Minor League Transactions

Transactions involving minor league players for the period May 29-June 4. All transactions conveyed by Major League Baseball.

Many veterans negotiate June 1 opt-outs in their minor league contracts. Thus we find a number of veteran players, such as Chris Denorfia, Ernesto Frieri and Bobby Parnell, listed as released.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Released: RHP Dean Jackson

Atlanta Braves
Released: RHP Gregory Bautista | OF J.B. Moss

The Braves released 2016 seventh-rounder J.B. Moss, a righthanded-hitting right fielder from Texas A&M, after he started slowly at high Class A Florida by going 4-for-30 (.133) without an extra-base hit or a walk. He also hit just .195 in 25 games at the high Class A level last year in his pro debut.

The Braves signed Moss for just $10,000 last year—against a slot value of $229,700—as they conserved bonus-pool money to sign their five top-100 picks for just shy of $12 million. Moss wasn’t alone. Atlanta signed its five picks from rounds six through 10—collegians all—for a combined $58,000.

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: LHP Lucas Luetge (released by Reds, June 1)
Acquired: SS Ruben Tejada from Yankees for cash
Added to 40-man roster: C Francisco Pena
Removed from 40-man: LHP Paul Fry (outrighted to Triple-A)

Boston Red Sox
Signed: RHP Elih Villanueva (Lancaster (Atlantic))

Cincinnati Reds
Released: RHP Braulio Ortiz | LHP Lucas Luetge | 2B Ty Blankmeyer

Cleveland Indians
Acquired: 2B Josh Wilson from Rangers for cash

Colorado Rockies
Released: C Campbell Wear | OF Chris Denorfia

Detroit Tigers
Elected free agency: RHP William Cuevas
Removed from 40-man: RHP William Cuevas | OF Tyler Collins (both players outrighted to Triple-A)

Houston Astros
Released: RHP Jared Mortensen | C Oliver Toribio | 2B Nicolas Miranda | OF Norberto Castellanos

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Tony Pena Jr. (Tabasco (Mexican))
Released: RHP Bobby Parnell | OF Tanner Stanley
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Eric Skoglund

Tony Pena Jr. reached the majors as a light-hitting (but strong-armed) shortstop in 2006 and accumulated 870 plate appearances in four seasons while producing a 45 OPS+. He converted to pitcher in 2009 as a member of the Royals organization, just in time to become a minor league free agent that offseason. He topped out at Triple-A in four subsequent years as a reliever, spending time in the Giants, Red Sox and White Sox systems.

Pena had worked as a reliever in the Mexican League since 2014 before the Royals signed the 36-year-old last week. He ranked among the league leaders for saves in 2014 and 2015.

Los Angeles Angels
Signed: RHP Jhondaniel Medina (released by Cubs, May 11) | OF Michael Bourn (released by Orioles, May 24) | OF Cesar Puello (released by Rangers, June 1)
Released: OF Caleb Adams | OF Zach Welz
Added to 40-man roster: OF Shane Robinson | OF Eric Young Jr.
Removed from 40-man: RHP Daniel Wright (outrighted to Triple-A)

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: OF Quincy Latimore (Aguascalientes (Mexican))
Released: LHP Logan Darnell
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Brandon Morrow

Miami Marlins
Signed: RHP Kolton Mahoney (released by Yankees, May 27) | RHP James Needy (Sioux City (American Association))
Released: OF Sleyter Soto

Minnesota Twins
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Alex Wimmers | LHP Jason Wheeler
Removed from 40-man: LHP Adam Wilk (outrighted to Triple-A)

New York Mets
Released: OF Raphael Ramirez

New York Yankees
Released: RHP Ernesto Frieri | LHP Jason Gurka | C Ozzie Liranzo
Traded: SS Ruben Tejada to Orioles for cash

Oakland Athletics
Released: RHP Matt Sergey

Pittsburgh Pirates
Released: RHP Robbie Coursel | 2B Tyler Leffler

St. Louis Cardinals
Removed from 40-man: RHP Miguel Socolovich (outrighted to Triple-A)

San Diego Padres
Released: OF Yuniet Flores
Sold to Mexican League: RHP Carlos Fisher (to Tijuana)

San Francisco Giants
Signed: 1B Jerry Sands (Somerset (Atlantic))
Added to 40-man roster: OF Austin Slater

Seattle Mariners
Signed: SS Ryan Jackson (Sugar Land (Atlantic))
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Tyler Cloyd | SS Tyler Smith
Designated for assignment: OF Andrew Aplin

Tampa Bay Rays
Released: RHP Anthony Parente | OF Dayron Varona

Texas Rangers
Released: RHP Omarlin Lopez | LHP Jason Richman | 3B Xavier Turner | OF Cesar Puello
Traded: 2B Josh Wilson to Indians for cash

Toronto Blue Jays
Released: RHP Mat Latos | RHP Gabe Noyalis | RHP Jairo Rosario | RHP Jon Wandling

Washington Nationals
Released: RHP Mike Broadway | RHP Joe Nathan