Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Feb. 26-March 8.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Josh Booty

It's official: The Diamondbacks actually signed 37-year-old Josh Booty to a minor league contract after he won the MLB Network reality series competition "The Next Knuckler." Booty made the majors as a third baseman with the 1996-98 Marlins and apparently still had his rights controlled by Miami (see below).

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: 2B Tucker Nathans (Newark (Cam-Am))

Boston Red Sox
Signed: LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Drake Britton

Drake Britton faces charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving and property damage following his arrest in Estero, Fla., in early March. The Red Sox optioned him to minor league camp the following day.

Chicago Cubs
Signed: RHP Armando Rivero
Released: RHP Carlos Severino
Optioned to Double-A: OF Matt Szczur

According to correspondent Phil Rogers, Cuban defector Armando Rivero finally signed with the Cubs after being waylaid in Haiti while waiting for a visa. He throws a mid-90s fastball and a splitter, which the Cubs believe make him a potential middle reliever. He's either 23 or 24, so his signing does not affect Chicago's international spending budget.

Chicago White Sox
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Charlie Leesman

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Mark Prior (released by Red Sox, Aug. 17)

Colorado Rockies
Signed: RHP Bobby Cassevah (elected free agency from Angels), 3B C.J. Gillman (Windy City (Frontier))

C.J. Gillman hails from the Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo., and following his senior year at Dayton last year he hit .246/.328/.318 in 211 at-bats in the Frontier League. 

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Justin Souza, C Dan Killian (Evansville (Frontier))

Houston Astros
Signed: C Cody Clark

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Cesar Arreaza, 3B Freddy Sandoval (Somerset (Atlantic))
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Noel Arguelles

Los Angeles Angels
Released: RHP Hiroyuki Kobayashi
Elected free agency: RHP Bobby Cassevah
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Steve Geltz
Removed from 40-man: RHP Bobby Cassevah (outrighted to Triple-A)

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Pablo Gonzalez, OF Robbie Garvey (Washington (Frontier))
Released: RHP Hector Correa

Miami Marlins
Released: RHP Michael Wuertz, 3B Josh Booty
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Scott Maine
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Arquimedes Caminero, 3B Zack Cox

Milwaukee Brewers
Released: RHP Juan Francisco, RHP Yefri Saba, C Deivi Mejia, OF Malcolm Dowell
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Santo Manzanillo, RHP Ariel Pena, LHP Miguel de los Santos

Minnesota Twins
Signed: RHP Kyle Davies (did not play in ’12), LHP Chad Rodgers (released by Braves, July 12)

New York Mets
Signed: RHP LaTroy Hawkins (re-signed)
Released: RHP LaTroy Hawkins (subsequently re-signed), 1B Kevin Weijgertse

New York Yankees
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B David Adams

Oakland Athletics
Signed: 2B Antonio Lamas (Monclova (Mexican))

A 23-year-old middle infielder who already has five seasons in the Mexican League under his belt, Antonio Lamas is a career .307/.350/.437 hitter for Monclova through more than 1,300 at-bats. He ranked second in the ML last year with 153 hits and third with 34 doubles, while batting .336/.383/.523 in 455 at-bats.

Philadelphia Phillies
Signed: RHP Troy Marks, C Matt Hitt (Arizona (Freedom)), 2B Shawn Williams (Long Island (Atlantic)), SS Miguel Abreu (re-signed), SS Andres Blanco (re-signed)

The Phillies scouted 6-foot-5 righty Troy Marks in the California Winter League early this year. He went undrafted out of Nevada-Las Vegas in 2012.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: C Brian Esposito
Released: LHP Aaron Poreda

Hard-throwing lefty Aaron Poreda is best known either for being the 25th pick in the ’07 draft (by the White Sox) or for being the centerpiece of the ’09 Jake Peavy trade (with the Padres). He walked 141 batters in 141 innings at Triple-A, so San Diego left Poreda exposed in the ’11 minor league Rule 5 draft. The Pirates selected him, though he made just three appearances for Double-A Altoona last season while dealing with a shoulder injury.

Padres correspondent Tom Krasovic (@UTkrasovic) tweeted that the prize of the Peavy trade "was, is, and always will be saving $56 million."

San Francisco Giants
Optioned to high Class A: 1B Angel Villalona

Seattle Mariners
Released: OF Richard Palase

Texas Rangers
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Roman Mendez
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Matt West

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: SS Munenori Kawasaki (released by Mariners, Oct. 24)
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Moises Sierra

Washington Nationals
Signed: 3B Melvin Dorta (did not play in ’12), OF Jason Michaels (re-signed), OF Israel Mota
Released: LHP Will Ohman
Optioned to low Class A: LHP Matt Purke

Jason Michaels, who hit .202/.265/.288 in 104 at-bats for Triple-A Syracuse a year ago, apparently will wear two hats this season: player and minor league hitting coach.

Israel Mota is the second player signed by the Nationals out of the International Prospect League this offseason. They also signed righthander Luis Torres in February.