Minor League Transactions: March 18-24

Transactions involving minor league players, i.e. those not on 40-man rosters, for the period March 18-24. All transactions conveyed by Major League Baseball.

Minor league rosters begin to take shape after a week in camp, with 72 optional assignments to the minors, 216 player releases and one trade.


Arizona Diamondbacks
Released:
RHP Jon Fitzsimmons | RHP Kaleb Ort | RHP Myles Smith | 3B Josh Anderson | 3B Joe Munoz | 3B Cody Regis | OF Dane McFarland
Returned Rule 5 selection: RHP Tyler Jones (to Yankees)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Matt Koch | RHP Evan Marshall | RHP Braden Shipley

After releasing 2012 first-rounder Stryker Trahan on March 15, the Diamondbacks released 2012 second-rounder Joe Munoz last week. Like Trahan, the 23-year-old third baseman failed to establish himself above the low Class A level in five pro seasons. Munoz hit .243/.324/.384 with 25 percent strikeouts in parts of three seasons in the Midwest League.


Atlanta Braves
Released:
RHP Andres Avila | RHP David Hale | RHP Navery Moore | RHP Isaac Sanchez | LHP John Danks | LHP Adam Kolarek | 3B Colin Walsh | SS Rich Rodriguez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Luke Jackson | C Anthony Recker


Baltimore Orioles
Signed:
OF Jason Heinrich (released by D-backs, March 15)
Released: RHP Dane de la Rosa | LHP Trevor Belicek | LHP Will Dennis | LHP Chris Jones | LHP Lex Rutledge | LHP Will Shepley | OF Jamill Moquete
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Richard Bleier
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Jesus Liranzo


Boston Red Sox
Released:
RHP German Taveras | RHP Danny Zandona | LHP Cesar Cabral


Chicago Cubs
Released:
RHP Jordan Brink | RHP Cole Brocker | RHP Josh Conway | RHP Tanner Griggs | RHP Jim Henderson | RHP Randy McCurry | RHP Zach Rafferty | RHP Alex Santana | RHP Nick Sarianides | RHP Ho-Young Son | LHP Colton Freeman | LHP Kyle Twomey | C Sam Tidaback | 1B Jose Paniagua
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jake Buchanan | RHP Alec Mills | 3B Jeimer Candelario


Chicago White Sox
Released:
RHP Taylore Cherry | RHP Victor Done | RHP Conor Krauss | RHP Jacob Morris | RHP Chad Rogers | LHP Johnathan Frebis | LHP Ryan Hinchley | LHP Blair Walters | C Nate Causey | C Joxelier Garcia | 1B K.C. Hobson | SS Bradley Strong | OF Caleb Gindl | OF Jackson Glines | OF Landon Lassiter
Acquired: 1B Brandon Dulin from Royals for cash
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Carson Fulmer | RHP Lucas Giolito | RHP Tommy Kahnle | RHP Reynaldo Lopez | 2B Yoan Moncada | OF Adam Engel

Part of the return for Adam Eaton, 23-year-old righthander Reynaldo Lopez led the team with 19.1 innings this spring but didn’t make the Opening Day rotation. He recorded a 3.72 ERA with 14 strikeouts, 13 hits allowed and five walks. The White Sox chose veterans Miguel Gonzalez, Derek Holland and James Shield to support Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon in the rotation, but Lopez should be ready to step in at the first opportunity.


Cincinnati Reds
Optioned to Triple-A:
1B Christian Walker | OF Phillip Ervin | OF Jesse Winker


Cleveland Indians
Released:
RHP Cortland Cox | RHP Devon Stewart | LHP Kenny Mathews | LHP Ryan Perez | C Jack Goihl | 1B Nate Winfrey | SS Angel Miguel
Returned Rule 5 selection: LHP Hoby Milner (to Phillies)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Adam Plutko | LHP Ryan Merritt | LHP Shawn Morimando


Colorado Rockies
Released:
RHP Drasen Johnson | RHP Hayden Jones | RHP Alec Kenilvort | RHP Christian Talley | C Steven Leonard | C Tanner Murphy | C Spencer Navin | 3B Shane Hoelscher | 3B Tim Smalling | SS Tyler Follis
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jeff Hoffman


Detroit Tigers
Released:
RHP Calvin Drummond | RHP Gabe Hemmer | RHP Austin Kubitza | RHP Carlos Lara | RHP Logan Longwith | RHP David Martinez | RHP Noel Ovalles | RHP Jordan Smith | 1B Sean Halton | 2B Omar Artsen | 2B Brett Pirtle | 3B Steven Fuentes | 3B Jose Zambrano | SS Garrett Mattlage | OF Rashad Brown | OF Ismael Salgado
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Buck Farmer | RHP Warwick Saupold | RHP Drew VerHagen | LHP Chad Bell
Optioned to high Class A: RHP Sandy Baez

The Tigers released 2013 fourth-rounder Austin Kubitza, a 25-year-old righthander who shined at low Class A West Michigan in 2014 on the strength of an elite groundball rate. His velocity sat in the high 80s, and he never really developed a second pitch, so he struggled at higher levels, even after a shift to the bullpen in 2016.


Houston Astros
Released:
RHP Chris Murphy | RHP David Schmidt | RHP Angelo Serrano | RHP Adam Whitt | LHP Chris Cotton | C Marlon Avea | 3B Connor Goedert | OF James Ramsay
Removed from 40-man: C Max Stassi (outrighted to Triple-A)
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B A.J. Reed | 1B Tyler White | 2B Tony Kemp | 3B Colin Moran | OF Teoscar Hernandez


Kansas City Royals
Released:
RHP Brian Bayliss | RHP Matt Ditman | RHP Colton Howell | RHP Taylor Kaczmarek | RHP Anthony Kidston | RHP Brandon League | LHP Enmanuel Camacho | LHP Estarlin Cordero | LHP Mark McCoy | LHP Jorge Rodriguez | LHP Jonathan Sanchez | 2B Austin Bailey | 2B Brian Bien | 2B David Edwards | 3B Mike Hill | OF Robert Pehl
Traded: 1B Brandon Dulin to White Sox for cash


Los Angeles Angels
Signed:
RHP Jon Fitzsimmons (released by D-backs, March 20) | RHP Mayky Perez (released by Padres, March 20) | RHP Starlyn Suriel (released by Blue Jays, March 17) | LHP Evan Smith (released by Blue Jays, March 20) | SS Jesus Nunez | OF Josh Merrigan (released by Rangers, March 13)
Released: RHP Brandon Glazer | RHP Enrique Oquendo | RHP Turner Parry | LHP Jason Broussard | LHP Taylor Keinat | LHP J.D. Nielsen | LHP Ariel Ovando | LHP Tyler Watson | 1B Jeff Boehm | 3B Jose Rodriguez | OF Josh Delph | OF Ayendy Perez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Alex Meyer | 3B Kaleb Cowart | SS Nolan Fontana | OF Ryan LaMarre

For the second year in a row—and the second with general manager Billy Eppler in charge—the Angels have scooped up multiple players released by other organizations at the end of spring training. In addition to the five players listed here, the Angels signed David Perez and Jeremy Dowdy in the previous installment.


Los Angeles Dodgers
Released:
RHP Alec Grosser | OF Devan Ahart | OF Jordan Paroubeck
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Brett Eibner

The Dodgers picked up 22-year-old outfielder Jordan Paroubeck (plus righthander Caleb Dirks) in July 2015 when they traded $249,000 in international bonus-pool money to the Braves. Atlanta had acquired Paroubeck as part of the return from the Padres for Craig Kimbrel in April of that year. San Diego selected Paroubeck, a switch-hitting prep from San Mateo, Calif., in the supplemental second round of the 2013 draft.

Paroubeck spent two years in the Dodgers system, finishing 2016 at Rookie-level Ogden. He hit .231/.308/.413 with five home runs in 30 games in the Pioneer League, and power is going to have to be his separating tool if he lands with a new organization.


Miami Marlins
Released:
RHP Victor Delgado | RHP Aneury Osoria
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Severino Gonzalez | OF Destin Hood


Milwaukee Brewers
Released:
RHP Joba Chamberlain | RHP Gentry Fortuno | RHP Ryan Webb | LHP Stephen Peterson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Michael Blazek | SS Yadiel Rivera
Optioned to Double-A: OF Michael Reed


Minnesota Twins
Released:
RHP Tyler Fox | RHP Jim Miller | RHP Brandon Peterson | RHP Zach Strecker | RHP Ryan Vogelsong | LHP Austin Tribby | OF Leandro Castro | OF Jorge Fernandez | OF Roberto Gonzalez
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Craig Breslow
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP J.T. Chargois | OF Zack Granite | OF Daniel Palka


New York Mets
Signed:
SS Jio Mier
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Erik Goeddel | SS Gavin Cecchini | SS Matt Reynolds


New York Yankees
Optioned to Triple-A:
RHP Luis Cessa


Philadelphia Phillies
Released:
RHP Scot Hoffman | RHP Geury Ortiz | LHP Oskerlly Sanchez | 3B Evan Rogers | OF Luke Maglich
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jake Thompson
Optioned to Double-A: OF Tyler Goeddel

The Phillies reassigned last year’s Rule 5 draft pick Tyler Goeddel to Double-A Reading. He finished 2015 at Double-A in the Rays system before Philadelphia Rule 5’ed him. Goeddel, a 24-year-old outfielder, hit .192 in 213 big league at-bats last year and needs more development time.


Pittsburgh Pirates
Released:
RHP Jake Burnette | RHP Henry Hirsch | RHP Nick Hutchings | RHP Neil Kozikowski | RHP Nick Neumann | RHP Chris Plitt | RHP Jose Regalado | RHP Julio Vivas | SS Erik Forgione
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Pat Light | C Elias Diaz | 2B Max Moroff


St. Louis Cardinals
Signed:
RHP Josh Zeid
Released: RHP Will Anderson | RHP Carson Cross | RHP Nick Frey | RHP Robby Rowland | RHP Ronnie Shaban | RHP John Walter | RHP Davis Ward | LHP Michael Heesch | LHP Bobby Wheatley | 1B Elier Rodriguez | 3B Allen Staton | OF Orlando Olivera | OF Michael Pritchard
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Sam Tuivailala | RHP Luke Weaver | RHP Rowan Wick | 2B Breyvic Valera | OF Anthony Garcia

Veteran righthanded reliever Josh Zeid effectively auditioned for teams while playing for Israel at the World Baseball Classic. He tossed 10 scoreless innings in the WBC, allowing five hits and striking out 10 in 10 innings. The Cardinals signed the 30-year-old minor league free agent shortly after the event ended.


San Diego Padres
Signed:
C Miguel Del Castillo (re-signed)
Released: RHP Justin De Fratus | RHP Jean Garcia | RHP Kyle Gauthier | RHP Francisco Mendoza | RHP Ben Paullus | RHP Mayky Perez | LHP Trevor Seidenberger | SS Chase Jensen | OF Manny DeLeon | OF Tyler Moore | OF Jhonatan Pena
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Tyrell Jenkins | RHP Zach Lee | RHP Andrew Lockett | 2B Carlos Asuaje | OF Franchy Cordero


San Francisco Giants
Released:
RHP David Hernandez | LHP Nick Sabo | C Jared Deacon | C Fernando Pujadas | C Leo Rojas | 1B Ricky Oropesa | 2B Gordon Beckham | 3B Mitch Delfino | SS Travious Relaford
Optioned to Triple-A: SS Orlando Calixte

Power-hitting first baseman Ricky Oropesa hit 17 home runs at Double-A Richmond in 2015, but the 2011 third-rounder from Southern California hit just .235 in more than 1,400 plate appearances in the Eastern League.


Seattle Mariners
Released:
RHP Aaron Brooks | LHP Brandon Sisk | C James Alfonso | C Ray Guerrini | 2B Ivan Gonzalez
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Dan Vogelbach


Tampa Bay Rays
Released:
RHP Luis Nunez | RHP Mark Sappington | RHP Austin Sweet | LHP Steve Ascher | LHP Alex Estrella | LHP Dana Eveland | C Jose Rojas | 2B Blake Butera | 2B Trek Stemp


Texas Rangers
Released:
RHP Alex Daniele | RHP Reilly Peltier | RHP Mark Vasquez | LHP Pedro Brito | LHP Yonelvy Pichardo | C Robert Lucido | OF Kevin Keyes
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Tyler Wagner | 1B Ronald Guzman


Toronto Blue Jays
Released:
LHP Evan Smith | OF David Harris
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Danny Barnes | LHP Matt Dermody


Washington Nationals
Released:
RHP Russell Harmening | RHP Conner Porter | RHP Brayan Serrata | 1B Ryan Ripken | 2B Dalton Dulin

Comments are closed.

Download our app

Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone