Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period March 14-20.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Released: RHP Alex Capaul, RHP Chris Cox, RHP Mike DeMark, RHP Donny Medlinger, RHP Jared Ray, LHP Matt Way, 1B Tyler Bream, 2B Adam McConnell, 3B Bubu Garcia, 3B Chris Nowak, SS Niko Gallego, OF Raoul Torrez
Returned Rule 5 selection: RHP Starling Peralta (to Cubs)
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Tyler Skaggs

Chris Cox (Can-Am), Chris Nowak (Atlantic) and Matt Way (Atlantic) all signed with the Diamondbacks out of independent leagues last fall.

Atlanta Braves
Released: RHP Donovan Drake, RHP Dave Filak, RHP Andrew Wilson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP David Hale, 1B Ernesto Mejia

The Braves moved Dave Filak, a ’10 fourth-rounder from Oneonta State (N.Y.), to the low Class A bullpen last summer, but the results (5.40 ERA, 12 walks in 16 2/3 innings) did not improve. In two seasons with Rome, Filak went 7-14, 6.24 in 37 games (29 starts) with a 1.58 WHIP, 8.2 strikeouts and 5.1 walks per nine innings. [...] Continue Reading »

Every baseball fan—all right, every Baseball America reader—knows that major league organizations can exercise three option years to send players to the minors. Well, except in those rare cases when they can use a fourth option.

Major League Baseball grants a fourth option to teams when a player has five or fewer professional seasons under his belt but already has burned through three optional assignments. For this purpose, the Collective Bargaining Agreement credits a player with a season of service when he spends 90 or more days on the active list during a season.

We'll get to the ins and outs of the process in a bit, but first here's a team-by-team listing of players on 40-man rosters who qualify for a fourth option that can be used during the 2013 season:

Athletics: LHP Pedro Figueroa,
Cardinals: CF Shane Robinson
Cubs: RHP Rafael Dolis, RHP Hector Rondon (Rule 5 pick)
Giants: RF Francisco Peguero
Mariners: RHP Hector Noesi
Marlins: SS Adeiny Hechavarria, RHP Jacob Turner
Mets: RHP Jenrry Mejia
Nationals: RHP Yunesky Maya, RHP Ryan Perry
Orioles: LHP Brian Matusz
Padres: 1B Yonder Alonso, RHP Fautino de los Santos, RHP Tyson Ross
Pirates: 3B Pedro Alvarez, RHP Bryan Morris, LHP Andy Oliver
Rays: LHP Alex Torres
Red Sox: SS Jose Iglesias, RHP Junichi Tazawa
Royals: LHP Noel Arguelles
White Sox: LF Dayan Viciedo

Notes: Three lefties in camp as non-roster invitees would qualify for a fourth option if they make the big club: Sergio Escalona (Astros), Kelvin de la Cruz (Dodgers) and Daniel Schlereth (Orioles). Also, the Cubs' Hector Rondon cannot be optioned to the minors—at least not unless Chicago works out a trade with the Indians first—because of his status as a major league Rule 5 pick.

[...] Continue Reading »

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 [...] Continue Reading »

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. [...] Continue Reading »

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Feb. 20-25.

Chicago Cubs
Signed: C Rony Rodriguez (Quebec (Can-Am))

Chicago White Sox
Traded: RHP Jeff Soptic to Giants for 3B Conor Gillaspie

Colorado Rockies
Released: C Franmy Pena [...] Continue Reading »

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Feb. 14-19.

For more information on Article XX-B free agents, see our review of all 31 major league free agents who signed minor league contracts this offseason.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Thomas Brendel (Sonoran Freedom)), RHP Bobby Hillier (Normal (Frontier)), RHP Brandon Sinnery (Lincoln (American Association))
Traded: RHP Jesus Castillo and RHP Erick Leal to Cubs for OF Tony Campana

Bobby Hillier pitched in the Frontier League last season, but the best look scouts got at the former Thiel (Pa.) College righty came in the California Winter League this February. Hillier is one of three CWL class of ’13 players to sign contracts with major league organizations this offseason.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Kevin Jacob (released by Cardinals, Oct. 3), RHP Jair Jurrjens (non-tendered by Braves), LHP Harry Marino (released by D-backs, Oct. 5)
Removed from 40-man: OF Trayvon Robinson (outrighted to Triple-A)

Boston Red Sox
Signed: LHP Matt Maloney [...] Continue Reading »

All players invited to major league spring training must be in camp today, and many of them will be suiting up with new organizations.

Somewhere between marquee free agent imports—such as Zack Greinke ($147 million with the Dodgers) or Josh Hamilton ($123 million with the Angels)—and dollar-and-a-dream non-roster invites—like Marlon Byrd with the Mets or Conor Jackson with the Orioles—resides a recently developed class of free agent, one created by the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Beginning with last year's class, any Article XX(B) major league free agent who accepts a minor league deal is entitled to three automatic contract clauses: 1) he must be told five days prior to Opening Day—that's March 26 this year—whether or not he will make the 25-man active roster, 2) if he does not ask for his release and consents to open the season in Triple-A, then he will receive a $100,000 "retention bonus," and 3) if he's still in Triple-A on June 1, then he can opt out of his minor league contract so that he can sign with another organization.

Article XX(B) free agents may sign within 10 days of Opening Day—March 21 this year—and still receive guaranteed opt-out dates and retention bonuses in their minor league contracts

According to a press release issued by the MLB Players Association, 161 players qualified as Article XX(B) free agents following the 2012 season. To date, 94 of them have signed major league contracts (Kyle Lohse finally signed with the Brewers on March 25), 23 remain unsigned (including decorated vets like Scott Rolen, Jim Thome and Roy Oswalt), eight either retired or indicated as much (including Omar Vizquel, Kevin Millwood and Nick Johnson) and three will play in Japan in 2013 (Andruw Jones, Jose Lopez and Vicente Padilla).

That leaves 34 Article XX(B) free agents who signed minor league contracts, entitling them to the benefits outlined above. The team-by-team lists, with season ages for 2013 and statistics from last season (OPS+ via Baseball-Reference.com):

Diamondbacks (1)
C Rod Barajas, 37 (.206/.283/.343, 75 OPS+ in 361 PA for Pirates) [...] Continue Reading »

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Feb. 5-13.

Article XX-B major league free agents who sign minor league contracts, such as Jason Giambi or Daisuke Matsuzaka (below), are entitled to a $100,000 "retention bonus" if they begin the year in Triple-A and an automatic opt-out clause if they're still in the minors on June 1.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: LHP Henry Garcia (Rio Grande Valley (North American)), C Rod Barajas (Article XX-B free agent)

A 6-foot lefty, Henry Garcia spent one season at the University of Texas-Brownsville before latching on the independent North American League last summer, where he walked just six batters in 44 2/3 innings for Rio Grande Valley.

In an interesting bit of synchronicity, Rod Barajas rejoins the organization that originally gave him a shot as an undrafted player. The Diamondbacks signed him out of Cerritos (Calif.) JC in ’96 and he reached the big leagues three years later, eventually serving as backup catcher on Arizona's ’01 World Series champions.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: OF Kyle Hudson
Removed from 40-man: C Luis Martinez (outrighted to Triple-A)

Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Rey Cotilla (Joliet (Frontier)), LHP Sean Henn (Hanwha (Korea))

Drafted three times previously, twice from Miami Dade CC, Rey Cotilla played indy ball last season after going undrafted as a North Carolina State senior in ’11. According to his Pointstreak bio, Cotilla throws from a sidearm angle. [...] Continue Reading »

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 29-Feb. 4.

Article XX-B major league free agents who sign minor league contracts, such as Matt Capps (below), are entitled to a $100,000 "retention bonus" if they begin the year in Triple-A and an automatic opt-out clause if they're still in the minors on June 1.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Matt Bischoff (re-signed), RHP Joel Pineiro (re-signed), LHP Mark Hendrickson (did not play in ’12), C Zane Chavez (El Paso (American Association)), OF Chris Dickerson (released by Yankees, Jan. 11)

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

Chicago Cubs
Signed: C Nathan Maldonado (re-signed), OF Brent Lillibridge [...] Continue Reading »

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 21-28.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Mike DeMark (re-signed), 3B Chris Nowak (York (Atlantic))
Traded: 3B Chris Johnson and OF Justin Upton to Braves for RHP Randall Delgado, RHP Zeke Spruill, 3B Brandon Drury, SS Nick Ahmed and OF Martin Prado

Chris Nowak played in the Brewers system in ’11 but didn't latch on with an affiliated club last year, beginning in the Mexican League (five games) before signing with York and batting .285/.391/.570 with an Atlantic League-leading 34 homers and 107 RBIs in 129 games.

Atlanta Braves
Traded: RHP Randall Delgado, RHP Zeke Spruill, 3B Brandon Drury, SS Nick Ahmed and OF Martin Prado to Diamondbacks for 3B Chris Johnson and OF Justin Upton

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Rob Delaney, RHP Manny Delcarmen, OF Chris Pettit, OF Andrickson Zorrilla (NDFA—Advanced Software Analysis (N.Y.) JC)

The Orioles' foray into the minor league free agent market has turned up more than a dozen players with big league experience. The list includes not only Rob Delaney, Manny Delcarmen and Chris Pettit above, but also Lew Ford, Travis Ishikawa, Conor Jackson, Daniel McCutchen, Jason Pridie, Niuman Romero and Rich Rundles. [...] Continue Reading »

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 15-20

Atlanta Braves
Signed: LHP Eric Pfisterer (NDFA—Duke), SS Mattia Mercuri

International baseball sites indicate that Mattia Mercuri is an 18-year-old Italian middle infielder who played in the IBAF World Championships last year. Baseball-Reference has a record for him on the roster for Nettuno of the Italian Baseball League.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Zach Staniewicz, LHP Rich Rundles (re-signed)

Zach Staniewicz pitched for four seasons at Concordia (N.Y.) College, then spent a couple seasons in the low-level independent leagues, working as both an outfielder and righthander. He put his baseball ambitions on the back burner to join the Army in ’11, according to The Examiner,  a media outlet based in Hudson Valley, N.Y., but he never stopped trying to master a knuckleball. Staniewicz crossed paths with Orioles GM Dan Duquette while serving in the military, and Duquette reportedly liked the knuckler's potential enough to give the 26-year-old a tryout and now a minor league contract.

In any other organization, Staniewicz would seem to be the longest of long shots, but Baltimore did resuscitate the careers of Miguel Gonzalez and Lew Ford last year. [...] Continue Reading »

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 8-14.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Stu Pomeranz (non-tendered and re-signed), C Chase Weems (re-signed), 1B Steve Pearce (re-signed after outright assignment), 2B Travis Adair (re-signed)

Chicago Cubs
Signed: LHP Gerardo Concepcion (re-signed after outright sssignment)

Chicago White Sox
Signed: RHP Tony Pena Jr., LHP Steven Evans (released by Twins, July 24), 3B Nick Giarraputo (New Jersey (Can-Am))
Draft pick signed: OF Jason Coats (29)

Tony Pena Jr.'s second career as a righthanded pitcher has taken him through the Royals, Giants and Red Sox organizations prior to settling with the White Sox this month. (You may recall that Chicago took a chance on another converted shortstop in ’09 when it signed Sergio Santos.) Pena garnered attention in the Dominican League, where he led the league with 11.4 SO/9 and ranked fifth with a .195 opponent average, while throwing to his brother Francisco, a Mets farmhand. Tony helped pitch Cibao to the playoffs, where he notched an 11-3 SO-BB ratio in 13 2/3 innings.

A Texas Christian senior, Coats was not subject to the signing deadline. His ’12 draft scouting report reads in part: "(Coats) set a school record with 99 hits in 2010 before turning in a strong summer in the Cape Cod League . . . (but) his righthanded swing got longer and his pitch recognition regressed (in 2011), and he dropped to the Orioles in the 12th round . . . Coats could be a slighty above-average hitter with average power . . . He fits best in left field with his fringy speed, arm and defense. He missed the Mountain West Conference tournament with a sprained right knee." [...] Continue Reading »

Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 1-7.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Kyle Mertins (Sioux Falls (American Association)), RHP Mike Recchia (Windy City (Frontier)), LHP David Quinowski (Lincoln (American Association))

Chicago Cubs
Signed: LHP Hisanori Takahashi (released by Pirates, Oct. 29), LHP Dontrelle Willis (released by Orioles, Oct. 16)

Chicago White Sox
Signed: 1B Randy Ruiz (Yokohama (Japan))
Released: RHP Mitch Mustain, LHP Matt Talley [...] Continue Reading »

Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Dec. 22-31.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: LHP Zach Braddock (released by Brewers in May), LHP Daniel Schlereth (non-tendered by Tigers), 1B Travis Ishikawa, OF Adam Greenberg (released by Marlins in October)
Released: RHP Jose Mota, RHP Ryan O'Shea, RHP Jose Rivera, RHP Alex Schmarzo, LHP Casey Lambert

Zach Braddock dealt with control problems (5.3 BB/9) in his 51 innings out of the Brewers bullpen in ’10 and ’11, but he also exhibited swing-and-miss stuff while fanning 10.4 per nine. One of the last cuts in spring training last year, he struggled with anxiety problems before he and Milwaukee agreed that walking away from baseball for a spell was the best course of action. Tom Haudricourt has the details in this must-read piece for followers of the Brewers, Orioles or minor league free agents.

Boston Red Sox
Released: C Aly Gonzalez
Traded: RHP Mark Melancon, RHP Stolmy Pimentel, 2B Ivan De Jesus Jr. and OF Jerry Sands to Pirates for RHP Joel Hanrahan and SS Brock Holt

Since Jonathan Papelbon departed after the ’11 season, the Red Sox have mined the trade market for potential closer options. Last offseason, they included Josh Reddick and Jed Lowrie in separate deals for Andrew Bailey and Mark Melancon. Neither of those transactions panned out last year, so Boston included Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel in a deal for the PIrates' Joel Hanrahan.

Chicago Cubs
Signed: RHP Zach Putnam (non-tendered and re-signed) [...] Continue Reading »

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) [...] Continue Reading »

Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Dec. 7-13.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: LHP Steve Garrison, SS Josh Wilson
Released: RHP Teofilo Gutierrez

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Robinson Lopez (released by Cubs, Feb. ’12)

The Braves originally signed Robinson Lopez out of the Dominican Republic in 2008, then traded him and two other minor league players to the Cubs for Derrek Lee in August ’10.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: LHP Logan Mahon (Gateway (Frontier)), C Kevin Dultz (released by D-backs, Oct. ’12), SS Niuman Romero [...] Continue Reading »

Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Nov. 27-Dec. 6.

Be sure to check out Baseball America's enthusiastic Rule 5 draft coverage. We've got a pair of preview stories, draft results and analysis via a piping-fresh podcast.

Rule 5 selections are presented here with each player's original organization, not the one that drafted him. This way you can see which teams functioned as the most bountiful wellsprings. MLB signifies major league phase, while AAA denotes Triple-A phase. No Double-A selections were made this year.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Rule 5 selection: OF Ender Inciarte (MLB, Phillies)

The Phillies traded for Ben Revere immediately after the Rule 5 draft, so Ender Inciarte might be redundant now that Philly has four outfielders with big league experience on its 40-man roster (Domonic Brown, John Mayberry Jr., Laynce Nix, Revere) plus prospect Tyson Gillies in Triple-A.

Atlanta Braves
Signed: C Matt Pagnozzi, 2B Blake DeWitt

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Adam Russell, C Jose Gil, C Jim Vahalik (Washington (Frontier)), 2B Shawn Roof, OF Conor Jackson, OF Buddy Sosnoskie (Fargo-Moorhead (American Association))
Traded: RHP Jhondaniel Medina to Pirates for 2B Yamaico Navarro
Rule 5 selection: OF Robbie Widlansky (AAA, Angels)

Baltimore has targeted some nifty bench potentials this offseason, trading for Yamaico Navarro (second base, third base, left field) and Trayvon Robinson (center field, left field), while signing to minor league deals the likes of Conor Jackson and Jason Pridie, both of whom have value to reclaim. [...] Continue Reading »

Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Nov. 20-26.

We saw a smattering of 40-man roster additions last time, but here we complete the picture of players shielded from the Rule 5 draft.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Robert Coe (St. Paul (American Association)), RHP Chris Cox (Quebec (Can-Am)), 1B Mark Teahen, 3B Ryan Stovall (Fargo-Moorhead (American Association))

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Reinier Roll

Baltimore Orioles
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Mike Belfiore, 2B Jonathan Schoop
Removed from 40-man: RHP Oliver Drake (outrighted to Triple-A) [...] Continue Reading »

Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Nov. 13-19.

You'll find that many teams in this installment have added players to the 40-man roster in order to shield them from the Rule 5 draft. However, since the deadline for teams to carry out that process was Nov. 20, this list here is a partial one. BA subscribers can check out the early Rule 5 Preview.

The expanded Minor League Free Agent Tracker has all the signings through mid-November.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: LHP Rommie Lewis (Bridgeport (Atlantic)), 1B Kila Ka'aihue
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Chase Anderson, RHP Charles Brewer, RHP Eric Smith, LHP Eury de la Rosa, OF Keon Broxton

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP James Hoyt (Tabasco (Mexican)), RHP Jonathan Santiago, LHP Dusty Hughes (re-signed), C Shawn McGill (re-signed)
Released: RHP Kevin McKague, LHP Matt Fouch, LHP Elvin Garcia, LHP Mike Hashem, C Ryan Query, 1B Mike Spina, 2B Luis Madrid, 3B Angel Vargas, OF Emmanuel Daniel, OF Kurt Fleming
Added to 40-man roster: RHP David Hale, RHP Aaron Northcraft, RHP Cory Rasmus, RHP Zeke Spruill, C Christian Bethancourt

Righthanded reliever James Hoyt pitched for Centenary College (La.) in ’10, joined the independent North American League for the ’11 season and then latched on with the indy American Association and Mexican League this year. The 26-year-old has shown swing-and-miss stuff for four different pro teams—Yuma, Edinburg, Wichita and Tabasco—striking out 104 batters over 78 relief innings. Of course, he's also walked 5.3 batters per nine innings in that time.

Among the released players are a pair of former Army pitchers: Kevin McKague, a 23rd-round righty drafted this year, and lefty Matt Fouch, who had been on baseball's military list since July ’10. [...] Continue Reading »

Here we present official minor league transactions, conveyed to us by Major League Baseball, for the period Nov. 6-12.

Please see the new-and-improved Minor League Free Agent Tracker to monitor player movement and see who's still available.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Eddie Bonine, RHP Garrett Mock, OF Brad Snyder
Released: LHP Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton made 14 appearances in the Diamondbacks organization in ’10, but he had been voluntarily retired since March ’11. [Edit: As noted in the comments below, Hampton will serve as pitching coach for the Angels' Double-A Arkansas club next season, a hiring that required his release from Arizona.]

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Wilmi Francisco

Chicago Cubs
Signed: RHP Blake Parker (re-signed)
Released: 1B Rebel Ridling [...] Continue Reading »