: C Bryan Anderson
Option transferred: RHP Francisco Samuel (Double-A to high Class A)
Reinstated from DL: RHP Josh Dew, RHP Francisco Samuel, 1B Mark Hamilton

San Diego Padres
Signed: 3B Christian Colonel
Recalled: 2B Matt Antonelli
Added to 40-man roster: SS Lance Zawadzki
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Mike DeMark, RHP Chris Fetter
Reinstated from DL: RHP Bryan Oland, C Griffin Benedict, C Eric Munson, 2B Matt Antonelli

Starting shortstop Everth Cabrera went on the 60-day DL while, almost simultaneously, Matt Antonelli had surgery on the hamate bone in his left hand, paving the way for Zawadzki to make the big league club. [Correction: Antonellli went on a 60-day sabbatical, while Cabrera went to the 15-day DL. ME.] Zawadzki wasn't exactly tearing it up with Triple-A Portland, where he was batting .162/.240/.176 with one extra-base hit in 68 at-bats.

San Francisco Giants
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Waldis Joaquin
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Hector Correa, 2B Derin McMains

Seattle Mariners
Released: RHP Ricky Orta
Added to 40-man roster: SS Josh Wilson, OF Ryan Langerhans
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Shawn Kelley, 3B Jack Hannahan, 3B Matt Tuiasosopo
Place on temporarily inactive list: RHP David Pauley, RHP Marwin Vega
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Marwin Vega

Orta had Tommy John surgery this spring. By releasing him when they did, Seattle not only opened space on its 40-man roster, but also freed up a 60-day DL spot and avoided a situation where Orta would collect big league service time while on the sidelines. He has yet to throw a pitch in the big leagues.

Tampa Bay Rays
Released: RHP Virgil Vasquez, 2B Luis Marchena, 3B Juan Cuello, OF Jason Patton
Recalled: C Jose Lobaton
Optioned to Triple-A: C Jose Lobaton
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Joaquin Benoit
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Ryan Royster
Reinstated from DL: RHP Virgil Vasquez, OF Rashad Eldridge

As we learned last week, Vasquez broke both his wrists when the scooter he was driving collided with a car in Durham, N.C., where he had made three Triple-A starts. [Update: The Rays re-signed Vasquez to a new minor league deal, according to the Durham Bulls. He's rehabbing his wrist injuries in extended spring training. ME.]

Texas Rangers
Recalled: C Max Ramirez, OF Craig Gentry
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Tommy Hunter, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C Taylor Teagarden
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Brandon McCarthy, 3B Jonathan Greene
Place on temporarily inactive list: C Jose Felix

You don’t often see a team swap out both its catchers at the same time. But that's what the Rangers did when they sent Saltalamacchia and Teagarden to Oklahoma City and installed Max Ramirez and Matt Treanor.

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: RHP Merkin Valdez*
Released: RHP Zach Dials, 2B Howie Clark
Recalled: RHP Josh Roenicke
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jeremy Accardo
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Merkin Valdez
Option transferred: 3B Shawn Bowman (high Class A to Double-A)
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Rommie Lewis
Placed on 7-day DL: C Travis d'Arnaud, C Karim Turkamani, 3B Mark Sobolewski, SS Luis Sanchez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Dumas Garcia, C Jonathan Jaspe, 2B Howie Clark, 2B Brad Emaus, 3B Kevin Ahrens, OF Chris Hopkins

The Blue Jays placed d'Arnaud on the DL as a precautionary move. They expect him to miss at least two weeks with a tweaked back. No structural damage was detected.

At one time Toronto harbored expectations for Dials, 24, as a power relief prospect, but he just did not clear the Double-A hurdle. The ’06 28th-rounder from Kentucky made 65 relief appearances for New Hampshire in the past three seasons, but he walked nearly five batters per nine innings and struck out a hair under seven.

Washington Nationals
Signed: LHP Jesse English*
Placed on restricted list: RHP Colton Willems
Recalled: OF Roger Bernadina
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Jesse English
Placed on 7-day DL: C Ty Weeden, 2B Jeff Kobernus
Reinstated from DL: RHP Patrick Arnold, RHP Robinson Fabian, LHP Ron Villone, SS Dan Lyons, OF Mike Daniel
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Justin Phillabaum, LHP Patrick McCoy

The 22nd overall pick in ’06, Willems decided to retire from baseball. The Nationals placed him on the restricted list so that they can retain his services if he again decides to play. This case illustrates perfectly one of the restricted list's main functions—the other big one being a place to stash players suspended for drug violations.