Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | Minor League Transactions: Nov. 16-21

This time: Nov. 16-21

For more immediate updates on key minor league free agent signings, follow me on Twitter: @eddymk

If you're a Rule 5 draft buff, you can find a complete record of every player added to 40-man rosters this offseason.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: 3B Sean Burroughs
Traded: RHP Scottie Allen to Yankees for 1B Juan Miranda

Since Kevin Towers assumed the reins in Phoenix, the Diamondbacks have acquired three players with ties to the Padres, Towers' longtime employer. Sean Burroughs (the ninth overall pick by San Diego in ’98) is the latest, joining Geoff Blum (who signed a major league deal) and Brian Sweeney (a waiver claim from the Mariners).

Once a highly-touted prospect, Burroughs washed out with the Padres, batting .282/.340/.360 in parts of four seasons. He proved unwilling or unable to adjust his batting approach to hit for more power. Burroughs last played for the Mariners' Triple-A Tacoma affiliate in ’07, appearing in just four games.

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Jay Sborz, C Wilkin Castillo, 3B Shawn Bowman, SS Ed Lucas, OF Jose Constanza
Released: RHP Jamie Hayes, RHP Edigson Mora
Traded: OF Cody Johnson to Yankees for cash considerations

The Braves kicked into high gear on the minor league free agent market, signing five players who had competition for their services:

• A solid defender at the hot corner, Shawn Bowman hit 22 homers and slugged .484 for Double-A New Hampshire (Blue Jays) this season.

• Wilkin Castillo spends most of his time at catcher, but he runs well enough (and naturally throws well enough) to play third and second base and both corner outfield spots. He hasn't hit in Triple-A—just .244/.284/.362 in 256 games—but he's worth a shot as true utilityman.

• Speedy center fielder Jose Constanza played for the Indians' Triple-A Columbus title team. He hit .319/.373/.394 this year, and in six seasons in the U.S. has accumulated 210 stolen bases at an 81 percent success rate.

• Versatile infielder Ed Lucas, 28, hit a career-best .307/.398/.480 with 13 homers and a 52/68 walk/strikeout ratio for Triple-A Omaha (Royals), playing mostly middle infield.

• Jay Sborz has undeniable arm strength (career 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings), but he issued too many walks (4.9 per nine) and allowed too many home runs (1.6) for Triple-A Toledo (Tigers) this season.

Baltimore Orioles
Released: RHP Dustin Carder, RHP Jairo de la Cruz, RHP D.D. Hanks, RHP Travis Keating, RHP Eiris Ramirez, RHP Jesse Rasner, RHP Jean Carlos Reyes, LHP Blake Mechaw, LHP Tyler Sexton, 1B T.J. Baxter, 1B Preston Hale, SS Brad Decater, SS Javier Santana, OF Edwin Cintron, OF David Rivera
Elected free agency: RHP Armando Gabino
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Armando Gabino, 1B Rhyne Hughes

Boston Red Sox
Signed: 2B Drew Sutton

Drew Sutton, a 27-year-old who has big league time with the Reds and Indians, does a number of things well. He switch-hits, works counts and plays second, short and third. He hasn't shown much power at the upper levels, but he did smack 20 homers in Double-A in ’08.

Chicago Cubs
Signed: LHP Scott Rice, 3B Scott Moore, 3B Bobby Scales (re-signed), OF Bryan Lahair (re-signed)

Scott Moore played for the organization from 2005 to ’07, providing lefthanded power at the hot corner. He has a career .473 slugging average in Triple-A, despite spending the last three seasons in stifling Norfolk (Orioles).

The Cubs re-signed second baseman/left fielder Bobby Scales, who made his big league debut for Chicago in ’09 after 11 years in the minors.

Chicago White Sox
Signed: 2B Drew Thompson
Released: 2B Jeff Tezak, SS Michael Richard, OF Ryan Lee, OF Marcus Spencer

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Chad Reineke (re-signed)

Cleveland Indians
Signed: RHP Anthony Reyes (re-signed)

Detroit Tigers
Released: LHP Tyler Conn
Removed from 40-man roster: LHP Fu-Te Ni
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Tyler Conn

Florida Marlins
Signed: RHP Frank Mata, LHP Victor Garate, SS Tim Torres (re-signed), OF Josh Kroeger, OF Vinny Rottino (re-signed)
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Brett Sinkbeil

Corner outfielder Josh Kroeger is a solid lefty bat who makes contact and is good for 15 homers and 15 steals at the Triple-A level. If he gets an extended look in Miami, think souped-up Jeff Salazar.

The Marlins re-signed Vinny Rottino, who is something like Racine, Wisconsin's, answer to Wilkin Castillo in that he plays catcher as well as corner outfield and some third base.

Houston Astros
Signed: LHP Edwin Walker (re-signed)
Released: RHP Rafael Feliz, RHP John Frawley, RHP Justin Harper, RHP Ashton Mowdy, RHP Daniel Sarisky, RHP Mike Schurz, LHP David Duncan, 1B Aaron Bray, 1B Mark Ori, 1B Nick Stanley, 3B Ricardo Garcia, OF Frank Almonte, OF Ricardo Heredia

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Steven Shell, OF Brett Carroll
Elected free agency: RHP Brian Anderson
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Brian Anderson

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Bear Bay (Joliet (Northern))

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Jon Huber (re-signed), C Keyter Collado (re-signed)

Minnesota Twins
Signed: LHP Phil Dumatrait (LG Twins (Korea)), 1B Jeff Bailey, 1B Justin Huber (Hiroshima (Japan))

The Twins add a pair of established Triple-A mashers in Jeff Bailey and Justin Huber as they look to improve their depth in the high minors. Their Double-A (New Britain) and Triple-A (Rochester) clubs finished with the worst records in their respective classifications. The 28-year-old Huber hit .220 with seven homers in 177 at-bats for Hiroshima this year.

New York Yankees
Signed: LHP Neal Cotts, LHP Daniel Martinez
Traded: 1B Juan Miranda to Diamondbacks for RHP Scottie Allen
Acquired: OF Cody Johnson from Braves for cash considerations
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Yobanny Reyes

A member of the World Series-champion White Sox bullpen in ’05, Neal Cotts has hit on hard times since then. He didn't pitch at all this season after hip surgery, and this on top of having Tommy John surgery in ’09. He last took the mound on June 24, 2008, for the Cubs' Triple-A Iowa affiliate.

Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Anthony Lerew, 3B Adam Heether (re-signed), 3B Wes Timmons
Traded: OF Rajai Davis to Blue Jays for RHP Danny Farquhar and RHP Trystan Magnuson
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Jose Sanchez

The two faces of Anthony Lerew . . .With the Royals this season he ran up an 8.54 ERA, which tied Andrew Miller for the highest in baseball among starters with at least six starts. On the other hand, Lerew had a shiny 1.11 ERA through six appearances in the Venezuelan League. In fact, he threw a no-hitter for Magallanes on Nov. 21, striking out four and walking four Caracas batters.

In addition to bringing back third baseman Adam Heether, the A's also signed strong-armed, steady 31-year-old Wes Timmons, formerly of the Braves. In five seasons at the Triple-A level, he has hit .273/.384/.376 thanks to a 232/142 walk/strikeout ratio.

Philadelphia Phillies
Released: C Osmel Reyes

Pittsburgh Pirates
Released: RHP Sheng-Cin Hong, RHP Melkin Laureano, RHP Yomar Pacheco, RHP Dinesh Patel, 1B Chih-Wei Hsu, 1B Kyle Morgan, 3B Andury Acevedo, OF Erik Huber, OF Kyle Saukko

Among the released are Sheng-Cin Hong and Chih-Wei Hsu, a pair of Taiwanese prospects the Pirates signed on July 2.

St. Louis Cardinals
Signed: LHP Raul Valdes
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Adam Ottavino, C Steve Hill, OF Daryl Jones, OF Nick Stavinoha

A 32-year-old Raul Valdes surprisingly made the Mets out of spring training and had his moments during an uneven big league debut. But he's probably not the typical Tony La Russa/Dave Duncan situational lefty candidate because same-sided batters hammered him for a .991 OPS over 94 plate appearances this season.

San Francisco Giants
Removed from 40-man roster: 1B Brett Pill

Seattle Mariners
Signed: RHP Scott Patterson (re-signed), SS Luis Rodriguez, OF Mike Wilson (re-signed)

Luis Rodriguez connected for 39 percent of his career minor league home runs this season with Triple-A Charlotte, batting .293/.364/.493 with 16 bombs. He's seen big league time with the Twins and Padres as part of a 14-year career, but prior to this season, Rodriguez had hit a total of 25 homers in the minors.

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: 3B Russ Canzler

A 24-year-old Russ Canzler hit .287/.372/.566 with 21 homers and 28 doubles for Double-A Tennessee (Cubs). He has no Triple-A experience yet, but that might change if he continues to hit this well.

Texas Rangers
Signed: OF Doug Deeds
Released: OF Nathan Haynes
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Nathan Haynes

Toronto Blue Jays
Released: C C.J. Ebarb, 1B Manny Rodriguez
Traded: RHP Danny Farquhar and RHP Trystan Magnuson to Athletics for OF Rajai Davis
Placed on restricted list: RHP Felix Moreno
Reinstated from inactive list: 1B Manny Rodriguez

Washington Nationals
Signed: SS Chris McConnell, OF Jeff Frazier

Left fielder/first baseman Jeff Frazier, older brother of Reds prospect Todd, led the Triple-A International League with 61 extra-base hits this season with Toledo. In a career year, he also made the IL all-star team and then made his big league debut for the Tigers at the end of July.

Shortstop Chris McConnell can really pick it, but he's not so accomplished at the plate, with career .251/.331/.351 averages in seven years in the Royals chain.

I like`the signings by the Braves. But could the Braves possibly lose one of them in the Rule V Draft? BTW, I'm surprised the Royals let Ed Lucas go, he looked impressive playing shortstop last season, IMHO. I can see him being a solid replacement for Infante. He's already better than Doiry Hernandez, who's a AAAA player in my opinion. Doiry lacks range at short and swings at to many bad pitches. That just won't due in the Majors, IMHO.
PS: Lucas is from Florida, same as Diaz… ;)

Posted by Jeff | November 24, 2010 at 5:18 pm | Shortcut

Did the Astros really release RHP Daniel SArizona Diamondbackssky????? I wonder if he will be upset if he isnt signed by Arizona?

Posted by Tom Selleck’s Moustache | November 25, 2010 at 1:07 am | Shortcut

No comment on the release of Dinesh Patel by the Pirates? Obviously, the signing was more about publicity than anything else, but it is of interest, nonetheless. Of more interest, it seems that Rinku Singh isn't doing too badly at all, having "graduated" from the GCL, making a cameo in the NY-P League and is now pitching in the Aussie offseason league.

Posted by RAWagman | November 25, 2010 at 11:01 am | Shortcut

I'm trying to find out if the Cardinals recent transaction with Daryl Jones would make him eligible also for the AAA portion of the Rule 5 draft? Jones was strictly an AA player until the recent outright from the 40-man technically placed him on AAA Memphis. The writers in St. Louis are trying to suggest that the players recently removed from the 40-man will all survive the Rule 5 draft.

Posted by Michael | November 25, 2010 at 10:11 pm | Shortcut

Ottavino (College drafted player, 5yrs service time), Hill (College, 4yrs), Jones (HS, 6yrs) & Stavinoha (College, 6yrs)) are all eligible for the upcoming Rule V draft.

Posted by Vincenzo | November 26, 2010 at 1:28 pm | Shortcut

@Michael

Daryl Jones & Co. will be eligible for the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft.

But because the Cardinals outrighted him (as well as Steve Hill, Adam Ottovino and Nick Stavinoha) to the Triple-A Memphis roster (for purposes of this draft), then they cannot be selected in the minor league phases of the Rule 5.

In other words, if those four players pass through the major league Rule 5, then St. Louis will retain them for 2011, without restriction to which club they can play for.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 26, 2010 at 3:10 pm | Shortcut

@Jeff

The Braves pro scouting department is among the best in the game, in my opinion. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt on any minor league signing.

To answer your Rule 5 question . . . Yes, the Braves technically could lose any of the five recently-signed players (Bowman, Castillo, Lucas, Constanza, Sborz) in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft. (Those players are exempt from the minor league Rule 5 because they're listed on the Triple-A roster.)

But keep in mind, that any of the other 29 teams could have signed these five players without Rule 5 restrictions. To Rule 5 one of the players now, such a team would have to fork over the $50,000 draft fee *and* carve out a 25-man roster spot for the entire 2011 season. It happens occasionally, but not often enough to worry.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 26, 2010 at 3:22 pm | Shortcut

Matt, thanks for answering my question about Braves signings, and I have a few other more general questions if you've got a minute to answer any/all of them. Really look forward to this blog every week or so. On to my curiosity…

1) You've mentioned MLB's eBis database. Does every transaction get reported there? Including minutiae like indy league signings etc.? And do you have direct access to that, or are you getting your info secondhand? In a way this is a follow-up to my questions about Wilkin Ramirez for instance…is there any way Ramirez could play in the Braves' system next year without his re-signing ever appearing in this blog or in eBis?

2) You said in a comment on a previous blog (in response to a question about Jesus Montero) that a player signing after the minor league season delays his eligibility for the Rule 5 draft. This is odd to me since Rule 5 itself states a player "is subject to selection at the [fourth or fifth] Rule 5 Draft following the player's signing date" (emphasis added). This would seem to suggest that as long as the player signs prior to the Draft itself (which is well after the end of the minor-league season). Can you clarify? Basically I'm trying to figure out if there's a formula for using a player's signing date and birth date to determine his Rule 5 and minor-league free agency eligibility.

3) Is there a publicly available place to find signing dates for minor-league players? Some of MiLB.com's player bio pages have signing dates, but some don't. Is there a place to find that info for any player?

Posted by Tom | November 27, 2010 at 4:10 pm | Shortcut

Mike Rizzo sure has cleared the AAA cupboard for some late winter additions to AAA.
After all the left handed hitting drafted as Ex-pos cut loose,. I would imagine Doug harris has his eyes on some LH bats in 6 year F/A and perhaps minor league portion Dec. draft???

Posted by Jeff E. | November 28, 2010 at 5:59 pm | Shortcut

I think you missed one – RHP Waldis Joaquin of the San Francisco Giants was also taken off the 40-man roster on November 19th… But thanks for compiling these lists, I love them!

Posted by Lauren | November 29, 2010 at 1:19 pm | Shortcut

@Lauren

The strange saga of Waldis Joaquin, whom the Giants designated for assignment and then the White Sox claimed. Well, Chicago tried to claim Waldis, but he refused that assignment and became a free agent.

Any player who does change teams via a waiver claim does not show up on the minor league transactions feed we publish. The reason is that they technically never leave the 40-man roster, meaning they're still in the realm of major league transactions.

Posted by Matt Eddy | November 30, 2010 at 8:18 am | Shortcut

Very impressive Lauren that you would notice that ;) - I only saw it on one or two transaction listings that he actually refused.
Matt – what circumstance allows a player to refuse a claim?

Posted by Russell | December 3, 2010 at 1:37 pm | Shortcut

Matt, I noticed that the Yankees signed OF Brian Anderson to a minor league contract. Is this the same Brian Anderson who as a Kansas Royal attempted to convert to pitching?

Posted by Mike | December 4, 2010 at 3:38 am | Shortcut

Matt, I'll try to give a correct answer to Russel's question:
according to Major League Rule 8(f) when a player is put on unconditional release waivers by a Team and is subsequently claimed off waivers by another team "within five days after receipt of notice from a Major League Club that a player's contract has been claimed, the player shall be entitled by written notice to the Major League Club to terminate the player's contract on the date of the player's notice of termination" thus electing free agency.

Posted by Vincenzo | December 4, 2010 at 8:40 am | Shortcut

Mike/Brian Anderson: Yes, it is – they signed him as a pitcher.

Posted by Petey Pablo | December 4, 2010 at 7:33 pm | Shortcut

Thanks for clearing that up Matt, but I'm still kind of confused. So if Brett Pill had been claimed by another team within a couple of days he wouldn't have shown up on here either? Or were Brett Pill and Waldis Joaquin taken off the 40-man roster in different ways?

Posted by Lauren | December 9, 2010 at 3:49 pm | Shortcut