Minor League Transactions: July 23-28
Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period July 23-28.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Released: C Adony Ovalles
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Braden Shipley
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Silvino Bracho, 2B Mike Freeman
Placed on 7-day DL: 1B Marty Herum, OF Stewart Ijames
Placed on 60-day DL: RHP Tucker Ward
Atlanta Braves
Signed: C Michael McKenry (elected free agency from Cardinals, July 23)
Released: LHP Luis Barrios
Traded: RHP Lucas Harrell and LHP Dario Alvarez to Rangers for 2B Travis Demeritte
Recalled: LHP Matt Marksberry
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Jose Ramirez
Placed on 7-day DL: C Lucas Herbert, C Braeden Schlehuber
Placed on 60-day DL: C Ruben Perez
Baltimore Orioles
Signed: LHP Tom Gorzelanny (elected free agency from Indians, July 9)
Draft pick signed: LHP Brandon Bonilla (13)
Recalled: RHP Tyler Wilson
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Dariel Alvarez
Optioned to Double-A: LHP Donnie Hart
Removed from 40-man: OF Henry Urrutia (outrighted to Double-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Patrick Baker, RHP Bobby Bundy, RHP Dariel Delgado, RHP Cory Jones, RHP Lazaro Leyva, C Audry Perez
Boston Red Sox
Recalled: RHP Joe Kelly
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Heath Hembree
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jacob Dahlstrand, RHP Travis Lakins, LHP Roenis Elias, SS Deven Marrero
A concussion sent Triple-A Pawtucket shortstop Deven Marrero to the disabled list. While he is a standout defensive player, the 25-year-old has cost his team runs with his bat by hitting just .196/.242/.235 in 79 games this season. That translates to a park-adjusted OPS+ of about 42, according to my calculations.
Chicago Cubs
Released: RHP Scott Frazier
Traded: RHP Adam Warren, SS Gleyber Torres, OF Rashad Crawford and OF Billy McKinney to Yankees for LHP Aroldis Chapman
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Adam Warren, 2B Tommy La Stella
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP David Berg, RHP Greyfer Eregua, RHP Miguel Mejia, LHP Carson Sands, C Ian Rice, 3B Jason Vosler, OF Matt Murton
Chicago White Sox
Signed: RHP Conor Krauss (released by Reds, July 20)
Released: RHP Manny Martinez
Recalled: RHP Anthony Ranaudo, 2B Carlos Sanchez (twice)
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Anthony Ranaudo, 2B Carlos Sanchez
Placed on 7-day DL: C Zack Collins
According to his MiLB.com player page, 2016 first-round pick Zack Collins suffered a concussion, and that’s why the White Sox placed him on the disabled list at high Class A Winston-Salem. In nine games in the Carolina League (including six starts at catcher), he went 10-for-34 (.294) with three homers, two doubles, six walks and 10 RBIs.
Cincinnati Reds
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Kyle Waldrop
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jordan Ramsey, C Tyler Stephenson, SS Blake Butler, OF Juan Duran, OF Donald Lutz
Placed on 60-day DL: LHP Andrew Wright, OF Miles Gordon
Perhaps no 2015 first-round pick has been as snakebit as catcher Tyler Stephenson, who last week made his third trip to the low Class A Dayton disabled list this season. This time he suffered a left wrist sprain, and it’s the second time this season he has injured that wrist. The 19-year-old went 9-for-24 (.375) in seven games at Dayton since coming off the DL the last time.
Cleveland Indians
Signed: LHP Joe Thatcher (released by Dodgers, June 4)
Released: OF Bryson Myles
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Thomas Pannone, LHP Anderson Polanco
Colorado Rockies
Recalled: RHP Scott Oberg
Added to 40-man roster: OF David Dahl
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Ryan Carpenter
Detroit Tigers
Signed: LHP Tommy Shirley (released by Astros, July 25)
Released: RHP Lendy Castillo, RHP Taylor Hicks, RHP Mike Vinson, SS Casey Frawley
Recalled: RHP Buck Farmer
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Buck Farmer
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Beau Burrows, C Miguel Gonzalez
A blister on his thumb sent low Class A West Michigan righthander Beau Burrows to the disabled list. The 2015 high school first-rounder could use the reprieve. He has run up a 7.13 ERA in four starts since the Midwest League all-star break, while walking eight, striking out six and allowing opponents to hit .342.
Houston Astros
Released: RHP Yeyfry Del Rosario, RHP Christian Powell, RHP Gonzalo Sanudo, LHP Cristhopher Santamaria, LHP Tommy Shirley
Added to 40-man roster: SS Alex Bregman
Option transferred: SS Nolan Fontana (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: SS Jack Mayfield
Kansas City Royals
Released: RHP Torey Deshazier
Recalled: RHP Brooks Pounders, SS Raul A. Mondesi
Optioned to Triple-A: 2B Whit Merrifield
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Colin Rodgers, LHP Sam Selman, C Allan de San Miguel, 2B Irving Falu, 2B Angel Franco
Los Angeles Angels
Recalled: LHP Tyler Skaggs, C Carlos Perez
Optioned to Triple-A: C Juan Graterol
Placed on 7-day DL: C Webster Rivas, SS Jake Yacinich, OF Caleb Adams, OF Forrestt Allday
Los Angeles Dodgers
Recalled: RHP Ross Stripling
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Grant Dayton, 2B Charlie Culberson
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Scott Barlow, RHP Jeremy Kehrt, RHP Layne Somsen, LHP Michael Boyle, C Tyler Ogle, OF Devan Ahart, OF Daniel Fields, OF Alex Hassan
Placed on 60-day DL: RHP Melvyn Forbes
Miami Marlins
Signed: RHP Isaac Gil (Windy City (Frontier))
Released: C Juan Gomes
Recalled: RHP Jarred Cosart
Placed on 7-day DL: C Adrian Nieto, SS Aaron Blanton, OF Yefri Perez
Milwaukee Brewers
Recalled: RHP Michael Blazek, OF Keon Broxton
Option transferred: RHP Jorge Lopez (Triple-A to Double-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Eric Hanhold, RHP Jorge Ortega, RHP Chase Williams, C Josmil Pinto, 1B Alan Sharkey, OF Omar Garcia
Nothing has gone right for 2015 Southern League pitcher of the year Jorge Lopez at Triple-A Colorado Springs this year. The Brewers demoted him to Double-A Biloxi last week after 17 appearances with the Sky Sox yielded a 6.81 ERA and 1.97 WHIP. Lopez in his last five starts ran up a 9.93 ERA and allowed 38 hits, 16 walks and 10 home runs in 23 innings.
The one thing to keep in mind when analyzing Lopez is that while Colorado Springs is not the most homer-happy park in the Pacific Coast League, it is arguably the most hitter-friendly of the circuit’s 16 venues. Last season, it featured more runs per game (11.6) and a higher batting average on balls in play (.358) than any PCL yard. So while the Colorado Springs humidor has taken a bite out of home-run frequency, the park still sees an excessive number of bloop hits and gappers.
While a 6.81 ERA may look irredeemable, Lopez’s performance placed in context—park-adjusted 79 ERA+—brings him more or less even with big league starters such as the Diamondbacks’ Patrick Corbin (5.31 ERA), the Marlins’ Wei-Yin Chen (4.99 ERA) or the Padres’ Colin Rea (4.98 ERA).
Minnesota Twins
Signed: C Dominic Blanco (released by Mariners, July 14)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Yorman Landa, LHP Logan Darnell, 1B D.J. Hicks, 1B Kolton Kendrick, 2B Jorge Andrade, 3B Niko Goodrum
New York Mets
Recalled: LHP Josh Smoker
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Josh Smoker
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP P.J. Conlon, LHP Sean Gilmartin, C Raywilly Gomez, SS Amed Rosario
Double-A Binghamton shortstop Amed Rosario shined in the Futures Game and has hit .354/.405/.525 (139 OPS+) through his first 26 games in the Eastern League. So far the only thing to slow him down is the hamstring strain that sent him to the disabled list last week.
New York Yankees
Released: OF Lane Adams, OF Jake Skole
Traded: LHP Aroldis Chapman to Cubs for RHP Adam Warren, SS Gleyber Torres, OF Rashad Crawford and OF Billy McKinney to Yankees for
Recalled: RHP Luis Severino
Optioned to Triple-A: LHP Chasen Shreve
Option transferred: RHP Vicente Campos (Double-A to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Garrett Mundell
Placed on 60-day DL: RHP Luis Rosario
Oakland Athletics
Recalled: RHP Jesse Hahn, RHP J.B. Wendelken, OF Max Muncy
Added to 40-man roster: C Bruce Maxwell
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jesse Hahn, RHP Daniel Mengden, C Matt McBride, 2B Arismendy Alcantara
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ryan Doolittle
Philadelphia Phillies
Released: RHP Skylar Hunter
Returned Rule 5 pick: LHP Daniel Stumpf (to Royals)
Recalled: 2B Taylor Featherston
Option transferred: RHP Jimmy Cordero (high Class A to Double-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Ranfi Casimiro
Pittsburgh Pirates
Elected free agency: C Erik Kratz
Recalled: RHP Tyler Glasnow, RHP A.J. Schugel, C Elias Diaz
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP A.J. Schugel, C Elias Diaz
Placed on 7-day DL: 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes
Low Class A West Virginia third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes had been dealing with an upper-back injury in recent weeks before hitting the disabled list. The 2015 first-rounder hit .263/.319/.393 (101 OPS+) with six home runs through 65 games.
St. Louis Cardinals
Elected free agency: C Michael McKenry
Recalled: RHP Sam Tuivailala, LHP Dean Kiekhefer
Added to 40-man roster: RHP Mike Mayers, RHP Jerome Williams
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Mike Mayers, RHP Miguel Socolovich, RHP Sam Tuivailala
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Rowan Wick, LHP Jacob Evans, 2B Eli Alvarez, 2B Andrew Brodbeck, 2B Bruce Caldwell, 2B Mason Katz, 2B Darren Seferina
San Diego Padres
Traded: OF Melvin Upton to Blue Jays for RHP Hansel Rodriguez
Recalled: LHP Buddy Baumann, LHP Keith Hessler, 2B Alexi Amarista
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Kevin Quackenbush
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Chris Paddack, 2B Kodie Tidwell, 2B Luis Urias
Righthander Chris Paddack made three starts at low Class A Fort Wayne after being acquired from the Marlins for Fernando Rodney before he hit the disabled list with a forearm strain. The 20-year-old Paddack has allowed just four runs in nine starts this season (0.85 ERA) while striking out 71 in 42 innings.
San Francisco Giants
Added to 40-man roster: LHP Matt Reynolds
Removed from 40-man: SS Ruben Tejada (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Olbis Parra, LHP Steven Okert, C Adam Sonabend, C Eliezer Zambrano, 1B Ricky Oropesa, 1B Angel Villalona, 3B Jose Vizcaino Jr., OF Woody Edwards
Transferred to 60-day DL: RHP Martin Agosta, LHP Cameron Avila-Leeper, LHP Deiyerbert Bolivar
Seattle Mariners
Signed: RHP Dillon Moyer (released by Dodgers, July 10)
Recalled: LHP David Rollins
Placed on 7-day DL: LHP Ryan Horstman, LHP Tyler Pike
Tampa Bay Rays
Signed: RHP V.J. Collins (San Rafael (Pacific Association))
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Andrew Bellatti, RHP Casey Coleman, C Mike Marjama
Placed on 60-day DL: OF Yerson Santana
Knuckleballer V.J. Collins pitched in the independent Pacific Association in 2015 but spent this season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y. The Rays hired former big leaguer Charlie Haeger last offseason specifically to develop knuckleball pitchers, and so far the organization has signed Eddie Gamboa, Jeff Howell and now Collins. Tampa Bay even briefly experimented with converting slugger Dan Johnson to the mound.
In fact, the Rays signed Collins after he worked out for organization’s scouts and coaches, including Haeger himself.
Texas Rangers
Signed: LHP Craig Breslow (released by Marlins, July 18)
Released: OF Justin Ruggiano
Traded: 2B Travis Demeritte to Braves for RHP Lucas Harrell and LHP Dario Alvarez
Recalled: RHP Nick Martinez, 3B Joey Gallo
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Nick Martinez, 3B Matt Duffy (waiver claim from Astros), OF Jared Hoying
Designated for assignment: 3B Matt Duffy
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Matt Ball
Transferred to 60-day DL: RHP Storm Rynard
Toronto Blue Jays
Signed: C Erik Kratz (elected free agency from Pirates, July 23)
Traded: RHP Hansel Rodriguez to Padres for OF Melvin Upton
Recalled: RHP Ryan Tepera
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Bo Schultz, RHP Ryan Tepera, 1B Chris Colabello
Removed from 40-man: RHP Dustin Antolin (outrighted to Triple-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Bobby Korecky, RHP Starlyn Suriel, LHP Colt Hynes, 2B Andy Fermin, 3B Alex Maldonado, 3B Carl Wise, SS Bo Bichette, OF Ian Parmley
Placed on 60-day DL: RHP Jairo Rosario
A second-round pick this year out of high school, shortstop Bo Bichette recently had an emergency appendectomy performed, and that is the type of surgery that obviously warranted a trip to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League disabled list. Bichette is the son of ex-big league slugger Dante and the younger brother of Yankees third-base prospect Dante Jr.
Bo Bichette, still just 18, has hit .421/.440/.724 (252 OPS+) through 20 games in the GCL. He leads the league in average, slugging and RBIs (35), and he might be the top hitter in Rookie ball this summer. (I have him with about 1.6 batting wins above average, which leads all complex-league players.) If Bichette can return to the field this season, he has a good shot at winning the league’s MVP award, which is something Dante Jr. also did in 2011.
Washington Nationals
Released: RHP Trey Lambert
Recalled: RHP Lucas Giolito, SS Wilmer Difo
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Koda Glover, OF Michael A. Taylor
Removed from 40-man: LHP Nick Lee (outrighted to Double-A)
Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Mat Latos, C Brian Jeroloman, 1B Shawn Pleffner, OF Victor Robles
High Class A Potomac center fielder Victor Robles suffered a hand contusion after he got hit by a pitch on July 18. He went on the disabled list last week. The top prospect, who still is just 19, has hit .289/.390/.436 with seven homers and 28 steals through 83 games this season.
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