This time: April 19-24
Previous installment: April 11-18

I’ve been meaning to get to this for some time, but a reader’s comment on last week’s transactions blog finally prompted me to act. Here for the first time is a Transactions Glossary to help you decipher the various inactive lists used by major league organizations on the minor league side of things.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: LHP Clay Zavada

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Manny Acosta, RHP Charlie Morton, OF Gregor Blanco
Released: OF Joe Borchard
Recalled: OF Brandon Jones
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Brian Barton
Placed on 7-day DL: C Jose Camarena, SS Chais Fuller, OF Willie Cabrera
Reinstated from DL: RHP Erik Cordier, 1B Greg Creek, SS Chad Lundahl
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Vladimir Nunez

Off to a .119/.245/.214 start in 12 games for Triple-A Gwinnett and facing the prospect of decreased playing time with the acquisition of Barton, Borchard drew his release by the Braves. Though he’s spent six of the past seven years rooted almost exclusively in Triple-A, batting .275/.351/.481 with 119 home runs, the 30-year-old switch-hitter has lived a charmed life. The 12th overall pick out of Stanford in 2000 by the White Sox, Borchard signed for $5.3 million, which at the time was the record for a player who signed with the club that drafted him. (The record stood until 2005 when Justin Upton got $6.1 million from the Diamondbacks.) But despite their cash outlay, the White Sox never did hand the keys to center field over to Borchard, who batted just .191/.254/.342 with 93 strikeouts in 328 plate appearances for the big club from 2002 to 2005. Once his minor league options expired, in 2006, Chicago traded him to the Mariners for lefty Matt Thornton—who also was considered a busted first-round pick at the time. And as it’s played out, that ’06 season was the only one in which Borchard did not spend any time in the minors. He batted .230/.319/.393 in 270 PAs as a part-timer for the Mariners and Marlins, after he joined Florida on a waiver claim in May.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Chris Kelly
Recalled: RHP Brad Bergesen, OF Lou Montanez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Radhames Liz
Reinstated from DL: C Robby Hammock
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Ryan Rodriguez
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Ryan Rodriguez

Bergesen, an offseason addition to the 40-man roster, received his first major league callup when Alfredo Simon hit the shelf with an elbow injury. The ’04 fourth-rounder sports a strong minor league résumé as a strike-throwing righty with average stuff and a funky arm action. The 23-year-old is off to a 1-0, 5.59 start through two starts with Baltimore, with 7-3 K-BB and three home runs allowed in 9 2/3 innings.

Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Dave McKae
Released: RHP Devern Hansack
Acquired: LHP Kason Gabbard from Rangers for cash
Added to 40-man roster: 1B Jeff Bailey
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Chris Carter
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Jeff Natale, OF Zach Daeges, OF Kade Keowen
Reinstated from DL: SS Zach Borowiak, SS Ryan Dent, OF Jeff Corsaletti

Reigning International League MVP Bailey, 30, was called up to take the roster spot of injured outfielder Rocco Baldelli. He gives Boston a bit of righthanded presence, and he went 1-for-2 with a three-run homer and a walk in a spot start versus Twins lefty Francisco Liriano last week.

Chicago Cubs
Recalled: RHP Jeff Samardzija
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dan McDaniel, 2B Luis Rivas
Reinstated from DL: OF Doug Deeds

Chicago White Sox
Signed: LHP Jimmy Gobble, OF Scott Podsednik
Recalled: RHP Jack Egbert
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Kent Gerst
Reinstated from DL: RHP Justin Cassel, C Michael Grace

Cincinnati Reds
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Jake Kahaulelio, 2B Drew Sutton, OF Tony Brown
Reinstated from DL: RHP Daryl Thompson
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Ben Davis

Cleveland Indians
Recalled: LHP Tony Sipp
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Zach Jackson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Greg Aquino
Reinstated from DL: RHP Mike Pontius

Colorado Rockies
Signed: RHP Joel Peralta
Voluntarily retired: 3B Nick Haley
Recalled: LHP Franklin Morales
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Matt Daley
Placed on 7-day DL: C Dayton Buller
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Jason Hirsh
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Jason Hirsh

Signed as a nondrafted free agent out of Bucknell in ’04, Daley made his big league debut by providing the Rockies with a scoreless inning of relief. A Tommy John alumnus (while in college), the 26-year-old works the corners with his 88-91 mph sinker and slurvy breaking ball.

Detroit Tigers
Acquired: OF Jason Tyner from Brewers for future considerations
Recalled: OF Ryan Raburn
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Michael Hollimon

The snake-bitten Hollimon was out with a bruised left knee.

Florida Marlins
Signed: RHP Carlos Martinez, RHP Kasey Olenberger
Recalled: RHP Burke Badenhop
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Dave Davidson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Josh Roberts, LHP Jeff Gogal, 2B Brandon Turner

An Ontario-born lefty reliever, Davidson, 25, joined the Marlins on a waiver claim after the Pirates had designated him for assignment. A 10th-round pick in ’02, he offers deception and throws a quality high-80s sinker and a plus sinking changeup. His strikeout rate atrophied a bit in Double-A last year, in his second engagement there, but he represents a worthwhile flier by the Fish, who always seem to be in the market for cheap bullpen options.

Houston Astros
Signed: RHP Yorman Bazardo, RHP Casey Daigle
Recalled: RHP Felipe Paulino
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Alberto Arias
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Erick Abreu, LHP Tyler Lumsden, 1B Eric Taylor
Reinstated from DL: 3B Chris Johnson, OF T.J. Steele

Kansas City Royals
Recalled: RHP Brian Bannister
Reinstated from DL: RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta

Los Angeles Angels
Recalled: SS Brandon Wood
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Matt Palmer, LHP Daniel Davidson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jeremy Haynes, LHP Will Smith
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jordon Towns
Reinstated from inactive list: C Ben Johnson, C Bobby Wilson, 3B Matt Brown, SS Brandon Wood, OF Brad Coon

The Angels’ rotation is dangerously thin without John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar and (sadly) Nick Adenhart, so the organization has turned to largely unproven commodities like Dustin Moseley and Anthony Ortega as well as minor league vets like Shane Loux and now Palmer, a 30-year-old righthander who was an ’02 31st-round pick. Two things you might not have known about Palmer: 1) He led the Pacific Coast League with 143 strikeouts (in 142 innings for Fresno) last year, and 2) He’s one of four big leaguers—Ryan Howard, Shaun Marcum, Brad Ziegler—from Southwest Missouri State squads of the early aughts.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Kendy Batista
Loaned to Mexican League: OF Yosanddy Garcia
Recalled: LHP Scott Elbert
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Thomas Giles
Reinstated from DL: 2B Johnny Washington

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: C Patrick Arlis, OF Drew Anderson
Traded: OF Jason Tyner to Tigers for future considerations
Placed on suspended list: RHP Pedro Lambertus
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Daniel Merklinger, LHP Sam Narron, OF Lorenzo Cain, OF Freddy Parejo
Reinstated from DL: RHP Mark Holliman, RHP Garrett Sherrill, C Brett Whiteside, OF Lorenzo Cain

A Brewers’ 24th-round pick in ’03, Anderson rejoins the organization after being dumped by the Reds at the end of spring training.

Minnesota Twins
Released: RHP Danny Hernandez
Placed on restricted list: 1B Henry Sanchez
Recalled: LHP Jose Mijares
Ourtighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Philip Humber
Placed on 7-day DL: SS James Beresford, OF Joe Gaetti
Reinstated from DL: RHP Blair Erickson, OF Brandon Roberts
Reinstated from inactive list: OF Justin Huber

It’s tough to say which was worse news for the 26-year-old Humber, the third overall pick in ’04 and one-quarter of the haul for Johan Santana, the fact that he was sent outright to Rochester to make room for Juan Morillo or the fact that no team claimed him on waivers. Morillo has a fantastic arm, featuring easy mid-90s heat, but he also sports a minor league walk rate of 5.4 per nine innings.

Sanchez, one of the least-productive supplemental first-round picks of recent memory, failed a drug test and will miss 50 games. Signed out of Australia in ’05 and that nation’s shortstop during the World Baseball Classic, Beresford was dealing with tendinitis in his shoulder.

New York Mets
Voluntarily retired: 2B J.R. Voyles
Granted free agency: RHP Nelson Figueroa
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Nelson Figueroa, LHP Casey Fossum
Ourtighted to Triple-A and removed from 40-man: RHP Nelson Figueroa
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Bobby Kielty
Reinstated from DL: 2B Andy Green, SS Matt Smith
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Fernando Nieve

So long and thanks for the memories. Figueroa made one start with the club, giving up three runs in six innings in a loss to the Brewers. Nevertheless, his 4.50 ERA still is better than any Mets starter not named Johan Santana—and dramatically so in most cases. But the 34-year-old Figueroa lost his roster spot when the Mets added another lefty reliever in Fossum. As was his right after being outrighted, Figueroa tested free agency. He eventually re-signed with New York (which is not reflected here).

New York Yankees
Recalled: RHP Steven Jackson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Anthony Claggett
Reinstated from DL: LHP Wilkins de la Rossa, 1B Jorge Vazquez
Placed on temporarily inactive list: RHP Jonathan Hovis

Claggett is the early leader for worst major league debut of ’09 honors. In a 1 2/3-inning stint in relief of Chien-Ming Wang, the 24-year-old surrendered eight runs on nine hits in an April 18 beating by the Indians. He walked two, struck out two and also allowed a pair of home runs, one of them a grand slam to Asdrubal Cabrera. Claggett joined the Yankees, along with Humberto Sanchez and Kevin Whelan, in the ’06 trade of Gary Sheffield.

Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Chris Schroder, 3B Jack Hannahan, SS Gregorio Petit, OF Javier Herrera
Acquired: OF J.D. Pruitt from Padres for future considerations
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Sean Gallagher
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Nick Walters, C Matt Smith, OF Corey Brown
Reinstated from DL: RHP Steven Sharpe, C Eric Munson, OF Matt Sulentic

Philadelphia Phillies
Signed: RHP Steve Green
Released: LHP Nate Fike
Optioned to high Class A: LHP Mike Zagurski
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Rodrigo Lopez, 3B Cody Overbeck, OF Gus Milner

Zagurski, 26, missed the entire ’08 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Recalled: C Robinzon Diaz
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Wilson Ortiz, SS Jose L. de los Santos, SS Brian Friday
Reinstated from DL: LHP Corey Hamman, OF Jason Delaney, OF Austin McClune

St. Louis Cardinals
Recalled: OF Brian Barton
Optioned to Triple-A: 3B David Freese
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Kat Maekawa, OF Paul Cruz
Reinstated from DL: RHP Eddie Degerman

San Diego Padres
Signed: RHP Chad Gaudin
Acquired: 2B Chris Burke from Mariners for cash considerations
Traded: OF J.D. Pruitt to Athletics for future considerations
Recalled: RHP Josh Geer
Added to 40-man roster: 2B Chris Burke
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Brett Dowdy
Reinstated from DL: RHP Josh Banks, OF Josh Alley, OF Jaff Decker

An injury to Rule 5 shortstop Everth Cabrera necessitated the Padres trading to get Chris Burke back. They had shipped him to Seattle for cash considerations at the end of spring training. Coming back from a concussion, Decker homered as part of a 1-for-3 game (with a walk) for low Class A Fort Wayne. The ‘08 supplemental first-round pick was making his full-season ball debut.

San Francisco Giants
Signed: RHP Audy Santana, 3B Dallas McPherson
Recalled: C Steve Holm
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Alex Hinshaw
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Nick Pereira

Seattle Mariners
Signed: C Guillermo Quiroz
Traded: 2B Chris Burke to Padres for cash considerations
Placed on restricted list: RHP Ramon Romeijn
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ricky Orta
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jared Wells, OF Danny Carroll
Reinstated from inactive list: SS Ogui Diaz

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: 2B Fernando Cortez
Released: 1B Chip Cannon
Reinstated from DL: RHP Ryan Reid, LHP James Houser, 3B Jason Bowers
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Matt Walker

Walker returned from his 50-game suspension for failing a test for amphetamines.

Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Warner Madrigal
Traded: LHP Kason Gabbard to Red Sox for cash
Recalled: RHP Luis Mendoza
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Derek Holland
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Joseph Ortiz, OF Ben Harrison, OF Dustin Majewski
Reinstated from DL: 2B German Duran, OF Ben Harrison
Placed on temporarily inactive list: OF Brandon Boggs

After pitching well in spring training (11 1/3 IP, 13 H, 3 HR, 11 SO, 4 BB), while showing mid-90s velocity and a strong changeup, Holland earned a place on the Triple-A Oklahoma City roster. The 22-year-old had compiled just 26 innings above A-ball entering the year, but he quickly earned a place on the big league roster, where he’s working as a reliever in Texas’ highly-flammable bullpen. Is this a permanent move? Rangers president Nolan Ryan offers his thoughts.

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: RHP David Miller
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Bryan Bullington, LHP Brian Burres
Placed on 7-day DL: C Matt Liuzza, C Jon Talley
Reinstated from DL: RHP Robert Ray, 1B Adam Loewen, 2B John Tolisano, 3B Mark Sobolewski

Washington Nationals
Recalled: RHP Jason Bergmann, RHP Garrett Mock, RHP Saul Rivera, OF Justin Maxwell
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Kip Wells, RHP Jordan Zimmermann
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Saul Rivera, C Josh Bard
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Dan Lyons
Reinstated from DL: RHP Clint Everts, RHP J.D. Martin, SS Freddie Bynum