Minor League Transactions: Feb. 19-25
Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period Feb. 19-25.
New! The Baseball America Minor League Free Agent Tracker is now much more comprehensive than it was last week. In addition to minor league free agents, the Tracker now includes released players, non-tendered players, those who did not play in 2015 and also those coming over from the Japanese or Korean major leagues.
After all, 40-man roster spots are valuable commodities, so teams must be discerning when handing them out. The same is not true with minor league pacts. The Minor League FA Tracker now more accurately reflects the state of non-roster players in big league camps this spring.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Matt Capps (did not play in 2015)
Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Carlos Torres, OF Jeff Francoeur
Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Nate Adcock, RHP Sam Deduno
Voluntarily retired: RHP Brady Wager
Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Carlos Marmol
Chicago Cubs
Signed: LHP Manny Parra
Chicago White Sox
Signed: SS Jimmy Rollins
The White Sox entered the offseason with gaping holes at every infield position except first base, where slugger Jose Abreu resides. Chicago traded for third baseman Todd Frazier and second baseman Brett Lawrie to address two-thirds of the problem areas, leaving shortstop to be addressed after Alexei Ramirez signed with the Padres as a free agent.
The White Sox are built to contend now, so rather than trust the shortstop position to utility infielders such as Tyler Saladino or non-roster invitees Andy Parrino or Steve Lombardozzi, they signed major league free agent Jimmy Rollins to a minor league deal. The oldest regular shortstop in the majors in 2015, Rollins saw his OPS+ dip to a career-low 78, yet he should be reliable enough with the glove to help the White Sox resist the temptation to call up No. 1 prospect Tim Anderson before he is deemed ready.
Detroit Tigers
Signed: 3B Casey McGehee
Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Ross Ohlendorf, LHP Brian Duensing, C Jon Denney (released by Red Sox, Oct. 19), SS Clint Barmes
The Red Sox released 2013 third-round catcher Jon Denney in October. He spent all of the past two seasons on the restricted list after a 2014 spring-training arrest in Fort Myers, Fla. Denney ranked No. 25 on the Baseball America predraft ranking in 2013, and the Royals were one of several clubs interested in the Yukon, Okla., prep product’s services.
The Royals signed shortstop Clint Barmes, lefthander Brian Duensing and righty Ross Ohlendorf, a trio of Article XX(B) major league free agents, to minor league deals. (Reliever Peter Moylan also fits this description.) To retain any of the trio at Triple-A Omaha, however, the Royals would have to pay the players a so-called retention bonus. This hardly ever happens, so in practice, Barmes, Duensing and Ohlendorf probably will have to make the big league club or they will be granted their release. They may choose to re-sign with Kansas City on a traditional minor league contract, however.
Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Javy Guerra
Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Jamey Wright (did not play in 2015)
Jamey Wright, the second-ever first-round pick in Rockies history back in 1993, changed organizations for the 20th time in his career when he signed with the Dodgers. In some instances, Wright re-signed with an org he had played for previously, but regardless, the 41-year-old righthander is well-traveled, with 2,037 big league innings and 880 more in the minors.
Miami Marlins
Signed: RHP Cecil Tanner
Released: LHP Troy Patton
Minnesota Twins
Signed: C Kevin Garcia (released by Blue Jays, Oct. 31)
New York Mets
Signed: RHP Joe Zanghi
The Reds agreed to terms with 24th-round pick Joe Zanghi last July, but the deal apparently fell through, because now the Mets have signed the Cumberland (N.J.) CC product as a free agent.
New York Yankees
Signed: OF Chris Parmelee
Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: OF Matt Joyce
San Diego Padres
Signed: RHP Casey Janssen, RHP Jerry Sullivan (re-signed), RHP Grant Zawadzki (Southern Maryland (Atlantic)), LHP Michael Kirkman (released by Brewers, Aug. 1), LHP Daniel Moskos (Lancaster (Atlantic))
The Padres signed Grant Zawadzki as a righthanded pitcher, though he played primarily second base in his two years in the independent Atlantic League. He formed a double-play combination with older brother Lance, a Padres fourth-rounder in 2007, at Lancaster in 2014.
Seattle Mariners
Signed: 1B Dae Ho Lee (SoftBank (Japan))
Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: RHP Brett Marshall (Sugar Land (Atlantic))
Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, RHP Kevin Lenik (NDFA—Cal State Dominguez Hills), LHP Michael Roth, C Michael McKenry, 1B Ike Davis (non-tendered by Athletics)
Righthander Kevin Lenik signed with the Rangers out of an 80-player tryout this spring. After graduating from Cal State Dominguez Hills last spring, he stayed sharp in the California Winter League prior to trying out for Texas.
Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: C Tony Sanchez (released by Pirates, Jan. 13)
Washington Nationals
Signed: RHP Burke Badenhop, RHP Matt Belisle, RHP Juan Gutierrez (re-signed)
Released: C Edward Trejos
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