Minor League Transactions: March 4-10 — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period March 4-10.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Drew Muren (Fargo-Moorhead (American Association)), OF Cory Vaughn (released by Mets, Oct. 5)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Dominic Leone
Optioned to high Class A: C Oscar Hernandez

The Diamondbacks will begin to learn this season whether selecting then-21-year-old catcher Oscar Hernandez with the first overall pick in the 2014 Rule 5 draft was worth the gamble. He spent the first half of 2015 on the big league disabled list with a hamate injury, which delayed his debut and allowed him to appear in 13 minor league games while on a June rehab assignment. In fact, Hernandez batted more times in the minors (41) than in the majors (36) last year, allowing him to qualify for the 2016 Prospect Handbook, where he ranks No. 22 in the D-backs system. He rounded out the lost development year by hitting .179 in 16 games in the Arizona Fall League.

Hernandez owns outstanding defensive tools, but he had not advanced past low Class A Bowling Green in the Rays system prior to his Rule 5 selection. He will attempt to reestablish his batting credentials in the minors in 2016—and probably 2017—beginning initially at high Class A Visalia this spring.

Atlanta Braves
Signed: LHP Phil Coke (released by Athletics, Aug. 19)
Released: RHP David Carpenter, RHP Ryan Kelly

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: 1B Mike Carp (released by Dodgers, May 7), OF Felix Perez (Monterrey (Mexican))

Boston Red Sox
Signed: LHP Roberto Cancio (released by D-backs, Oct. 8)
Released: RHP Karsten Whitson

Chicago White Sox
Removed from 40-man: 3B Mike Olt (outrighted to Triple-A)

Cleveland Indians
Signed: 3B Justin Toole (re-signed)

Colorado Rockies
Signed: OF Ryan Raburn

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Yordy Cabrera (released by Marlins, Aug. 22)

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: LHP Jason Broussard (NDFA—Orange Coast (Calif.) JC)

Los Angeles Dodgers
Released: 2B Chris Godinez

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: LHP Franklin Morales

New York Yankees
Signed: LHP Preston Jamison (did not play in 2015)

San Francisco Giants
Signed: C Connor Sabanosh (NDFA—Ohio State)

Seattle Mariners
Released: RHP Joe Mello

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: 1B Dan Johnson
Optioned to Triple-A: C Justin O’Conner

Though listed here as a first baseman, 36-year-old veteran Dan Johnson signed with the Rays as a knuckleball pitcher. Tampa Bay believes that the controlled environment at the Tropicana Dome can aid knuckleballers, so they have signed three of them to minor league deals this offseason: one-time Orioles prospect Eddie Gamboa, converted catcher Jeff Howell and now Johnson. All three will work with ex-big league knuckler Charlie Haeger, whom the Rays hired as a minor league pitching coordinator in January.

Johnson said he had minor league offers to continue as a position player but that he has thrown the knuckleball all his life and wanted to try to throw it in games. An accomplished hitter, he has mashed 254 minor league home runs—including 195 at Triple-A—plus 57 more in the majors and 24 in Japan. Johnson won MVP awards in both the Pacific Coast (2004) and International (2010) leagues.

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: C Cam O’Brien (NDFA—West Virginia), 2B Alexi Casilla

Washington Nationals
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Taylor Jordan, LHP Matt Grace, SS Wilmer Difo