Here we present minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Dec. 14-21.

This will be the final transactions installment of 2012, but the feature will return in January.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Brad Allen (Florence (Frontier)), RHP Nelson Figueroa, RHP Alexis Lara, RHP Warner Madrigal, C Mark Reed (released by D-backs, July 7)
Return of Rule 5 pick: SS Gustavo Nunez (to Tigers)

Atlanta Braves
Released: SS K.C. Clabough, SS Logan Robbins

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Chase Johnson (Amarillo (American Association)), RHP Marcel Prado (El Paso (American Association)), RHP Zech Zinicola, SS Chris Wade (Windy City (Frontier))
Removed from 40-man: 1B Steve Pearce (outrighted to Triple-A)

Boston Red Sox
Removed from 40-man: RHP Pedro Beato (outrighted to Triple-A)

Chicago Cubs
Signed: RHP Drew Carpenter, RHP Chang-Yong Lim (Yakult (Japan)), RHP Cory Wade, 1B Brad Nelson
Released: RHP Pete Levitt, RHP Bryce Shafer, LHP Willengton Cruz
Removed from 40-man: LHP Gerardo Concepcion (outrighted to low Class A)

A Korean national, Chang-Yong Lim has posted fine results as a sidearming righty reliever in Japan. In five seasons with Yakult, he notched 128 saves to go with a 2.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and ratios of 8.9 strikeouts and 2.6 walks per nine innings. Lim missed the bulk of last season after having Tommy John surgery, and the 36-year-old won't be expected back until the second half of this season.

Chicago White Sox
Signed: RHP Jeff Gray, RHP Matt Zaleski (re-signed), C Damaso Espino (re-signed), 3B Andy Gonzalez

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Loek Van Mil, C Corky Miller (re-signed)
Released: LHP Mitch Clarke, OF Jose Valdelamar

Cleveland Indians
Signed: RHP Joe Martinez

Colorado Rockies
Signed: RHP Justin Berg, RHP Logan Kensing, 3B Russ Mitchell (released by Giants, Aug. 16)

Detroit Tigers
Removed from 40-man: LHP Matt Hoffman (outrighted to Triple-A)

Houston Astros
Traded: LHP Rob Rasmussen to Dodgers for RHP John Ely
Removed from 40-man: 3B Brandon Laird, OF Che-Hsuan Lin (both players outrighted to Triple-A)

Kansas City Royals
Signed: OF Xavier Nady
Released: OF Pat White

Because he's an Article XX-B major league free agent, Xavier Nady will receive a $100,000 retention bonus if the Royals assign him to Triple-A to begin the 2013 season. He also receives an automatic June 1 opt-out date if he is playing in the minors at the time.

Los Angeles Angels
Released: RHP Baudilio Lopez, 2B Landis Ware

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: 3B Dallas McPherson
Traded: RHP John Ely to Astros for LHP Rob Rasmussen
Removed from 40-man: OF Scott Van Slyke (outrighted to Triple-A)

Miami Marlins
Signed: RHP John Maine, SS Chris Gutierrez (re-signed)

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: 2B Donnie Murphy, SS Blake Davis
Released: LHP Mike Francisco, LHP Elliot Glynn, LHP Connor Whalen

Minnesota Twins
Released: 1B Joshua Hendricks

New York Mets
Signed: SS Josh Rodriguez (re-signed)
Traded: RHP R.A. Dickey, C Mike Nickeas and C Josh Thole to Blue Jays for RHP Noah Syndergaard, C John Buck, C Travis d'Arnaud and OF Wuilmer Becerra
Traded: 3B Jefry Marte to Athletics for OF Collin Cowgill

New York Yankees
Released: RHP Reinier Casanova, RHP Ryan Flannery, RHP Jhorge Liccien, SS Yadil Mujica, OF Kelvin Duran, OF Justin James, OF Damon Sublett
Removed from 40-man: RHP Jim Miller, LHP Josh Spence (both players outrighted to Triple-A)

Oakland Athletics
Released: RHP Drew Gagnier, RHP Connor Hoehn, OF Douglas Landaeta, OF Mitch LeVier
Traded: OF Collin Cowgill to Mets for 3B Jefry Marte

Philadelphia Phillies
Signed: C Justin Dalles (released by Orioles, Aug. 2), C John Suomi (re-signed)
Released: OF Diego Gonzalez

San Diego Padres
Acquired: OF Sawyer Carroll from Blue Jays for cash considerations

The Padres reacquired Triple-A outfielder Sawyer Carroll from the Blue Jays, the team that less than a month ago selected him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. The ’08 supplemental third-rounder hit .263/.337/.401 with eight homers in 372 at-bats for Tucson this season.

San Francisco Giants
Signed: OF Cole Gillespie (released by D-backs, Sept. 20)

Cole Gillespie made a couple fruitless cameos in the big leagues with the Brewers, but he has demonstrated good on-base skills and some pop during his time in Triple-A. Playing for Nashville in ’09 and for Reno the past three seasons, the 28-year-old batted .292/.390/.478 with 45 homers in 1,563 at-bats.

Seattle Mariners
Released: RHP Angel Raga, RHP Ernesto Zaragoza, C Ivan Brea, C Ivan Ramirez, 2B Felipe Burin, 3B Jose Martinez

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: RHP Yael Regalado (NDFA—Washington HS, New York)

Texas Rangers
Signed: 1B Brandon Allen (SoftBank (Japan)), 1B Brandon Snyder (non-tendered and re-signed), 2B Gabe Suarez
Removed from 40-man: C Konrad Schmidt (outrighted to Triple-A)

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: RHP Dave Bush (SK Wyverns (Korea)), RHP Ramon Ortiz, LHP Tony Davis (Quebec (Can-Am)), 2B Lance Zawadzki, OF Ryan Langerhans
Released: RHP Justin Cryer
Traded: RHP Noah Syndergaard, C John Buck, C Travis d'Arnaud and OF Wuilmer Becerra to Mets for RHP R.A. Dickey, C Mike Nickeas and C Josh Thole
Traded: OF Sawyer Carroll to Padres for cash considerations
Removed from 40-man: RHP Mickey Storey (outrighted to Triple-A)

Washington Nationals
Signed: SS Brian Bocock
Released: LHP Raul Ruiz