This time: May 19-25

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
Signed: RHP Luis Ayala, RHP Blaine Boyer*
Released: OF Pete Clifford
Recalled: 2B Ryan Roberts, OF Gerardo Parra
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Cole Gillespie
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Blaine Boyer
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Gerson Montilla , OF Dan Kaczrowski
Reinstated from DL: C Konrad Schmidt, 3B Andrew Fie

Atlanta Braves
Signed: 1B Michael Jones, 2B Alejandro Machado, 2B Dan Nelson
Released: RHP Van Pope, C Benji Johnson
Placed on restricted list: 2B Yoel Campusano, SS Amadeo Zazueta, OF Geraldo Rodriguez
Recalled: RHP Cristhian Martinez, RHP James Parr, OF Gregor Blanco
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Craig Kimbrel
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP James Parr
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP James Parr, OF Concepcion Rodriguez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Vladimir Nunez, C Chris Anderson

For every reaction, there's an equal but opposite reaction. When MLB announced that three high Class A Myrtle Beach players had earned 50-game suspensions, the Braves had to scramble to find replacements. Campusano, Rodriguez and Zazueta each failed a drug test for an amphetamine, and you can find details about from whence each player came in the linked news item.

Atlanta signed Jones and Nelson on May 21, the same day the Myrtle Beach Three were placed on the restricted list. Both immediately joined the Pelicans. Released by the Red Sox this spring, Jones had signed to play with New Jersey of the independent Can-Am League, but their season has not yet begun. The Nationals released Nelson earlier this month after he had played 23 games in the system.

Baltimore Orioles
Recalled: LHP Alberto Castillo
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Frank Mata, 2B Scott Moore
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Alberto Castillo
Designated for assignment: 2B Justin Turner
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jake Cowan, 1B Michael Aubrey, SS Pedro Florimon, SS Greg Miclat, OF L.J. Hoes
Reinstated from DL: LHP Chris George, OF Danny Figueroa, OF Kieron Pope
Placed on temporarily inactive list: OF Nolan Reimold

Drafted as a shortstop, Moore had not played middle infield with any regularity since playing in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in ’02. That changed this season with Triple-A Norfolk, where Moore accumulated 14 of his 17 career appearances at second base. He did well enough to earn a place on the Orioles' roster, while simultaneously pushing off Justin Turner. A lefthanded batter, Moore has a composite batting line of .259/.341/.471 in 858 Triple-A at-bats.

Boston Red Sox
Recalled: RHP Scott Atchison
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Joe Nelson, SS Angel Sanchez
Optioned to Triple-A: SS Angel Sanchez
Option transferred: LHP Felix Doubront (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Pete Ruiz, OF Wilfred Pichardo
Reinstated from DL: LHP Drake Britton, 1B Chris McGuiness, SS Gil Velazquez

Doubront, 22, spent most of the ’09 season with Double-A Portland, so with his eight turns for the Sea Dogs this season, he went an aggregate 12-6, 3.13 in the Eastern League. He struck out 7.6, walked 3.8 and allowed just 0.4 home runs per nine innings.

Chicago Cubs
Released: RHP Adam Spencer
Recalled: RHP Jeff Stevens
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Justin Berg
Designated for assignment: RHP David Patton
Outrighted to high Class A, removed from 40-man: RHP David Patton
Placed on 7-day DL: C Welington Castillo, C Robinson Chirinos
Reinstated from DL: RHP David Patton, C Mark Johnson

Chicago White Sox
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Charlie Shirek, C Adam Ricks
Reinstated from DL: RHP Brandon Hynick, RHP Clevelan Santeliz, C Logan Johnson

Cincinnati Reds
Released: RHP Marcos Molina, OF Byron Wiley
Recalled: RHP Enerio Del Rosario
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dallas Buck, 1B Chris Richburg, OF Sean Conner
Reinstated from DL: RHP James Avery, RHP Jared Burton, LHP Lee Tabor

Cleveland Indians
Signed: 1B Josh Phelps (Bridgeport (Atlantic))
Added to 40-man roster: OF Shelley Duncan
Option transferred: OF Nick Weglarz (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
Reinstated from DL: RHP Connor Graham, OF Jordan Brown

A bit of a slow starter, Weglarz earned his promotion to Columbus by thumping Double-A pitchers. The 22-year-old batted .285/.387/.511 with seven homers and 27 RBIs for Akron but was off to a 1-for-15 (.067) start in Triple-A.

A sore right shoulder has relegated Chisenhall to the DL.

Colorado Rockies
Released: C Dayton Buller, 3B Kenny Perez
Recalled: C Chris Iannetta
Reinstated from DL: SS Eider Torres
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Alan Johnson

Detroit Tigers
Released: LHP Phil Dumatrait
Recalled: OF Ryan Raburn
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Casper Wells
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Robbie Weinhardt, 1B Jeff Larish, 3B Bryan Pounds, OF Josh Workman
Reinstated from DL: RHP Lester Oliveros, OF Ryan Strieby
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Phil Dumatrait
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Phil Dumatrait

The Tigers released Dumatrait, 28, so that he could sign with Korea's LG Twins. He's about to go way off the grid—the Korea Baseball Organization reveals its official statistics to a select few. And Baseball America isn't one of them. At any rate, the hard-throwing Dumatrait sported a pedestrian 17-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio for Triple-A Toledo. But as noted by correspondent John Wagner, the lefty was quite tough on same-siders, holding them to a .163/.241/.265 line in 49 at-bats, while issuing just two walks.

Florida Marlins
Released: C Robert Taylor, 1B Brent Weaver
Placed on suspended list: RHP Jose Rosario, RHP Ryan Tucker
Recalled: RHP Tim Wood
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jon Fulton, OF Isaac Galloway, OF John Raynor, OF Brandon Tripp
Reinstated from DL: LHP Jeff Gogal, 1B Logan Morrison, SS Jose Torres, OF Kevin Mattison

Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest confirmed that Tucker had been suspended for insubordination. Meanwhile, The Thibodaux (La.) Daily Comet has juicy details from Tucker's May 17 home start for Triple-A New Orleans. In short, the righthander allowed seven runs in three innings against Sacramento, at one time issuing four straight walks.

From the online account: "But before walking off the field, Tucker stopped for an angry exchange with the plate umpire, Mike Jarboe, to complain about what he considered a night of inconsistent calls on balls and strikes."

Rosario garnered his suspension for a "violation of team policy."

Houston Astros
Added to 40-man roster: SS Oswaldo Navarro
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Gustavo Chacin
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Sammy Gervacio, RHP Gary Majewski, C J.R. Towles, OF Collin DeLome
Reinstated from DL: RHP Kyle Greenwalt, RHP Matt Nevarez, 2B Drew Meyer
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Erick Abreu
Reinstated from inactive list: C Jordan Comadena

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Erlin Santos, C Alfredo Patino
Released: LHP Kelvin Villa
Added to 40-man roster: 3B Wilson Betemit
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Bryan Bullington
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Ed Lucas
Reinstated from DL: RHP Chris Hayes, 3B Jason Taylor
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Nick Francis

It may be awhile before Bullington gets another look in Kansas City. In three relief appearances, covering three innings, he allowed four runs on seven hits (one homer), while walking five and also hitting a batter.

Los Angeles Angels
Released: RHP Brian Rembisz
Recalled: RHP Francisco Rodriguez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Bobby Cassevah
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Julio Perez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Ysmael Carmona, 2B Ryan Mount

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Jon Huber, RHP Sung-Wei Tseng
Released: RHP Harvey Garcia, RHP Vince Perkins, RHP Josh Towers
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Alfredo Amezaga, SS Chin-lung Hu
Reinstated from DL: OF Brian Cavazos-Galvez

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: RHP Jeff Bennett
Placed on restricted list: SS Brent Brewer
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Zach Braddock, C Jonathan Lucroy
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Mitch Stetter, OF Adam Stern
Placed on 7-day DL: C Angel Salome
Reinstated from DL: LHP Mike Ramlow, C Patrick Arlis, OF Lee Haydel
Placed on temporarily inactive list: OF Caleb Gindl
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Jeremy Jeffress, C Angel Salome, OF Caleb Gindl

Braddock, 22, could be a real shot in the arm for the big league bullpen. He went unscored upon in 10 of 11 appearances for Triple-A Nashville. Of course, in the 11th he allowed eight runs (and his lone home run) in two-thirds of an inning. Regardless, he's got everything you look for in a short reliever. With the Sounds, he struck out 28, walked nine and allowed just 10 hits over 16 innings. Since converting to relief full time in ’09, Braddock has struck out 90 in 56 1/3 innings—or 14.4 per nine innings.

Update: As to the status of Brent Brewer, Brewers correspondent Tom Haudricourt has this: Farm director Reid Nichols said Brewer told them he didn't want to play baseball anymore and went home.(May 30)

Minnesota Twins
Signed: LHP Chris Armstrong
Placed on restricted list: OF Michael Harrington
Recalled: RHP Jeff Manship, SS Trevor Plouffe
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jeff Manship, SS Trevor Plouffe
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Bruce Pugh, RHP Brad Tippett, RHP Ben Tootle, 2B Ramon Santana, 2B Drew Thompson, SS Paul Kelly
Reinstated from DL: RHP Brad Hennessey, RHP Tom Stuifbergen, RHP Anthony Swarzak, RHP Brad Tippett

Twins hitting coordinator Bill Springman recommended Armstrong, who had recently been released by the Angels, because he remembered him from their Oklahoma amateur days. Armstrong graduated from Owasso High in ’06, at a time when Springman coached at rival Union High in Tulsa.

Harrington was suspended 50 games after testing positive for Andarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM).

New York Mets
Signed: LHP Nelson Pereira, 2B Michael Fisher
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Elmer Dessens, RHP R.A. Dickey
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Manny Acosta, 1B Daniel Murphy, 2B Justin Turner
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Alex Cintron, 3B Zach Lutz, OF Jason Pridie
Reinstated from DL: 3B Mike Cervenak

The Mets claimed Turner on waivers from the Orioles.

New York Yankees
Signed: C Rene Rivera (Camden (Atlantic)), OF Rudy Guillen
Recalled: 2B Kevin Russo
Added to 40-man roster: C Chad Moeller
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Mark Melancon
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B David Adams
Reinstated from DL: RHP Paul Bush
Placed on temporarily inactive list: OF Jack Rye
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Jack Rye

We can't find any record of baseball activity for Guillen in ’08 or ’09, not even in the Latin American winter leagues. He last appeared in the minors as a pitcher for the Yankees' Rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate in ’07, though the righthander logged just four innings. This came after Guillen, who signed with New York in 2000, spent his first six seasons as an outfielder, batting .266/.313/.390 and never developing the power or discipline to profile as a big league corner outfielder.

Guillen, 26, made it to Double-A briefly as a position player, which appears to be the course the Yankees have in mind this time. In our ’06 Prospect Handbook, we wrote that Guillen "still has solid tools, with good hands that allow him to steer offspeed pitches to the opposite field with some authority. His strong throwing arm remains his best tool."

Oakland Athletics
Signed: LHP John Halama (Southern Maryland (Atlantic))
Recalled: RHP Vin Mazzaro
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Henry Rodriguez, C Landon Powell
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: RHP Edwar Ramirez
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Hector Garcia, LHP Lenny DiNardo, C Dusty Napoleon
Reinstated from DL: LHP A.J. Huttenlocker, OF Matt Carson, OF Rashun Dixon

Whenever an organization needs a minor league arm, John Halama is there. The 38-year-old lefty has begun each of the past three seasons with independent Southern Maryland, only to be signed late each spring by the Indians, Braves and now A's.

Philadelphia Phillies
Added to 40-man roster: SS Wilson Valdez
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: SS Wilson Valdez
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jon Pettibone, LHP Nick Hernandez, C Kevin Nelson, 1B Andy Tracy
Reinstated from DL: RHP B.J. Rosenberg, RHP Luke Wertz, C Joel Naughton, 1B Andy Tracy

Pittsburgh Pirates
Recalled: 2B Neil Walker
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Victor Black, LHP Donald Veal
Reinstated from DL: RHP Phillip Irwin
Placed on temporarily inactive list: 2B Jim Negrych

St. Louis Cardinals
Acquired: RHP Andrew Brown from Nationals for future considerations
Recalled: RHP P.J. Walters
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Scott Gorgen, RHP Trey Hearne, OF Michael Swinson
Reinstated from DL: RHP Pete Parise, C Roberto Espinoza

San Diego Padres
Placed on restricted list: RHP Drew Miller
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Luis Perdomo, LHP Cesar Ramos
Recalled: RHP Luis Perdomo, RHP Adam Russell, OF Luis Durango
Reinstated from DL: LHP Cory Luebke, 2B Josh Barfield

Miller ranked as the system's No. 5 prospect following the ’07 season, but after missing all of ’09 and starting slowly with low Class A Fort Wayne this year, he has decided to retire. As long as they have him stashed on the restricted list, the Padres retain Miller's rights if wants to resume playing in the future.

San Francisco Giants
Signed: OF Eugenio Velez*
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Santiago Casilla
Optioned to Triple-A: 3B Ryan Rohlinger, OF Eugenio Velez
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kevin Pucetas, RHP Zach Wheeler, C Matt Klimas, C Joel Weeks
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jose Casilla, LHP Ari Ronick, C Aaron Lowenstein, 1B Andy D'Alessio

Wheeler's low Class A Augusta manager described his injury as a "problem with a fingernail." The sixth overall pick last year, he has gone 1-3, 5.06 for the GreenJackets with 33 strikeouts and 17 walks in 27 innings.

Seattle Mariners
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Sean White
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dan Cortes, OF Joe Dunigan
Reinstated from DL: LHP Edward Paredes
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Wes Littleton
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP David Pauley

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: 3B Darryl George
Released: RHP Eduardo Morlan, 2B Shawn Williams, OF Cody Strait
Placed on restricted list: RHP Tommy Rafferty
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ricky Orta
Reinstated from DL: 2B Cody Cipriano

According to the Australia-based Greelong Baseball Association, George signed with the Rays out of that nation's southeastern state of Victoria. The site also states that George won an MVP award on an amateur circuit last summer and that he will report to MLB's academy on the Gold Coast this summer. (Presumably, this is a part of the Australian Summer League.)

Texas Rangers
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Geoff Geary, C Vin DiFazio, 3B Johnny Whittleman
Reinstated from DL: LHP Clay Rapada

Toronto Blue Jays
Recalled: LHP David Purcey, OF Jeremy Reed
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Marc Rzepczynski
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Bobby Bell, RHP Robert Ray, SS Luis Sanchez
Reinstated from DL: C Travis d'Arnaud, SS Luis Sanchez, OF Aaron Mathews

Washington Nationals
Traded: RHP Andrew Brown to Cardinals for future considerations
Recalled: OF Justin Maxwell
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Drew Storen, C Carlos Maldonado
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Marcos Frias, LHP Jesse English, C Derek Norris, SS Sean Nicol
Reinstated from DL: LHP Josh Smoker, C Jamie Burke, 2B Jeff Kobernus, OF Nick Moresi
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Kevin Mench

The Nationals have three big league catchers on the DL (Ivan Rodriguez joined Chris Coste and Jesus Flores), so that's why they brought up Triple-A Syracuse starter Carlos Maldonado. The 15-year pro had shepherded Stehpen Strasburg through his first three Triple-A starts (no runs in 18 1/3 innings), so if he hits in Washington, perhaps Maldonado could parlay that into a regular gig as Strasburg's personal catcher.