Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period March 9-13.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Dan Cortes (did not play in ’12)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chase Anderson, RHP Charles Brewer, LHP Eury de la Rosa, OF Alfredo Marte
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Eric Smith, RHP Zeke Spruill, OF Keon Broxton

This is the same Dan Cortes who was once a prospect for the White Sox, Royals and Mariners, and you can get a sense of how the industry viewed his potential because he was traded twice for big leaguers. Kansas City parted with Mike MacDougal to acquire Cortes in July ’06, and Seattle sent Yuniesky Betancourt to K.C. in July ’09 to add Cortes.

Non-tendered by the Mariners following the ’11 season, Cortes maintained a high strikeout rate to the end. As a reliever for Triple-A Tacoma, he struck out 59 in 52 innings, but also walked 33 and allowed 56 hits.

Atlanta Braves
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Cory Rasmus
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Juan Jaime, RHP Aaron Northcraft

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: LHP Clayton Tanner
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Zach Clark, LHP Mike Belfiore, OF Xavier Avery

Boston Red Sox
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Steven Wright, OF Alex Hassan

Chicago Cubs
Released: RHP Hung-Wen Chen, RHP Arturo Maltos-Garcia, RHP Austin Urban, RHP Tony York, LHP Kyle Shepard
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Alberto Cabrera, RHP Trey McNutt, LHP Brooks Raley, 2B Logan Watkins
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Robert Whitenack

Chicago White Sox
Released: LHP Brandon Parrent
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Simon Castro, LHP Santos Rodriguez
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Nestor Molina

Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Jason Kilby
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Daniel Corcino, LHP Tony Cingrani
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Kyle Lotzkar, RHP Josh Ravin
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Carlos Contreras, OF Yorman Rodriguez
Optioned to low Class A: LHP Ismael Guillon

Jason Kilby, a 21-year-old Aussie, made six appearances for Brisbane of the Australian Baseball League this winter, striking out 13 and walking nine in 14 innings. The Reds signed Dakota Mitchell, another Australian righthander, back in February.

Cleveland Indians
Released: OF Ben Francisco
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Rich Hill
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Trey Haley, RHP Chen Lee, RHP Danny Salazar, LHP T.J. House, OF Tim Fedroff

The Indians quickly vouched for the quality of Rich Hill's stuff in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. They added him to the 40-man on March 11, well in advance of Opening Day. Hill has looked sharp this spring, striking out eight and walking three in 5 2/3 innings.

Colorado Rockies
Optioned to Double-A: SS Cristhian Adames, OF Rafael Ortega

Detroit Tigers
Optioned to Double-A: C Ramon Cabrera, SS Dixon Machado
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Melvin Mercedes

Houston Astros
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jose Cisnero, RHP Jarred Cosart, RHP Sam Demel, RHP Ross Seaton, LHP Brett Oberholtzer, LHP Rudy Owens

In addition to the five starters listed here—everyone but Sam Demel—the Oklahoma City rotation could get even more crowded depending on which pitchers make Houston's big league rotation. Lucas Harrell and Bud Norris are shoo-ins, leaving returnees Jordan Lyles and Dallas Keuchel along with newcomers Philip Humber (out of options), John Ely, Alex White and Brad Peacock on the bubble for the final three spots.

Kansas City Royals
Released: SS Luis Piterson
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Chris Dwyer, LHP Justin Marks
Optioned to Double-A: LHP John Lamb

Los Angeles Angels
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Brandon Sisk
Optioned to Double-A: OF Travis Witherspoon

Los Angeles Dodgers
Released: LHP Victor Garate, LHP Wilmin Rodriguez, C Angelo Ponte
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Steve Ames, RHP Matt Magill

Miami Marlins
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chris Hatcher, RHP Evan Reed, RHP Alex Sanabia, LHP Brad Hand, OF Kyle Jensen
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Sam Dyson, LHP Edgar Olmos, OF Marcell Ozuna

Milwaukee Brewers
Released: RHP Kelvim Escobar
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Johnny Hellweg, RHP Jesus Sanchez, RHP Tyler Thornburg, 2B Scooter Gennett, OF Josh Prince
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Nick Bucci

Minnesota Twins
Optioned to Triple-A: C Chris Herrmann
Optioned to Double-A: RHP B.J. Hermsen, RHP Trevor May, RHP Mike Tonkin, C Josmil Pinto, SS Danny Santana

New York Mets
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Collin McHugh, RHP Elvin Ramirez, RHP Zack Wheeler
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Gonzalez Germen, LHP Darin Gorski, 2B Reese Havens, SS Wilfredo Tovar, OF Juan Lagares
Optioned to high Class A: OF Cesar Puello
Optioned to low Class A: RHP Hansel Robles

New York Yankees
Signed: RHP Chris Bootcheck, OF Ben Francisco (released by Indians, March 11)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Dellin Betances, RHP Brett Marshall, RHP Adam Warren, LHP Manny Banuelos, LHP Francisco Rondon, C Austin Romine, 2B Corban Joseph, OF Zoilo Almonte
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Jose Ramirez, LHP Nik Turley, OF Ramon Flores

Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Sergio Perez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jesse Chavez, RHP Alex Leon, LHP Andrew Werner
Optioned to low Class A: RHP Michael Ynoa

Philadelphia Phillies
Released: RHP Ryan Duke, RHP Juan Morillo, OF Joe Mather
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Tyler Cloyd, RHP Ethan Martin, RHP Jonathan Pettibone, RHP B.J. Rosenberg, LHP Mauricio Robles, LHP Joe Savery, C Sebastian Valle, OF Tyson Gillies
Optioned to Double-A: OF Zach Collier

Pittsburgh Pirates
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Vic Black, RHP Stolmy Pimentel, RHP Hunter Strickland, RHP Duke Welker, 1B Clint Robinson, OF Jerry Sands

St. Louis Cardinals
Signed: OF Jimmy Parque (Rockford (Frontier))
Released: RHP Adam Reifer
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jorge Rondon, LHP Kevin Siegrist

The Cardinals outrighted righty reliever Adam Reifer off the 40-man roster last November, following a so-so year with Triple-A Memphis (58 games, 1.31 WHIP, 6.2 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine innings). The 26-year-old never cracked the Cardinals' Top 10, but he appeared in the Prospect Handbook every year from ’08 through ’11 thanks to a cutting mid-90s fastball.

San Diego Padres
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Fautino de los Santos
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Adys Portillo, LHP Jose DePaula, 3B Edinson Rincon, OF Rymer Liriano
Optioned to high Class A: OF Yeison Asencio

Jose DePaula made only one appearances in big league camp before being optioned to Double-A San Antonio, but just being in camp is an improvement over last year. He returned home to the Dominican Republic last March in an effort to clear up conflicting dates of birth in his documentation, but resolution proved to be slow and DePaula spent the entire ’12 season on the restricted list. The end result: He's 24 instead of 23, having had his DOB adjusted to March 4, 1989.

Though he didn't pitch last summer, DePaula made 14 appearances for Cibao in the Dominican League, notching all sorts of good indicators—1.23 WHIP, 1.9 groundout-airout ratio—and tying for the league lead with 42 strikeouts in 40 innings. He made three playoff starts, as well, allowing four runs in 11 innings.

Seattle Mariners
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chance Ruffin
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Anthony Fernandez

Tampa Bay Rays
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chris Archer, RHP Alex Colome, RHP Jake Odorizzi, LHP Frank de los Santos, LHP Mike Montgomery, LHP Alex Torres
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Enny Romero
Optioned to high Class A: LHP Felipe Rivero

Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Derek Lowe (Article XX-B free agent)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Neil Ramirez
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Justin Miller

When Derek Lowe signed with the Rangers he joined four other 40-something major league free agents—Miguel Batista (Rockies), Jose Contreras (Pirates), Jason Giambi (Indians) and LaTroy Hawkins (Mets) are the others—looking for another shot on a minor league deal. Because of Lowe and Co.'s status as Article XX(B) free agents, they receive contract provisions that other players who signed minor league contracts do not.

Toronto Blue Jays
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Evan Crawford, C A.J. Jimenez