This week’s installment considers all transactions reported by MLB between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3. The previous installment is available here.
The major league season is done, meaning that teams officially call up the remnants of their 40-man rosters as they head into the off-season. Many organizations also have dumped players from their 40-man rosters to prepare for off-season additions.
On the minor league side, the first wave of minor league free agents hit the market as their contracts have expired. The full list does not become available until mid-October.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: OF Trent Oeltjen, OF Alan Santiago
Recalled: RHP Juan Gutierrez, RHP Connor Robertson, RHP Esmerling Vasquez, LHP Jon Coutlangus, OF Javier Brito
Atlanta Braves
Granted free agency: OF Jason Perry
Recalled: RHP Jairo Cuevas, RHP Anthony Lerew, RHP Phil Stockman, LHP Francisley Bueno, LHP Chuck James
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Vladimir Nunez, C Corky Miller, 2B Ruben Gotay
The 28-year-old Perry, a.k.a. the Tigers’ bounty for Jack Hannahan whom they dumped this spring training, received a four-game audition with Atlanta but batted just .118. He did hit a triple, though. The switch-hitting Gotay, who still is just 25, struggled in a pinch-hitting role, bating .235/.322/.343 for the Braves.
Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Ryan Keefer
Granted free agency: RHP Greg Aquino, RHP Ryan Bukvich, RHP Jon Leicester, SS Freddie Bynum, SS Eider Torres, OF Tike Redman Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Ryan Keefer
Bynum, 28, batted .179/.220/.223 in 112 at-bats for Baltimore, filling in at both middle infield spots.
Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Jose Vaquedano
Granted free agency: RHP Kyle Snyder, 2B Joe Thurston
Assigned to Hawaii Winter Baseball: LHP Jose Capellan, LHP Dustin Richardson, SS Yamaico Navarro, OF Ryan Kalish
Chicago Cubs
Recalled: RHP Jose Ascanio, RHP Billy Petrick, LHP Carmen Pignatiello, C Jake Fox, OF Sam Fuld
Chicago White Sox
Granted free agency: OF Jason Tyner
Recalled: RHP Dewan Day, RHP Jack Egbert, RHP Lucas Harrell, C Cole Armstrong, C Donny Lucy
Cincinnati Reds
Recalled: RHP Homer Bailey, RHP Daryl Thompson, LHP Bobby Livingston, LHP Tyler Pelland, C Craig Tatum
Cleveland Indians
Granted free agency: RHP Matt Ginter, SS Andy Cannizaro
Recalled: RHP Adam Miller, LHP Aaron Laffey, LHP Tony Sipp, C Wyatt Toregas
Colorado Rockies
Granted free agency: LHP Mark Redman, OF Cory Sullivan
Recalled: RHP Juan Morillo, RHP Esmil Rogers, LHP Cedrick Bowers, LHP Franklin Morales, 2B Jonathan Herrera
You may think Redman’s 7.54 ERA in nine starts for Colorado was on the high side, but in fact two other Rockies starters contributed even loftier ERAs. Rookie Greg Reynolds checked in at 2-8, 8.13 and grizzled vet Livan Hernandez went 3-3, 8.03. You might even say their ERAs were eight miles high.
Detroit Tigers
Granted free agency: RHP Francisco Cruceta
Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Rudy Darrow
Well, that didn’t work out. Cruceta, to whom the Tigers handed a big league deal last off-season, struck out a batter per inning in 11 2/3 innings with the Tigers, but he also walked about a batter an inning before being designated for assignment in June. It didn’t help that he missed spring training while sorting through visa issues. Cruceta finished the year with Triple-A Toledo.
Florida Marlins
Signed: OF Michael Ryan
Released: RHP Marc Lamacchia, LHP Daniel Prieto, 1B Jason Peacock, OF Felix Martinez
Granted free agency: RHP Justin Miller, RHP Doug Waechter, C Paul Hoover, 1B Jason Wood
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Lee Gardner, RHP Henry Owens, RHP Doug Waechter, OF Alejandro De Aza
One of three Millers to suit up for Florida this season, joining Andrew and Jai, Justin continued his workmanlike relief work this season, but because he’s arbitration eligible, as was recently-released Sergio Mitre, the Marlins didn’t hesitate to cut ties with the tattooed one. (Click here for a quality photo.) Waechter was in the same boat. Florida still could face arbitration decisions with up to 15 players, including core performers like Mike Jacobs, Dan Uggla, Josh Willingham, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Olsen, Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco.
Houston Astros
Released: RHP Carlos Ladeuth
Granted free agency: RHP Chad Paronto, C J.R. House
Recalled: RHP Paul Estrada, RHP Samuel Gervacio, RHP Ryan Houston, RHP Brad James, OF Yordany Ramirez
Reinstated from DL: RHP Kyle Middleton
Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Brad James, RHP Bud Norris, RHP Sergio Perez, LHP Chris Blazek, 1B Mark Ori, 2B Drew Sutton, 3B Chris Johnson, OF Brian Bogusevic
Assigned to Hawaii Winter Baseball: RHP Chris Hicks, C Jason Castro, OF Jordan Parraz
Kansas City Royals
Signed: 3B Juan Richardson, SS Carlos Garcia, OF Cory Aldridge
Released: RHP Williams Farinas, RHP Victor Jorge, RHP Edwin Mieles
Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Pil Joon Jang
Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Nick Green, RHP David Herndon, RHP Robert Mosebach, LHP Barret Browning, C Tim Duff, 3B Mark Trumbo
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Angels signed the 20-year-old Jang out of Korea for about $550,000.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Traded: RHP Eduardo Perez and LHP Michael Watt to Padres as two players to be named to complete trade for RHP Greg Maddux
Granted free agency: 3B Terry Tiffee, SS Angel Chavez
Recalled: RHP Justin Orenduff, LHP Greg Miller, C Lucas May, OF Xavier Paul
Tiffee, 29, preserved his Pacific Coast League batting title by going 12-for-29 (.414) upon returning from the Olympics. He finished 13 points ahead of Tucson’s Jamie D’Antona for the honor—and one point behind Twins low Class A outfielder Ben Revere for the overall minor league batting lead. Tiffee batted .378/.416/.561 in 392 at-bats for Triple-A Las Vegas.
Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: RHP Joe Bateman, SS Michael Garciaparra
Granted free agency: RHP Derrick Turnbow, LHP Randy Choate, C Eric Munson
Recalled: RHP Luis Pena, OF Hernan Iribarren
Reinstated from DL: RHP Travis Nevakshonoff
Minnesota Twins
Granted free agency: OF Howie Clark
New York Mets
Granted free agency: C Raul Casanova, OF Chris Aguila, OF Brady Clark
New York Yankees
Recalled: RHP Ian Kennedy, RHP Jeff Marquez, LHP Chase Wright, 1B Shelley Duncan, OF Justin Christian
Reinstated from DL: RHP Brandon Braboy, RHP Luke Greinke, OF Josue Calzado
Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Phil Hughes, RHP Jeff Marquez, RHP Humberto Sanchez, RHP Kevin Whelan, C Kevin Russo, 1B Juan Miranda, OF Austin Jackson
Oakland Athletics
Granted free agency: LHP Lenny DiNardo, 1B Wes Bankston
Recalled: RHP Henry Rodriguez, C Landon Powell, SS Gregorio Petit, OF Javier Herrera, OF Matt Murton, OF Richie Robnett
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Kirk Saarloos, 2B Donnie Murphy
Reinstated from DL: C Landon Powell
Philadelphia Phillies
Removed from 40-man roster: OF T.J. Bohn
St. Louis Cardinals
Granted free agency: 3B Rico Washington
Recalled: RHP Mitchell Boggs, RHP Blake Hawksworth, RHP Mike Parisi, RHP Mark Worrell, 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir
San Diego Padres
Acquired: RHP Eduardo Perez and LHP Michael Watt from Dodgers as two players to be named to complete trade of RHP Greg Maddux
Granted free agency: RHP Bryan Corey, RHP Brian Falkenborg, RHP Justin Germano, 1B Brian Myrow
Reinstated from DL: RHP Paul Abraham, RHP Simon Berroa, RHP Matt Bush, RHP Andrew Gribbin, RHP Jose Guevara, RHP John Hudgins, RHP Matt Huff, RHP John Hussey, RHP Neil Jamison, RHP Tyler Mead, LHP Steve Garrison, LHP Allen Harrington, LHP Sean Henn, LHP Matt Lachappa, LHP Nick Schmidt, LHP Will Startup, LHP Euclides Viloria, 3B Marshall McDougall, SS Drew Cumberland, SS Jodam Rivera, OF Chad Huffman, OF Kellen Kulbacki
Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Greg Burke, RHP Cesar Carrillo, RHP Mike Ekstrom, RHP Wilton Lopez, 1B Kyle Blanks, SS Sean Kazmar, OF Mike Baxter, OF Chad Huffman
Corey contributed 39 innings (and Falkenborg 10 2/3 innings) to the San Diego bullpen. They weren’t all quality innings, unfortunately. Germano went 0-3, 6.35 in six starts to open the season, but by the end of May he was in Triple-A Portland, where he continued to struggle (2-9, 5.51 in 17 games).
San Francisco Giants
Granted free agency: RHP Vinnie Chulk
Recalled: RHP Kelvin Pichardo, C Eliezer Alfonzo, 2B Travis Denker, SS Brian Bocock
Seattle Mariners
Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Doug Fister, RHP Stephen Kahn, C Rob Johnson, SS Carlos Triunfel
Assigned to Hawaii Winter Baseball: RHP Rob Harmon, RHP Steven Richard, 1B Johan Limonta, OF James McOwen
Tampa Bay Rays
Granted free agency: OF Nathan Haynes
Recalled: LHP James Houser, 2B Elliot Johnson, SS Reid Brignac
Texas Rangers
Granted free agency: RHP Jose Diaz, 2B Ryan Roberts, OF Jason Ellison
Removed from 40-man roster: RHP Brian Gordon, LHP A.J. Murray, LHP John Rheinecker, LHP Bill White
Toronto Blue Jays
Reinstated from DL: RHP Rick Bauer, RHP Ross Buckwalter, RHP Billy Carnline, RHP Lance Carter, RHP Cody Dunbar, RHP Robert Leffler, RHP Trystan Magnuson, RHP Julio Pinto, RHP Jason Roenicke, LHP Gustavo Chacin, C Kyle Phillips, 1B Chip Cannon, 1B Brant Colamarino, SS Jason Armstrong, SS Ryan Klosterman, OF Aaron Mathews, OF Sean Shoffit, OF Eric Thames, OF Matt Watson
Washington Nationals
Granted free agency: RHP Brian Sanches
Assigned to Arizona Fall League: RHP Adam Carr, RHP Zech Zinicola, LHP Ross Detwiler, LHP Cory VanAllen, 1B Bill Rhinehart, 3B Leonard Davis, SS Ian Desmond
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It seems some of the same AAAA players hit the minor league free agent market each year. It would be nice to see MLB and their MILB affiliates reach an agreement where AAA teams can control half of their own roster. That way some of these career minor leaguers could establish themselves in one triple A market.
This could make for a little extra line-up work for the triple A teams in the spring. But since major league clubs put mostly organizational players at triple A, they should be able to work together.
Posted by Phil Case | October 8, 2008 at 12:31 pm | ShortcutFree agency is a right attained by these players because of their perseverance, for grinding through six (or more) seasons in the minors. Like any employee, they ought to be able to seek work where demand for their services exists. Furthermore, any situation that imposes an employer upon the employee serves only to diminish the latter’s earning power.
In some cases, players can eschew free agency and stay with the same organization. But for many players, the freedom to choose organizations is crucial, whether because they want to relocate to a certain geographical area or because they think a different organization can enhance their ability to further their careers.
As it is at the big league level, money is also a factor, especially with regard to players signing with Japanese or Korean league teams.
Posted by Matt Eddy | October 10, 2008 at 8:47 pm | Shortcut