Minor League Transactions

Transactions involving minor league players for the period March 16-22. All transactions conveyed by Major League Baseball.

Organizations may have as many as 40 players at one time signed to major league contracts, and on the minor league side they also must abide by roster limits based on classification. To meet these roster limits each spring, organizations must release a few dozen minor league players to create space for the new class of players moving to full-season leagues, primarily from short-season leagues to the low Class A level.

That’s what necessitates the high volume of player releases (158) in this Minor League Transactions installment—and the next few to come.

Players who qualified for a fourth minor league option year are denoted with asterisk (*) below.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Released: RHP David Carpenter | RHP Cody Clark | RHP Frank Duncan | RHP Taylor Grover | LHP Antonio Bastardo | C Alexis Olmeda | C Seth Spivey | C Luis Tejeda | C Josh Thole | 1B Austin Byler | 1B Luke Van Rycheghem | 2B Didimo Bracho | 2B Henry Castillo | 2B Tony Renda
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Silvino Bracho | RHP Matt Koch | RHP Jimmie Sherfy | RHP Braden Shipley | 1B Christian Walker | 2B Ildemaro Vargas | SS Jack Reinheimer | OF Socrates Brito* | OF Jeremy Hazelbaker

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Anibal Sanchez (released by Twins, March 11)
Released: RHP Dalton Geekie | RHP Ryan Schlosser | LHP Jaret Hellinger | LHP Taylor Hyssong | LHP Kyle Kinman | LHP Ryan Lawlor | 2B Matt Gonzalez
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Max Fried | 3B Ryan Schimpf
Returned Rule 5 pick: RHP Anyelo Gomez (to Yankees)

Baltimore Orioles
Released: RHP Mike Costello | RHP Cory Jones | RHP Dennis Torres | LHP Max MacNabb | 1B Steve Laurino | OF Gerrion Grim
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jimmy Yacabonis | LHP Donnie Hart | LHP Tanner Scott | C Austin Wynns
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Hunter Harvey

Chicago Cubs
Released: RHP Luiz Escanio
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Dillon Maples | OF Mark Zagunis

Chicago White Sox
Released: RHP Brannon Easterling | RHP Lane Hobbs | RHP Bryan Saucedo | RHP Mick VanVossen | RHP Salvador Villarreal | LHP Ryan Boelter | LHP Louie Lechich | LHP Ryan Riga | OF Jeff Gelalich
Traded: RHP Robin Leyer to Reds and 3B Diego Goris to Padres for cash
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Casey Gillaspie | OF Ryan Cordell

Cincinnati Reds
Released: RHP Marcos Encarnacion | RHP Jake Paulson | LHP Andrew McKirahan | LHP Oliver Perez | 1B James Vasquez | OF Reydel Medina | OF Jared Mitchell
Acquired: RHP Robin Leyer from White Sox for cash
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jackson Stephens | RHP Robert Stephenson | C Stuart Turner

Cleveland Indians
Signed: RHP Jon Edwards (did not play in 2017)
Released: C Ryan Hanigan | 1B Mike Napoli | OF Melvin Upton
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Ben Taylor | C Eric Haase | 3B Yandy Diaz | SS Eric Stamets | OF Greg Allen

Colorado Rockies
Released: RHP Jared Gesell | RHP Carlos Lopez | RHP George Thanopoulos | C Christian Correa | 3B Avery Romero | SS Luis Jean | OF Ben Johnson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Yency Almonte | LHP Sam Howard | 1B Jordan Patterson

Detroit Tigers
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Chad Bell | LHP Blaine Hardy

Houston Astros
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Francis Martes | 1B A.J. Reed

Kansas City Royals
Signed: RHP Clay Buchholz
Released: RHP Michael Silva | RHP Gustavo Tejeda
Traded: RHP Ashton Goudeau, RHP David McKay, LHP Colin Rodgers and LHP Matt Tenuta to Mariners and 1B Robby Rinn to Twins for cash
Designated for assignment: RHP Sam Gaviglio (sold to Blue Jays)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Miguel Almonte | RHP Sam Gaviglio | RHP Trevor Oaks | C Cam Gallagher | 2B Ramon Torres

Los Angeles Angels
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Parker Bridwell | RHP Nick Tropeano | C Juan Graterol | 3B Kaleb Cowart | SS Nolan Fontana | OF Jabari Blash
Acquired: 2B Luis Rengifo from Rays as player to be named for 1B C.J. Cron

Los Angeles Dodgers
Released: RHP Logan Crouse | RHP Malcom Culver | RHP Patrick Duester | RHP Pablo Fernandez | RHP Alex Hermeling | RHP Santos Mateo | RHP Andrew Robinson | RHP Scott Shuman | RHP Miguel Urena | 2B Samuel Ortiz | OF Blake Gailen
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Dylan Baker | LHP Adam Liberatore | OF Alex Verdugo
Loaned to Mexican League: 1B Erick Meza (to Mexico City)

Miami Marlins
Released: RHP Evan Beal | RHP Chuck Weaver | LHP Kyle Farjad | 1B Taylor Ard | 1B Trenton Hill | 2B Angel Reyes | OF Justin Cohen | OF Chad Hinshaw | OF Walker Olis | OF Cal Towey | OF Dalton Wheat
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Sandy Alcantara | RHP Nick Wittgren | LHP Adam Conley | LHP Dillon Peters | OF Braxton Lee
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Jarlin Garcia

Milwaukee Brewers
Signed: RHP Jim Henderson (did not play in 2017)
Released: RHP Ernesto Frieri

Minnesota Twins
Released: RHP Vadim Balan | RHP Austin Bizzle | RHP Callan Pearce | RHP Joe Rosenstein | LHP Taylor Clemensia | LHP Evan Sanders | C Jhonathan Alvarez | C Dariel Crespo | C Bryant Hayman | 2B Dane Hutcheon | OF Chris Heisey | OF Max Murphy
Traded: RHP Luis Gil to Yankees for OF Jake Cave (DFA)
Acquired: 1B Robby Rinn from Royals for cash
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Alan Busenitz | RHP Tyler Duffey

New York Mets
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Gavin Cecchini
Optioned to Double-A: SS Luis Guillorme

New York Yankees
Released: RHP Simon de la Rosa | RHP Jonathan Padilla | RHP David Palladino | RHP Josh Roeder | RHP Mark Seyler | RHP Daris Vargas | LHP Woody Bryson | LHP Tyler Honahan
Traded: OF Jake Cave (DFA) to Twins for RHP Luis Gil
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Giovanny Gallegos | RHP Ben Heller | 3B Miguel Andujar | OF Tyler Austin | OF Billy McKinney

Oakland Athletics
Signed: LHP Brett Anderson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chris Bassitt | C Dustin Garneau

Philadelphia Phillies
Signed: C Gabriel Lino
Released: RHP Ryan Etsell | LHP Fernando Abad | 1B Luis Encarnacion | 2B Ryan Flaherty
Added to 40-man roster: SS Pedro Florimon
Designated for assignment: 2B Eliezer Alvarez (sold to Rangers)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Yacksel Rios

Pittsburgh Pirates
Released: RHP Julio Eusebio | RHP Shane Kemp | RHP Pasquale Mazzoccoli | RHP Miguel Rosario | 2B Luis Perez | OF Matt Diorio | OF Victor Fernandez | OF Ryan Nagle | OF Daniel Nava
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Nick Kingham* | 2B Chris Bostick | 2B Max Moroff

St. Louis Cardinals
Released: RHP Max Almonte | RHP Steven Farinaro | RHP Dailyn Martinez | RHP Jason Motte | RHP Frederis Parra | RHP Juan Perez | RHP Paul Salazar | RHP Leland Tilley | RHP Spencer Trayner | LHP Anthony Ciavarella | 3B Matt Davis | OF J.D. Crowe
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jack Flaherty | RHP John Gant | LHP Ryan Sherriff | C Carson Kelly | 2B Breyvic Valera | OF Oscar Mercado

San Diego Padres
Released: RHP Yimmi Brasoban | RHP Adrian De Horta | RHP Zech Lemond | 1B Chris Mattison | 1B Cole Rutherford | OF Dayon Olmo
Acquired: 3B Diego Goris from White Sox for cash

San Francisco Giants
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Tyler Beede | RHP Roberto Gomez | RHP Derek Law | 3B Ryder Jones | OF Austin Slater | OF Mac Williamson

Seattle Mariners
Signed: RHP Erik Goeddel (released by Rangers, March 19) | RHP Josh Smith | OF Jorge Solano (NDFA—St. Francis (Pa.))
Acquired: RHP Ashton Goudeau, RHP David McKay, LHP Colin Rodgers and LHP Matt Tenuta from Royals for cash
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Rob Whalen | LHP Dario Alvarez* (waiver claim from Cubs) | C David Freitas

Two-sport athlete Jorge Solano played baseball in high school in Coral Springs, Fla., but focused on football in college, first at Fordham and then at St. Francis (Pa.).

Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: RHP Zach Lee (released by Padres, Aug. 14) | C Curt Casali (released by Rangers, March 21)
Released: RHP Ryan Askew | RHP Chris Pike
Traded: 2B Luis Rengifo to Angels as player to be named for 1B C.J. Cron
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Chih-Wei Hu | RHP Ryne Stanek | LHP Anthony Banda

Texas Rangers
Released: RHP Brandon Cumpton | RHP Erik Goeddel | RHP Marc Iseneker | RHP Ismel Lopez | RHP Parker Sanburn | RHP Zeke Spruill | LHP Clyde Kendrick | LHP Shane McCain | LHP Jon Niese | C Curt Casali | 2B Darwin Barney | 3B Trevor Plouffe
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Nick Gardewine | LHP Yohander Mendez | 2B Eliezer Alvarez (purchased from Phillies)

Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: 2B Danny Espinosa (released by Yankees, March 12)
Released: LHP Alonzo Gonzalez | LHP Daniel Lietz | 2B Deiferson Barreto | 2B Mattingly Romanin | OF Nick Sinay
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Sam Gaviglio | LHP Sam Moll | SS Richard Urena

Washington Nationals
Signed: RHP Jeremy Hellickson
Released: RHP Daniel Butler | LHP Sean Adler | LHP Hector Silvestre | C Chance Shepard | C Luis Vilorio | 2B Joshual Ramirez | 3B Andres Martinez | OF D.K. Carey | OF Edwin Ventura
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Erick Fedde | OF Victor Robles