Minor League Transactions: April 8-15

Transactions involving minor league players for the period April 8-15. All transactions conveyed by Major League Baseball.

The Opening Day Injury Report contains updates for many top prospects who began the season on the disabled list.

Arizona Diamondbacks
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Matt Koch

Atlanta Braves
Signed: RHP Jason Motte (released by Rockies, April 5)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jason Hursh
Recalled: RHP Jason Hursh | RHP Luke Jackson | 2B Johan Camargo
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Joel de la Cruz | RHP Kris Medlen | LHP A.J. Minter
Reinstated from DL: SS Emerson Landoni

Baltimore Orioles
Signed: OF Dariel Alvarez (re-signed) | OF Michael Bourn (re-signed)
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Stefan Crichton
Designated for assignment: RHP Parker Bridwell (sold to Angels) | RHP Jason Garcia
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Stefan Crichton | RHP Damien Magnifico | LHP Paul Fry
Recalled: RHP Alec Asher
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Cory Jones | LHP Richard Bleier | 3B Chris Johnson | OF Dariel Alvarez | OF Michael Bourn | OF Josh Hart

The Orioles traded their first and fourth international bonus slots, which are worth a combined $1,083,300, to acquire young major league-ready relievers Damien Magnifico and Paul Fry from the Brewers and Mariners, respectively. The trades dropped Baltimore’s total international bonus pool for the year to $1,456,300, which shouldn’t be a problem because the Orioles have spent just $260,000 so far. The next international signing period begins on July 2.

The 12th overall pick in the draft last year, lefthander Jason Groome allowed 10 baserunners in 1.1 innings in his season debut at low Class A Greenville then left early with a lat injury.

Cincinnati Reds
Released: RHP Carlos Portuondo
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Bronson Arroyo
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Barrett Astin (twice) | OF Jesse Winker
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Austin Brice
Recalled: RHP Barrett Astin | OF Jesse Winker
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Luis Gonzalez

The Reds acquired 29-year-old Cuban righthander Carlos Portuondo as one of two players for Brandon Phillips in February. He made only one relief appearance at Double-A Pensacola prior to his release.

Cleveland Indians
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Shawn Armstrong | OF Tyler Naquin
Recalled: RHP Nick Goody
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Tim Cooney | OF Connor Marabell

Colorado Rockies
Signed: SS Ryan Metzler (released by Blue Jays, April 3) | OF Ben Johnson (released by Royals, March 28)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP German Marquez
Recalled: RHP Shane Carle | OF Raimel Tapia

Detroit Tigers
Signed: RHP Tom de Blok (Amsterdam (Dutch)) | 1B James Loney (released by Rangers, March 28)
Added to 40-man roster: RHP William Cuevas | RHP Joe Jimenez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP William Cuevas | RHP Joe Jimenez | RHP Bruce Rondon
Recalled: RHP Warwick Saupold
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Sandy Baez | C Andrew Longley | OF Juan Perez
Reinstated from DL: C Andrew Longley

Houston Astros
Signed: RHP Jesus Balaguer
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Tyler Britton
Reinstated from DL: RHP Ryan Deemes

Jesus Balaguer is a 23-year-old Cuban righthander who stands 6-foot-4 and worked as a reliever in the Cuban major league. He pitched 45 innings in 2014, his last pro action.

Kansas City Royals
Released: RHP Bryan Casey | RHP Keaton Hayenga | LHP Ray Liotta | C Kevin David
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Matt Strahm
Optioned to Double-A: OF Terrance Gore
Option transferred: RHP Kyle Zimmer (Double-A to Triple-A)
Recalled: RHP Jake Junis | LHP Scott Alexander
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andrew Edwards | C Brayan Pena | OF Brandon Downes

The players released by the Royals this time had spent years on the inactive list, so these moves are procedural in nature.

Los Angeles Angels
Released: LHP Connor Bach
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Deolis Guerra
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Daniel Wright
Recalled: RHP Daniel Wright
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Greg Belton | 1B Jared Walsh | SS David Fletcher | OF John Schuknecht
Reinstated from DL: RHP Alex Klonowski | RHP Troy Scribner

Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Matt Ditman (released by Royals, March 21) | RHP David Hale (released by Braves, March 24) | LHP Chris Cotton (released by Astros, March 23)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Josh Fields | RHP Joe Gunkel (purchased from Orioles)
Option transferred: LHP Julio Urias (high Class A to Triple-A)
Recalled: OF Trayce Thompson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Kevin Brown | RHP Tim Shibuya | C Gersel Pitre
Reinstated from DL: RHP Josh Sborz

Miami Marlins
Signed: RHP Garrett Cortright (released by Orioles, March 28) | RHP Nick Neumann (released by Pirates, March 21) | LHP Daniel Schlereth (released by Cardinals, March 25)
Released: 3B Javier Lopez
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne | RHP Nick Wittgren
Recalled: LHP Jarlin Garcia | SS J.T. Riddle
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Brian Ellington | OF Austin Dean
Reinstated from DL: LHP Greg Nappo | C Chris Hoo

Milwaukee Brewers
Added to 40-man roster: RHP David Goforth
Designated for assignment: RHP Damien Magnifico (traded to Orioles) | RHP Michael Blazek (outrighted to Triple-A)
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Brent Suter | C Andrew Susac
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Dalton Brown | RHP Jordan Yamamoto | LHP Jake Drossner | 2B Blake Allemand | OF Brandon Diaz

Minnesota Twins
Option transferred: LHP Randy Rosario (high Class A to Double-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Byung-Ho Park | 2B Luis Arraez

New York Mets
Signed: 1B Cody Decker (released by Brewers, March 27)
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Paul Sewald
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Paul Sewald | 2B T.J. Rivera
Recalled: LHP Sean Gilmartin
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Pete Alonso | 3B Blake Tiberi | OF Victor Cruzado | OF Jacob Zanon

New York Yankees
Signed: LHP Nestor Oronel (released by Pirates, March 29)
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Jordan Montgomery
Designated for assignment: RHP Johnny Barbato (sold to Pirates)
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Chasen Shreve
Option transferred: RHP Chad Green (high Class A to Triple-A)
Recalled: C Kyle Higashioka
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Dietrich Enns | OF Tito Polo

Oakland Athletics
Added to 40-man roster: OF Jaff Decker
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Mark Canha
Placed on 7-day DL: 3B Matt Chapman | OF Mike Martin

Third baseman Matt Chapman suffered a left wrist strain at Triple-A Nashville.

Philadelphia Phillies
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Zach Eflin | LHP Adam Morgan
Recalled: RHP Luis Garcia
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Jorge Flores | SS Arquimedes Gamboa

Pittsburgh Pirates
Signed: RHP Yoandy Fernandez
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Albert Baur | OF Victor Fernandez

The Pirates signed 29-year-old Cuban righthander Yoandy Fernandez, whose last pro action came in 2015 in the independent Frontier League. He defected from Cuba in late 2014 and entered the U.S. in early 2015. In so doing he became eligible for the 2015 draft, though he went unselected.

St. Louis Cardinals
Released: RHP Kurt Heyer | RHP Thomas Lee
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Sam Tuivailala
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Luke Weaver | OF Nick Plummer | OF Magneuris Sierra
Reinstated from DL: RHP Mitch Harris | RHP Trey Nielsen

Triple-A Memphis righthander Luke Weaver is dealing with lower-back stiffness. High Class A Palm Beach outfielder Magneuris Sierra was hit by a pitch and is being monitored for concussion symptoms.

San Francisco Giants
Signed: OF Christopher Burks (NDFA—Arizona Christian) | OF Melvin Upton (released by Blue Jays, April 2)
Added to 40-man roster: C Tim Federowicz
Designated for assignment: RHP Clayton Blackburn
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Steven Okert
Option transferred: RHP Dan Slania (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ryan Webb | RHP Cesar Yanez | LHP Alex Bostic | LHP Matt Reynolds | LHP Caleb Smith | 2B Tyler Brown | 2B Ali Castillo | 3B Ryder Jones | OF Jacob Heyward

Seattle Mariners
Released: OF James Ramsey
Added to 40-man roster: 2B Mike Freeman
Designated for assignment: LHP Paul Fry (traded to Orioles)
Removed from 40-man: RHP Casey Fien (outrighted to Triple-A)
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Dillon Overton
Recalled: RHP Evan Marshall
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jeffeson Medina | 1B Kyle Petty | OF Adam Law
Reinstated from DL: RHP Vinny Nittoli

Tampa Bay Rays
Added to 40-man roster: OF Shane Peterson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jaime Schultz | OF Johnny Field

Texas Rangers
Removed from 40-man: RHP Tanner Scheppers (outrighted to Triple-A)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Nick Martinez | 2B Drew Robinson
Recalled: RHP Nick Martinez
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jose Valdespina | 2B Blaine Prescott

Toronto Blue Jays
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Casey Lawrence | OF Chris Coghlan
Designated for assignment: C Juan Graterol
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Casey Lawrence | RHP Dominic Leone | 3B Ty Kelly (waiver claim from Mets)
Recalled: RHP Dominic Leone
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Chris Smith | C Alex Monsalve | OF Darrell Ceciliani

Washington Nationals
Signed: RHP Joe Nathan (re-signed)
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Matt Albers | RHP Jeremy Guthrie | 2B Grant Green
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Michael Taylor
Recalled: OF Michael Taylor
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Carlos Acevedo | RHP Dakota Bacus
Reinstated from DL: OF Zach Collier