Minor League Transactions: Nov. 12-18
Two recent Baseball America pieces dovetail with this installment of Minor League Transactions:
• An Analytical Look At Minor League Free Agents digs into the performance data to give you a glimpse of what could be driving teams’ signing decisions.
• 40-Man Roster Addition Roundup details all players shielded from selection in this year’s Rule 5 draft. A number of players in this installment were removed from 40-man rosters in corresponding moves to create space for the additions.
Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period Nov. 12-18.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Signed: RHP Erik Davis, SS Kris Negron
Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Andres Avila, C Armando Araiza, C David Freitas, SS Sean Kazmar (re-signed)
Baltimore Orioles
Signed: RHP Richard Rodriguez (re-signed)
Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Jacob Dahlstrand (re-signed), LHP Edgar Olmos
Chicago Cubs
Signed: RHP Cole Brocker (re-signed), RHP Seth Frankoff, RHP Mario Meza (Yucatana (Mexican))
A 26-year-old righthander, Mario Meza led the Mexican League with 24 holds this season. He appeared in 53 games for Yucatan and struck out 51 and allowed 37 hits in 51 innings while walking 20.
Chicago White Sox
Signed: OF Austin Crutcher (Utica (United Shore))
Removed from 40-man: RHP Brandon Brennan (outrighted to Triple-A)
Cincinnati Reds
Signed: RHP Johnny Hellweg (New Jersey (Can-Am)), RHP Jefri Hernandez
Cleveland Indians
Signed: C Guillermo Quiroz (re-signed)
Removed from 40-man: C Chris Gimenez (outrighted to Triple-A)
Colorado Rockies
Signed: RHP D.J. Johnson, LHP Evan Grills, SS Derrik Gibson
Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP William Cuevas, RHP Logan Kensing (re-signed), RHP Dustin Molleken (re-signed)
Released: RHP Yei Almonte, RHP Rusbell Cabrera
Houston Astros
Traded: RHP Albert Abreu and RHP Jorge Guzman to Yankees for C Brian McCann and cash
Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Ivan Hernandez, C Francisco Arcia, OF Ramon Flores
Released: 1B Eric Aguilera
Elected free agency: RHP Cory Rasmus, OF Rafael Ortega, OF Shane Robinson
Removed from 40-man: RHP Cory Rasmus, OF Rafael Ortega, OF Shane Robinson (all players outrighted to Triple-A)
Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Madison Younginer
Elected free agency: RHP Chin-Hui Tsao
Miami Marlins
Signed: LHP Frank Garces
Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: RHP Paolo Espino
Sold to Mexican League: 3B Brandon Macias (to Tijuana)
New York Mets
Released: RHP Mateo Miramontes, RHP Jerrod Riggan, LHP Steve Correa, LHP Ryan Danly, C Aaron Hathaway, C Francisco Sosa, 1B Andres Galarraga, SS Russ Adams
All of the players listed here had been on the restricted list for the Mets, so these releases are purely procedural. Russ Adams is the most recently active player, having spent 23 games at Triple-A Buffalo in 2011 prior to retiring that May.
New York Yankees
Released: RHP Juan Escorcia, RHP Luis Rosario, LHP Carlos Diaz
Traded: C Brian McCann and cash to Astros for RHP Albert Abreu and RHP Jorge Guzman
Removed from 40-man: RHP Branden Pinder (outrighted to Triple-A)
Oakland Athletics
Signed: RHP Michael Brady, RHP Aaron Kurcz (re-signed), RHP Tyler Sturdevant, RHP Cesar Valdez, LHP Felix Doubront (re-signed), C Matt McBride (re-signed), OF Kenny Wilson
Traded: 3B Danny Valencia to Mariners for RHP Paul Blackburn
Removed from 40-man: RHP Josh Smith (outrighted to Triple-A)
Cesar Valdez hadn’t pitched in affiliated ball since 2011, but the 32-year-old stayed sharp by pitching in the Mexican League and in winter ball. He latched on with the Astros for 2016 and excelled at Triple-A Fresno, going 12-1 and ranking third in the Pacific Coast League in ERA (3.12) and second in WHIP (1.13).
Philadelphia Phillies
Signed: RHP Victor Santos, OF Wilbert Garcia
St. Louis Cardinals
Signed: RHP Kendry Flores, 1B Chad Huffman, OF Todd Cunningham
San Diego Padres
Signed: C Stephen McGee
Released: OF Ronaldo Contreras
Removed from 40-man: 1B Brett Wallace (outrighted to Triple-A)
San Francisco Giants
Signed: LHP Michael Roth
Seattle Mariners
Signed: RHP Blake Perry, RHP Peter Tago, C Steve Baron (re-signed)
Traded: RHP Paul Blackburn to Athletics 3B Danny Valencia
Texas Rangers
Signed: RHP Paul Durbak (NDFA—Academy of Art (Calif.))
Released: 3B Matt Duffy
Removed from 40-man: RHP Adrian Sampson (outrighted to Triple-A)
The Rangers released Matt Duffy so that he could sign with Chiba Lotte in Japan. This is not the same Matt Duffy who finished runner-up in National League Rookie of the Year balloting in 2015. This is the 27-year-old third baseman drafted by the Astros who won the MVP award in the Pacific Coast League in 2015, when at Triple-A Fresno he hit .294/.366/.484 with 29 home runs and 104 RBIs.
Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: RHP Casey Lawrence (re-signed), C Mike Ohlman
Released: LHP Ty Sterner, C Derrick Chung, C Josh Reavis, 1B Levi Scott, 2B Juandy Mendoza, OF Juan Tejada
Washington Nationals
Signed: 1B Brandon Snyder
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