Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | Minor League Transactions: March 6-12

Players listed with an asterisk (*) signed a minor league contract with the organization after being removed from the 40-man roster and clearing waivers.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Chris Pack (Joliet (Frontier)), RHP Bo Schultz (Grand Prairie (American Association)), OF Jason Patton (River City (Frontier)), OF Miles Walding (NDFA—Huntingdon (Ala.))
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Yonata Ortega

After signing indy leaguers Ryan Quigley and Chris Valencia a couple weeks ago, the Diamondbacks continued their independent shopping spree, signing three more players who finished ’11 out of affiliated ball.

Chris Pack played college ball at Villanova [Correction: He spent his senior season at Illinois. ME] and latched on in the Frontier League last July after going undrafted. He ran up a 4.61 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 22-17 K-BB ratio in 22 relief appearances for Joliet. Pack sits 90-93 mph and reportedly drew some interest from the Marlins last year before injury concerns scared them off.

The Athletics released Bo Schultz last April, and he has three years of affiliated experience.

Baltimore Orioles
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Ryan Adams, 3B Josh Bell
Optioned to low Class A: RHP Dylan Bundy

Chicago Cubs
Signed: C Nathan Maldonado
Removed from 40-man: RHP Casey Weathers (outrighted to Triple-A)

According to a piece in the West Valley View, Nathan Maldonado served as the Cubs' bullpen catcher last year. The Arizona native even participated in the All-Star Game festivities last year in Chase Field, catching bullpens for American League pitchers and also serving as one of two receivers for the home run derby.

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Carlos Fisher*

Kansas City Royals
Signed: 1B Ryan Meade (Southern Illinois (Frontier))

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Ysmael Carmona*, C Benji Johnson (Amarillo (American Association))

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: OF Jarrad Page

Jarrad Page played defensive back for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles last year, his last of six pro football seasons. The Dodgers signed him out of a March 1 tryout, but Page is not new to baseball by any stretch. He's been drafted three times, the first time as a fifth-rounder by the Brewers in ’02 out of San Leandro (Calif.) High. The Rockies (32nd round) and Angels (seventh round) drafted him out of UCLA in successive years, ’05 and ’06.

Miami Marlins
Signed: RHP Tom Boleska (Edmonton (North American)), RHP Miguel Mejia (re-signed)
Released: LHP Alberto Bastardo, LHP Michael Jarman

Minnesota Twins
Signed: C Billy Killian (Evansville (Frontier)), C Norberto Susini

New York Mets
Signed: RHP Craig Fritsch, RHP Kevin Mulvey, LHP John Mincone (Windy City (Frontier))

Oakland Athletics
Released: C Landon Powell
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Sean Doolittle, OF Jermaine Mitchell

St. Louis Cardinals
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Adam Reifer

San Francisco Giants
Optioned to Triple-A: SS Ehire Adrianza, OF Francisco Peguero

Seattle Mariners
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Yoervis Medina, LHP Danny Hultzen, LHP Mauricio Robles, 3B Francisco Martinez, SS Carlos Triunfel, OF Johermyn Chavez, OF Chih-Hsien Chiang

Tampa Bay Rays
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chris Archer, RHP Alex Cobb, LHP Alex Torres

Chris Archer, Alex Cobb and Alex Torres will once again front the Triple-A Durham rotation because there's no room in St. Pete, not with James Shields, David Price, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis, Matt Moore and Jeff Niemann fighting for five spots.

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: 2B Ruben Gotay

The 29-year-old Ruben Gotay could join his eighth Triple-A squad if he heads to Las Vegas in April. He sports a career .372 on-base percentage at that level.

Washington Nationals
Released: 3B Justino Cuevas
Optioned to Triple-A: 3B Carlos Rivero
Optioned to high Class A: LHP Matt Purke, 3B Anthony Rendon

A general question for you, Matt: I know that draftees and amateur international free agents pretty much sign a uniform seven-year player contract, making them minor-league free agents after six years and eligible for the Rule 5 Draft sooner than that depending on the age at which they sign. What do the contracts and service time landmarks (for Rule 5 eligibility and minor-league free agency) look like for players signed out of independent leagues, especially for players who had been at some point drafted and assigned to affiliated ball? Do the service clocks start over, or are they still calibrated to the player's original date of signing? Or do players out of indy ball sign entirely different, shorter-term contracts in the first place?
Thanks in advance for helping out.

Posted by Tom | March 15, 2012 at 3:57 am | Shortcut

@Tom

Any player who signs a straight minor league deal agrees to either a minor league uniform player contract or a successor contract.

Most amateur players sign a minor league uniform player contract (UPC) when they turn pro. The contract can be renewed by the club for six seasons, and the renewals transfer to other clubs in the event of a trade.

I'm told that the pool of players who sign UPCs are draft picks*, undrafted domestic free agents, most international free agents** and players signed out of independent leagues who have no previous affiliated baseball experience. In other words, these players typically sign seven-year UPCs.

* Beginning in 2012, all draft picks must sign minor league contracts. In the past, teams could elect to sign draft picks to major league deals.
** Select international free agents can sign minor league deals for any negotiated duration, provided that the player (1) is at least 23 years old and (2) has at least five years of pro experience in foreign leagues.

Players sign a successor contract for the first time after their UPC expires or is terminated. The successor contract can cover any negotiated duration, but typically covers only one year.

This player pool consists of minor league free agents, pending minor league free agents who re-sign with the same organization, released players and also players in independent or foreign leagues who have prior experience in affiliated ball.

Posted by Matt Eddy | March 19, 2012 at 1:31 pm | Shortcut