In this installment we cover the last week week and a half of December, closing the book on 2010. At this point, teams have identified and signed most of the prime minor league free agents they had targeted, so now we begin to see more re-signings. Also, we see a few players coming back from time abroad (Tim Redding, Kevin Barker) as well as time away from the game (Xavier Cedeno, Seth McClung).

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: LHP Clay Zavada (re-signed)

Atlanta Braves
Signed: LHP Yohan Flande

The Phillies released two players from their 40-man roster just prior to the Rule 5 draft. Lefty Yohan Flande settled with the Braves, while righthander Jesus Sanchez, a converted catcher, landed with the Brewers (see below). His performance in ’10 may not show it, but the 24-year-old Flande has some promise as an athletic lefty with a quality sinker/slider mix. For Double-A Reading, he went 10-8, 4.38 with 4.8 strikeouts and 2.5 walks per nine innings. Flande pitched for Toros del Este in the Dominican League this winter, where he had run up a 4.43 ERA over 20 1/3 innings, striking out 13.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Jose Diaz (re-signed), LHP Alberto Castillo (re-signed), LHP Chris George (re-signed), C Steve Lerud (re-signed)

Boston Red Sox
Removed from 40-man roster: SS Brent Dlugach

Cincinnati Reds
Released: RHP Oscar Castro

Cleveland Indians
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Justin Germano

Colorado Rockies
Traded: RHP Jonnathan Aristil and LHP Wes Musick to Astros for RHP Matt Lindstrom
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Joey Williamson

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Scot Drucker (re-signed)

Florida Marlins
Signed: 3B Mike Cervenak

Houston Astros
Signed: LHP Xavier Cedeno, LHP Gustavo Chacin (re-signed)
Released: RHP Leandro Cespedes, LHP Chris Blazek, LHP Angel Gonzalez, C Carlos Mojica, 2B German Duran, 2B Pedro Feliz
Traded: RHP Matt Lindstrom to Rockies for RHP Jonnathan Aristil and LHP Wes Musick

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Gaby Hernandez (re-signed)
Removed from 40-man roster: 2B Joaquin Arias, SS Lance Zawadzki

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: C Kevin Richardson, SS Gil Velazquez, OF David Harris (Orange County (Golden)), OF Kevin Melillo

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Scott Nestor, RHP Tim Redding (Samsung (Korea)), OF Brad Coon
Traded: SS Chin-Lung Hu to Mets for LHP Mike Antonini

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: RHP Jim Henderson (re-signed), RHP Jesus Sanchez, OF Brandon Jones

Minnesota Twins
Signed: 3B Michael Hollimon (Grand Prairie (American Association))

Like Brandon Jones, Michael Holliman is a former prospect who fizzled in the big leagues after playing well in the high minors. The switch-hitter took 211 at-bats with Grand Prairie last year, batting .256/.343/.431 with six homers. Formerly a middle-infield prospect for the Tigers, Hollimon missed a large chunk of the ’09 season after having shoulder surgery.

New York Mets
Signed: SS Jose Coronado (re-signed)
Traded: LHP Mike Antonini to Dodgers for SS Chin-Lung Hu

Oakland Athletics
Released: RHP Anthony Lerew, LHP Travis Blackley
Traded: OF Corey Wimberly to Pirates for RHP Ryan Kelly

The A's released Anthony Lerew just about a month after signing him so that he could go pitch for SoftBank in Japan. A native Australian, Travis Blackley gets a little closer to home in signing with Kia of Korea Baseball Organization.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: 3B Josh Fields
Traded: RHP Ryan Kelly to Athletics for OF Corey Wimberly

San Diego Padres
Signed: C Guillermo Quiroz

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: OF Lucas Montero

Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Seth McClung, C Elio Sarmiento (re-signed), 3B Brian Barden, OF Endy Chavez (re-signed)
Released: RHP Sam Brown, 2B Vicente Cafaro, 2B Daniel Lima, OF Joe Bonadonna

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: OF Corey Patterson

Washington Nationals
Signed: 1B Kevin Barker (Veracruz (Mexican))
Removed from 40-man roster: LHP Matt Chico