Minor League Transactions: March 18-24

Transactions involving minor league players, i.e. those not on 40-man rosters, for the period March 18-24. All transactions conveyed by Major League Baseball.

Minor league rosters begin to take shape after a week in camp, with 72 optional assignments to the minors, 216 player releases and one trade.

After releasing 2012 first-rounder Stryker Trahan on March 15, the Diamondbacks released 2012 second-rounder Joe Munoz last week. Like Trahan, the 23-year-old third baseman failed to establish himself above the low Class A level in five pro seasons. Munoz hit .243/.324/.384 with 25 percent strikeouts in parts of three seasons in the Midwest League.

Boston Red Sox
Released: RHP German Taveras | RHP Danny Zandona | LHP Cesar Cabral

Part of the return for Adam Eaton, 23-year-old righthander Reynaldo Lopez led the team with 19.1 innings this spring but didn’t make the Opening Day rotation. He recorded a 3.72 ERA with 14 strikeouts, 13 hits allowed and five walks. The White Sox chose veterans Miguel Gonzalez, Derek Holland and James Shield to support Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon in the rotation, but Lopez should be ready to step in at the first opportunity.

Cincinnati Reds
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Christian Walker | OF Phillip Ervin | OF Jesse Winker

The Tigers released 2013 fourth-rounder Austin Kubitza, a 25-year-old righthander who shined at low Class A West Michigan in 2014 on the strength of an elite groundball rate. His velocity sat in the high 80s, and he never really developed a second pitch, so he struggled at higher levels, even after a shift to the bullpen in 2016.

For the second year in a row—and the second with general manager Billy Eppler in charge—the Angels have scooped up multiple players released by other organizations at the end of spring training. In addition to the five players listed here, the Angels signed David Perez and Jeremy Dowdy in the previous installment.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Released: RHP Alec Grosser | OF Devan Ahart | OF Jordan Paroubeck
Optioned to Triple-A: OF Brett Eibner

The Dodgers picked up 22-year-old outfielder Jordan Paroubeck (plus righthander Caleb Dirks) in July 2015 when they traded $249,000 in international bonus-pool money to the Braves. Atlanta had acquired Paroubeck as part of the return from the Padres for Craig Kimbrel in April of that year. San Diego selected Paroubeck, a switch-hitting prep from San Mateo, Calif., in the supplemental second round of the 2013 draft.

Paroubeck spent two years in the Dodgers system, finishing 2016 at Rookie-level Ogden. He hit .231/.308/.413 with five home runs in 30 games in the Pioneer League, and power is going to have to be his separating tool if he lands with a new organization.

Miami Marlins
Released: RHP Victor Delgado | RHP Aneury Osoria
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Severino Gonzalez | OF Destin Hood

Milwaukee Brewers
Released: RHP Joba Chamberlain | RHP Gentry Fortuno | RHP Ryan Webb | LHP Stephen Peterson
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Michael Blazek | SS Yadiel Rivera
Optioned to Double-A: OF Michael Reed

New York Mets
Signed: SS Jio Mier
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Erik Goeddel | SS Gavin Cecchini | SS Matt Reynolds

New York Yankees
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Luis Cessa

Philadelphia Phillies
Released: RHP Scot Hoffman | RHP Geury Ortiz | LHP Oskerlly Sanchez | 3B Evan Rogers | OF Luke Maglich
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Jake Thompson
Optioned to Double-A: OF Tyler Goeddel

The Phillies reassigned last year’s Rule 5 draft pick Tyler Goeddel to Double-A Reading. He finished 2015 at Double-A in the Rays system before Philadelphia Rule 5’ed him. Goeddel, a 24-year-old outfielder, hit .192 in 213 big league at-bats last year and needs more development time.

Veteran righthanded reliever Josh Zeid effectively auditioned for teams while playing for Israel at the World Baseball Classic. He tossed 10 scoreless innings in the WBC, allowing five hits and striking out 10 in 10 innings. The Cardinals signed the 30-year-old minor league free agent shortly after the event ended.

Power-hitting first baseman Ricky Oropesa hit 17 home runs at Double-A Richmond in 2015, but the 2011 third-rounder from Southern California hit just .235 in more than 1,400 plate appearances in the Eastern League.

Seattle Mariners
Released: RHP Aaron Brooks | LHP Brandon Sisk | C James Alfonso | C Ray Guerrini | 2B Ivan Gonzalez
Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Dan Vogelbach