Minor League Transactions

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jan. 11, 2010 6:17 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: Dec. 21-31
Previous installment: Dec. 11-20

The transactions update you've been clamoring for is here . . . in part. This installment takes us up through the end of 2009. We'll get caught up next week.

Bear in mind that these transactions updates come directly from the horse's mouth. That is, MLB sends us updates from its massive eBis database, we work them into a form fit for publication and disseminate them as soon as we can. So keep reading to find out where potentially useful relievers like Kevin Cameron, Chris Schroder and John Parrish landed.

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: 1B Jason Stokes

Stokes in 2004 bashed 24 home runs, mostly with Double-A Carolina in the Marlins system. At the time, the 22-year-old appeared poised to make his mark as a slugger. Consider that he had hit 17 homers in the Florida State League in ’03 and a whopping 27 in the Midwest League in ’02. But then injuries befell Stokes, Florida's second-rounder in ’00, and he missed huge swaths of the ’05 through ’07 seasons. He didn’t play at all in ’08 and ’09, meaning that in the past five years, Stokes, now 27, has made just 395 plate appearances.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jan. 28, 2010 5:44 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: Jan. 19-24
Previous installment: Jan. 1-18

A question to readers: Do you know where to find accurate player statistics (with English text) for Korea Baseball Organization or the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan? We're in the process of editing our Super Register and that's a question that comes up each year.

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Ruddy Lugo, LHP Sam Narron, C Mike Rabelo, 1B Cesar Nicolas

A Diamondbacks' fifth-round pick in ’04, Nicolas spent last season playing indy ball after Arizona released him during spring training. The 27-year-old batted .335 with 14 homers and 103 RBIs in 96 games for Grand Prairie of the American Association. He hit well in 10 games in the Atlantic League to close the year.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Feb. 2, 2010 5:35 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: Jan. 25-31
Previous installment: Jan. 19-24

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Detroit Tigers
Outrighted to Triple-A, removed from 40-man: 1B Jeff Larish

Larish lost his foothold on a 40-man roster spot when Detroit signed closer Jose Valverde. Larish, the Tigers' fifth-round pick ’05, batted .242/.323/.404 in 74 games with the big club during the past two seasons.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Feb. 12, 2010 6:05 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: Feb. 1-11
Previous installment: Jan. 25-31

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: OF Josh Burrus (Lincoln (American Association))

Burrus, a Braves' first-round selection in '01, spent the past two season in independent ball, batting a composite .273/.356/.431 in 722 at-bats. The Rockies cut him in spring training '08, sending Burrus, still just 26, to the Atlantic League and then to the American Association.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Mar. 10, 2010 10:18 am by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: Feb. 27-March 6
Previous installment: Feb. 19-26
See also: Transactions Glossary.

Detroit Tigers
Released: 3B Michael Hollimon

The switch-hitting Hollimon seemed destined for, if not stardom, then at least utility when in '07 he batted .282/.371/.478 with 14 homers, 34 doubles and 64 walks as a second baseman in Double-A. Granted, the red flags were present. Hollimon struck out in nearly 26 percent of his at-bats with Erie, and that June he turned 25.

With Triple-A Toledo in '08, Hollimon struck out at an even more furious pace (33 percent of at-bats) but also clubbed 15 homers in 91 games. But wait! He had dislocated his left shoulder during spring training, at least partially accounting for his failings with the Mud Hens. Hollimon had surgery on his torn labrum in September '08, and his play appeared to be affected last season. In a 29-game spell in Double-A, the 27-year-old, now playing third base, batted just .212/.320/.385 with 35 whiffs and 17 walks. He did not play after June 23.

In wrapping up this rambling comment, I'd be remiss not to mention the parallels between (the healthy version of) Hollimon and Mark Bellhorn. A checklist of attributes: switch-hitter, solid defensive second baseman, plenty of walks, above-average power and many, many strikeouts. Bellhorn played his first full season in the big leagues for the '02 Cubs, when he was 27 years old and after he had changed organizations for the first time.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Mar. 25, 2010 12:25 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: March 16-21
Previous installment: March 7-15
See also: Transactions Glossary.

The asterisks (*) here denote instances of 40-man roster players who have agreed to terms on the minor league portion of their split major league/minor league contracts. These players will have their minimum salary dictated by baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement. See our feature on minor league salaries for more.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Casey Fien, RHP John Sborz*
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Alfredo Figaro, RHP Armando Galarraga, RHP Jay Sborz, 1B Ryan Strieby, OF Brennan Boesch, OF Casper Wells
Optioned to Double-A: SS Audy Ciriaco
Optioned to low Class A: RHP Jacob Turner

It's not uncommon for a player to switch teams more than once on waiver claims in one offseason. His original team will outright him off the 40-man roster, only to lose him on waivers. The claiming team will then often try to sneak him through waivers, too, only to lose him to a second claim. That's how Fien went from the Tigers to the Red Sox to the Blue Jays this March. But what came next was a shock: The Blue Jays, after going through the trouble of claiming him and making room on the 40-man, unexpectedly released him. "This game can be cruel sometimes. Nobody gave me any answers. I asked the Jays why and they told me I was a liability," Fien told the Detroit News after the Tigers signed him to a minor league deal, landing him right back where he started. Detroit originally selected the Cal Poly product in the 20th round of the ’06 draft.

Of all the players drafted out of high school last year, Turner is the only one to report to the minor leagues this season on optional assignment. The reason? Detroit signed him to a big league contract last August, starting his option clock early. Other notable prep draft picks to sign big league deals: Josh Beckett, Delmon Young and the Tigers' own Rick Porcello, whom they selected in the first round in ’07. Porcello made 24 starts for high Class A Lakeland in ’08, which remains the extent of his minor league apprenticeship.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Mar. 31, 2010 4:54 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: March 22-28
Previous installment: March 16-21
See also: Transactions Glossary.

The asterisks (*) here denote instances of 40-man roster players who have agreed to terms on the minor league portion of their split major league/minor league contracts. These players are entitled to salary minimums dictated by baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement. See our feature on minor league salaries for more.

With spring training just about over with, we're about to be beset with a storm of released players. The first wave hits in this installment.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: OF Wilkin Ramirez*
Released: RHP Nick Cassavechia, RHP Andrew Hess, RHP Gary Perinar, 1B Chris Carlson, 1B Jason Stokes, 3B Joe Tucker, OF Ryan Patterson
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Daniel Schlereth, OF Wilkin Ramirez

Minor League Transactions

Posted Apr. 8, 2010 11:09 am by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: March 29-April 5
Previous installment: March 22-28
Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

The end of spring training heralds a new baseball season, sure, but it also brings with it bad news for many players who now find themselves out of work. Teams cut ties with 621 players, by my unofficial count, from mid-February through major league Opening Day. That's enough bodies to populate nearly 26 minor league rosters.

Expect to see a few more releases trickle in once all precincts have reported. The Athletics (four), Angels (12), Orioles (12) and Yankees (14) appear to have abnormally low tallies up to this point. Contrast those totals with the Phillies (38), Mariners (36), Pirates (28) and Mets (27). Every organization seeks to clear roster space on their four full-season affiliates to accommodate last year's short-season ball players.

Pure shortstops make up just three percent (18 players) of the pool of the dismissed. Righthanded pitchers, of course, account for 44 percent (273 players) of the released. Outfielder check in at 15 percent, and lefthanded pitchers are next at 14 percent.

Since the theme of this installment is released players, let's try something different. I'll pair two recently released players together and you tell me what they have in common. Leave your answers in the comments section at the end of this post.

First, a hanging curveball: Jeremy Beckham and Justin Parker—what do these third basemen have in common? How about lefties Kyle Bloom and Gilbert de la Vara? And finally: catcher James Skelton and righthander Jason Jones? And keep in mind, this is the transactions blog.

As was the case last time, the asterisks (*) here denote instances of 40-man roster players who have agreed to terms on the minor league portion of their split major league/minor league contracts. These players are entitled to salary minimums dictated by baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement. See our feature on minor league salaries for more.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: OF Wilkin Ramirez*
Released: RHP Jose Diaz, RHP Drew Graham, RHP Mike LaLuna, RHP Matt Rusch, LHP Chad Linder, LHP Michael Manus, LHP Macay McBride, LHP Sam Narron, LHP Jose Siso, C Joe Bowen, C Keith Hernandez, C Jordan Newton, 1B Ryan Roberson, 1B Devin Thomas, 3B Kory Casto, OF Eddie Rush
Traded: LHP Nate Robertson to Marlins for LHP Jay Voss
Optioned to Triple-A: SS Brent Dlugach, OF Clete Thomas
Option transferred: OF Wilkin Ramirez (Triple-A to Double-A)

Minor League Transactions

Posted Apr. 16, 2010 9:55 am by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: April 6-14
Previous installment: March 29-April 5

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

The minor league season began last week for the 120 teams in the 10 full-season leagues. Triple-A and Double-A clubs can carry 24 players on their rosters, while low and high Class A rosters are capped at 25 players. Do the math and you'll find that some 2,940 players populated those 120 full-season rosters.

But that head count does not consider the approximately 425 players who begin the 2010 season on an inactive list, usually the disabled list. Nor does that tally count others who remained in extended spring training.

In this, our first in-season edition of Minor League Transactions, we'll focus on those on the DL and the restricted list. I urge you to read inaugural Prospect Injury Report for updates on Tim Beckham, Jordan Brown, Chris Carpenter, Casey Crosby, Jaff Decker, Brad Holt, Desmond Jennings, Cory Luebke, Derek Norris, Cody Satterwhite, Donavan Tate and others.

For an honor roll of performance-enhancing substance busts, check out our archive of suspensions, where you'll find details on Alan Ahmady, Tyler Bighames, Ron Bourquin, Gookie Dawkins, Mitch Einertson, Stephen Englund, Danny Gutierrez, Stephen King, Brian Parker and Miguel Negron. All begin the year on the restricted list.

Detroit Tigers
Placed on restricted list: RHP Brandon Hamilton, 3B Ronnie Bourquin
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Scott Green, RHP Cody Satterwhite, LHP Casey Crosby, LHP Austin Wood, SS Audy Ciriaco, SS Brandon Douglas, OF Kyle Peter

A Tigers' supplemental first-rounder in ’07, Brandon Hamilton did not report to spring training and is on a "mission trip," according to the Tigers.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Apr. 21, 2010 4:20 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: April 15-18
Previous installment: April 6-14

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement. In most cases, these players began the season on the 40-man roster but lost their place and were outrighted to the minors.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Jacob Turner*

Minor League Transactions

Posted Apr. 28, 2010 1:34 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

April 19-26

Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Released: 3B Santo De Leon
Recalled: OF Brennan Boesch
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ruddy Lugo, RHP Lester Oliveros, RHP Tyler Stohr, RHP Jacob Turner, OF Ryan Strieby
Reinstated from DL: LHP Austin Wood, SS Audy Ciriaco, OF Clete Thomas
Reinstated from inactive list: RHP Sean Finefrock

Arm stiffness is about the only thing that's held back Turner so far this season. The Tigers placed the prized low Class A West Michigan starter on the DL after he had struck out 11 and walked none in nine innings.

One of the International League's early standouts, Boesch batted .379/.455/.621 with three homers, three doubles and 17 RBIs in 15 games for Triple-A Toledo. The 25-year-old, a third-round pick from California in ’06, replaced the injured Carlos Guillen on the Tigers roster.

Minor League Transactions

Posted May. 5, 2010 2:49 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: April 27-May 3
Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Michael Morrison, LHP Austin Wood
Reinstated from DL: RHP Lester Oliveros

Minor League Transactions

Posted May. 14, 2010 3:48 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: May 4-11
Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Released: LHP Jason Waddell
Place on suspended list: LHP Jason Waddell
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Nolan Cain, RHP Lester Oliveros, C John Murrian, C Mike Rabelo
Reinstated from DL: RHP Jacob Turner
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Jason Waddell

Minor League Transactions

Posted May. 20, 2010 5:52 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: May 12-18
Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: OF Ryan Raburn*
Recalled: RHP Alfredo Figaro, RHP Armando Galarraga, OF Casper Wells
Added to 40-man roster: 2B Danny Worth
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Alfredo Figaro, RHP Max Scherzer, 2B Scott Sizemore, OF Ryan Raburn
Placed on 7-day DL: OF Clete Thomas

Raburn picked the wrong time to slump. Fellow corner outfielder Brennan Boesch, a rookie, is off to a .372/.383/.654 start through 21 games, leaving few at-bats for Raburn to work through his slow start. The lefthanded-hitting Boesch had smashed 14 extra-base hits through May 19.

Minor League Transactions

Posted May. 27, 2010 3:55 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: May 19-25
Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Released: LHP Phil Dumatrait
Recalled: OF Ryan Raburn
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Casper Wells
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Robbie Weinhardt, 1B Jeff Larish, 3B Bryan Pounds, OF Josh Workman
Reinstated from DL: RHP Lester Oliveros, OF Ryan Strieby
Placed on temporarily inactive list: LHP Phil Dumatrait
Reinstated from inactive list: LHP Phil Dumatrait

The Tigers released Dumatrait, 28, so that he could sign with Korea's LG Twins. He's about to go way off the grid—the Korea Baseball Organization reveals its official statistics to a select few. And Baseball America isn't one of them. At any rate, the hard-throwing Dumatrait sported a pedestrian 17-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio for Triple-A Toledo. But as noted by correspondent John Wagner, the lefty was quite tough on same-siders, holding them to a .163/.241/.265 line in 49 at-bats, while issuing just two walks.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jun. 2, 2010 4:33 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: May 26-June 1
Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Released: 2B Mike Gosse
Recalled: RHP Max Scherzer
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Danny Worth
Reinstated from DL: RHP Ruddy Lugo
Reinstated from inactive list: 3B Ronnie Bourquin

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jun. 10, 2010 3:31 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: June 2-7
Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Billy Buckner
Option transferred: OF Wilkin Ramirez (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: C Max St. Pierre
Reinstated from DL: 1B Jeff Larish, SS Brandon Douglas, OF Josh Workman

Detroit acquired Buckner in their trade of Dontrelle Willis, who had been designated for assignment, to the Diamondbacks.

Minor League Transactions Special Edition: June 8-14

Posted Jun. 18, 2010 9:21 pm by J.J. Cooper
Filed under: Transactions

This time: June 8-14

John Manuel pinch-hitting for Matt Eddy with a special edition noting just Draft Picks Signed as well as Non-Drafted Free Agents who signed. Check out the Transactions Glossary for the key to deciphering the various inactive lists presented here.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Draft Picks Signed: LHPs Kyle Ryan (12), Shawn Teufel (25); C Tyson Kendrick (49); 2B Josh Ashenbrenner (18); SSs Peter Miller (40), Ryan Soares (36); 3B Matt Perry (41)

Teufel is the son of ex-big league infielder Tim Teufel, who's also a long-time manager in the Mets farm system.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jun. 22, 2010 1:23 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: June 8-14

Many thanks to John Manuel and Jim Callis for pinch-hitting with transactions last week. John tracked down the draft pick signings, while Jim concentrated on finding schools for nondrafted college free agents. It's a lot of work, and they did an excellent job. Or as Aaron Fitt would say: Great job, boss!

At any rate, draft signing season has begun. I decided to fold in the draft and NDFA info from the John & Jim report in order to preserve Minor League Transactions blog continuity.

The numbers in parentheses denote draft round, of course, and I encourage one and all to check out our Draft Database. It's the easiest place on the Web to find out, 1) who drafted whom, and from which school and which state, and 2) which players have signed. That's all free. Subscribers can visit the Advanced Draft Database, which has scouting reports and bonus information for all the top picks. The ADD also lets the reader sort by school, state and position.

Detroit Tigers
Signed:OF Ben Johnson (Orange County (Golden))
Draft picks signed:LHP
Kyle Ryan (12), LHP Shawn Teufel (25), C Tyson Kendrick (49), 2B Josh
Ashenbrenner (18), 3B Pete Miller (40), 3B Matt Perry (41), SS Ryan
Soares (36)
Released:2B Luis Palacios, OF Josh Workman
Voluntarily retired: RHP Nolan Cain
Recalled:2B Danny Worth
Added to 40-man roster:RHP Enrique Gonzalez
Placed on 7-day DL:RHP Brayan Villarreal, 1B Cesar Nicolas
Reinstated from DL:RHP Nolan Cain

The Mets viewed Ben Johnson as the perfect complement to their lefty-leaning outfield when they traded for him following the ’06 season. The cost, Heath Bell, proved more than a little exorbitant. Johnson appeared in 62 games for the organization in ’07, but injuries waylaid him after that and he never was heard from again. He latched on with the independent Golden League’s Orange County franchise last August, but it was his exploits this spring (he batted .405/.550/.714 with four home runs in 12 games) that caught the Tigers’ attention.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jun. 28, 2010 5:50 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: June 14-21
Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Steve Crnkovich (NDFA—Tennessee), RHP Dan Gentzler (NDFA—Maryland), RHP Patrick Lawson (NDFA—Charlotte), RHP Tim Mowry (NDFA—Western Michigan), LHP Lance Baxter (NDFA—South Alabama), OF Ryan Enos (NDFA—Dallas Baptist), OF Jon Weber
Draft picks signed: RHP Tyler Clark (24), RHP Jeff Ferrell (26), RHP Drew Gagnier (17), RHP Matt Little (31), RHP Brennan Smith (33), RHP Tyler White (20), LHP Logan Hoch (30), C Rob Brantly (3), C Patrick Leyland (8), 1B Clay Jones (32), 1B Tony Plagman (9), OF Bo McClendon (39), OF James Meador (21), OF P.J. Polk (13), OF Jeff Rowland (19), OF Les Smith (27)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Rick Porcello
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Sean Finefrock, RHP Melvin Mercedes, LHP Hua-Wei Lo, C Adolfo Reina, OF Luis Castillo
Reinstated from DL: C John Murrian

Lost among the sea of nondrafted free agents is Jon Weber, a minor league veteran who latched on with the Tigers after being dumped by the Yankees. He played in the Rays system last year, where he helped Durham to the Triple-A National Championship. Weber began his Mud Hens career with a 7-for-31 start (.226) with one home runs in eight games.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jul. 2, 2010 4:30 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: June 22-27

The numbers in parentheses denote draft round, of course, and I encourage one and all to check out our Draft Database. It's the easiest place on the Web to find out, 1) who drafted whom, and from which school and which state, and 2) which players have signed. That's all free. Subscribers can visit the Advanced Draft Database, which has scouting reports and bonus information for all the top picks. The ADD also lets the reader sort by school, state and position.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.


Detroit Tigers
Draft picks signed: RHP Jordan Pratt (16), RHP Patrick Cooper (14)
Released: 1B Ron Bourquin, OF Ben Johnson, OF Josh Burrus
Placed on restricted list: RHP Nolan Moody
Recalled: RHP Jay Sborz
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Andy Oliver
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jay Sborz
Option transferred: RHP Jacob Turner (low Class A to high Class A)
Placed on 7-day DL: 2B Scott Sizemore, SS Audy Ciriaco
Reinstated from DL: RHP Brayan Villarreal, 3B Bryan Pounds

Ron Bourquin batted .237/.366/.390 in 59 at-bats since returning from his 50-game drug suspension.

Jacob Turner, the high school first-rounder last year who signed a big league deal, made quick work of low Class A, going 2-3, 3.67 in 11 games for West Michigan. He struck out 51 and walked nine in 54 innings. Andy Oliver, the club's second-round pick, put the entire minor leagues behind him, going 6-4, 3.61 in 14 starts for Double-A Erie, while notching 70 strikeouts in 77 innings.

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jul. 12, 2010 11:55 am by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: June 27-July 6

Be sure to check out our Draft Database for a more comprehensive look at recently signed draft picks.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Jeff Barfield (NDFA—Florida)
Draft picks signed: LHP Alex Burgos (5), C John Holaday (6), 2B Corey Jones (7)
Released: RHP Ruddy Lugo, OF Luis Salas
Voluntarily retired: RHP Nolan Moody, 1B Elvin Soto
Recalled: LHP Daniel Schlereth
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Casey Fien
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Casey Fien, LHP Fu-Te Ni
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Giovanni Soto, LHP Jade Todd, SS Cale Iorg
Reinstated from DL: RHP Sean Finefrock, RHP Robbie Weinhardt, 2B Scott Sizemore

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jul. 19, 2010 5:18 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: July 6-13

Be sure to check out our Draft Database for a more comprehensive look at recently signed draft picks.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Signed: LHP Gilbert de la Vara (Yuma (Golden))
Draft pick signed: LHP Cole Nelson (10)
Placed on restricted list: LHP Tyler Conn
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Robbie Weinhardt
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Armando Galarraga
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Shawn Roof
Reinstated from DL: SS Audy Ciriaco, SS Cale Iorg
Placed on temporarily inactive list: 1B Jordan Lennerton
Reinstated from inactive list: 1B Jordan Lennerton

Minor League Transactions

Posted Jul. 23, 2010 3:53 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: July 13-20

Detroit Tigers
Draft pick signed: LHP Jack Duffey (28)
Released: C Angel Flores, C Mike Rabelo
Placed on suspended list: 2B Alden Carrithers
Voluntarily retired: OF Jon Weber
Recalled: RHP Casey Fien, RHP Armando Galarraga, RHP Rick Porcello
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Andy Oliver, LHP Daniel Schlereth
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Billy Buckner
Transferred to 60-day DL: LHP Hua-Wei Lo, C Adolfo Reina
Reinstated from DL: LHP Giovanni Soto, C Mike Rabelo, C Max St. Pierre, 1B Cesar Nicolas, SS Shawn Roof, OF Luis Castillo

Jon Weber leaves affiliated ball with a 100-game suspension hanging over his head. He failed three tests for a so-called drug of abuse. If Weber did not intend to play anyway, it's a curious move to retire rather than "serve" his suspension on the sidelines.

Minor League Transactions: July 20-28

Posted Aug. 2, 2010 1:24 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions

This time: July 20-28

As always, be sure to visit two wonderful Baseball America resources: the Draft Database and Trade Central.

An asterisk (*) denotes an instance of a player agreeing to terms on a minor league contract with an organization with which he already had a major league agreement.

Detroit Tigers
Released: RHP Billy Buckner
Placed on restricted list: 1B Cesar Nicolas
Recalled: 2B Scott Sizemore
Added to 40-man roster: 1B Jeff Larish, 2B Will Rhymes
Designated for assignment: RHP Casey Fien
Removed from 40-man: RHP Casey Fien (Triple-A)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Casey Fien
Option transferred: SS Audy Ciriaco (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Nate Newman, RHP Brendan Wise, 3B Michael Bertram, SS Audy Ciriaco
Reinstated from inactive list: 2B Alden Carrithers

Nicolas tested positive for an amphetamine, thus the 50-game suspension and placement on the restricted list.