Minor League Transactions: Oct
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Minor League Transactions: Oct. 24-30 Arizona Diamondbacks Signed: C Blake Lalli (elected free agency from Brewers, Oct. 1), 1B Mike Jacobs (re-signed) Atlanta Braves Signed: OF Elias Arias Baltimore Orioles Signed: C Joel Polanco (re-signed) Chicago Cubs Released: RHP Juan Francisco, LHP David Villegas Chicago White Sox Signed: RHP Henry Mabee (re-signed), RHP Matt Zaleski (re-signed), C Chris McMurray (re-signed) Cincinnati Reds Signed: RHP Chad Reineke (re-signed), LHP Trevor Reckling (Bridgeport (Atlantic)), OF Jason Bourgeois (elected free agency from Rays, Oct. 9) Elected free agency: RHP Greg Reynolds, C Corky Miller Removed from 40-man: RHP Greg Reynolds, C Corky Miller (both players outrighted to Triple-A) A former top pitching prospect in the Angels system, lefty Trevor Reckling went to spring training with the White Sox in 2012 but did not make an appearance for the organization prior to his May release. He latched on with Bridgeport of the independent Atlantic League in summer 2013, making 12 starts and going 4-4, 4.95 with 3.4 strikeouts and 4.6 walks per nine innings. Veteran Jason Bourgeois sports a career .308 average and .355 on-base percentage versus big league lefties, though he might have a hard time cracking a Reds outfield corps that already includes righthanded hitters Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey and switch-hitting rookie Billy Hamilton, who is a natural righty hitter. Colorado Rockies Signed: RHP Justin Berg (re-signed), RHP Nelson Gonzalez (re-signed), 2B Angelys Nina (re-signed) Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2007, second baseman Angelys Nina recorded 319 assists (2.98 per game) and turned 88 double plays at Double-A Tulsa in 2013, each ranking among the leaders at the keystone, while batting .280/.331/.422. The 24-year-old also plays shortstop and might grow to be a utility player. Detroit Tigers Released: RHP Robbie Weinhardt, SS Gustavo Nunez The Pirates targeted light-hitting shortstop Gustavo Nunez in the 2011 Rule 5 draft, but following an injury-plagued 2012 they returned him to Detroit. The Tigers are swimming in shortstop types like Nunez, who hit .194/.242/.215 in 61 games at Triple-A Toledo this season, making him redundant in an organization that already includes Jose Iglesias, Dixon Machado, Hernan Perez and Danny Worth. Kansas City Royals Signed: C Juan Graterol (re-signed), 2B Angel Franco (re-signed) Released: 2B Mike Mercurio Los Angeles Angels Signed: RHP Alex Keudell (re-signed), RHP Drew Rucinski (re-signed) Los Angeles Dodgers Signed: RHP Edwin Carl (re-signed), RHP Carlos Frias (re-signed), RHP Fabio Martinez (released by Indians, Aug. 8), LHP Geison Aguasviva (re-signed), C Dashenko Ricardo (re-signed) Miami Marlins Signed: LHP James Leverton (re-signed), 2B Ross Wilson (re-signed) Milwaukee Brewers Released: RHP Sean Albury, RHP Ryan Fasano, RHP Ryan Gibbard, RHP Daniel Keller, RHP Sean Wardour, LHP Brian Garman, LHP Chris Matulis, LHP Dan Meadows, C Joe Andrade, 2B Adrian Williams, OF Ruben Ozuna Minnesota Twins Signed: LHP Aaron Thompson (re-signed), C Dan Rohlfing (re-signed) Removed from 40-man: LHP Pedro Hernandez (outrighted to Triple-A) New York Mets Released: RHP Adam O’Neill New York Yankees Signed: RHP David Herndon (re-signed) Oakland Athletics Signed: RHP Phil Humber (elected free agency from Astros, Oct. 4) Philadelphia Phillies Elected free agency: LHP Cesar Jimenez Tampa Bay Rays Released: RHP Jake Floethe, RHP Austin Hubbard, RHP Corey MacDonald, LHP Eric Fredrick, LHP Stepan Havlicek, LHP Neil Schenk, 1B Steve Tinoco, 2B Ryan Henley Removed from 40-man: OF Freddy Guzman (outrighted to Triple-A) [Signed by the Rays as an international free agent in January 2010, out of the Czech Republic, Havlicek was the first player ever signed by the Rays out of Europe. The lefty has recorded a save and a 5.86 ERA in 27.2 relief innings at Princeton (Appalachian League) in 2013] Texas Rangers Signed: RHP Eddy Morrobel (released by Rockies, March 21, 2012) Northeast area scout Takeshi Sakurayama discovered 20-year-old righty Eddy Morrobel after watching him throw bullpens with head coach Scott Dulin at Fisher College in Boston. Born in the U.S., Morrobel moved to the Dominican Republic as a youth and originally signed as an international free agent with the Rockies in 2010, spending two years as an infielder in the Dominican Summer League. He moved back to the Northeast to live with his cousin after being released in March 2012, and he first began pitching in the wood-bat Yawkey League that summer while taking classes at Bunker Hill (Mass.) CC. The Rangers sent Morrobel to instructional league in the D.R. to continue learning to pitch. Toronto Blue Jays Signed: RHP Scott Copeland (re-signed), 3B Andy LaRoche (elected free agency from Blue Jays, Oct. 1) Washington Nationals Signed: C Jeff Howell (re-signed), OF Francisco Soriano (re-signed) Removed from 40-man: 1B Chris Marrero (outrighted to Triple-A) Minor League Transactions: Oct. 16-23 Arizona Diamondbacks Released: RHP D.J. Johnson, RHP Frank Santana Atlanta Braves Released: RHP Joe Bisenius Traded: 1B Jackson Laumann to White Sox for future considerations Baltimore Orioles Signed: RHP Matt Bischoff (re-signed), C Zach Booker (re-signed), C Scott Thomas (re-signed), C Chase Weems (re-signed), 2B Paco Figueroa (re-signed), 2B Shawn Roof (re-signed) Released: C Jason Stifler Boston Red Sox Traded: OF Jeremy Hazelbaker to Dodgers for OF Alex Castellanos While 27-year-old corner outfielder Alex Castellanos lacks a carrying tool, he does a little bit of everything well, and the Red Sox were able to acquire him at a reasonable cost after the Dodgers designated him for assignment. As things stand in Los Angeles, they’ll be hard-pressed to work prospect Joc Pederson into an outfield rotation of Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig. The righty-hitting Castellanos spent much of the past two seasons at Triple-A Albuquerque and has one minor league option remaining for 2014. He nearly went 20-20 last year, and before writing him off as an Albuquerque mirage, keep in mind that he’s hit .280/.368/.538 in 411 plate appearances away from Isotopes Park the past two seasons, swatting 22 of his 36 home runs. Castellanos also hangs in well versus righthanders, against whom he’s hit .310/.403/.571 with a sustainable 0.46 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Chicago Cubs Signed: RHP Ryan Searle (re-signed) Released: RHP Ethan Elias, LHP Luis Villalba Chicago White Sox Acquired: 1B Jackson Laumann from Braves for future considerations Elected free agency: LHP David Purcey Removed from 40-man: LHP David Purcey (outrighted to Triple-A) Cincinnati Reds Signed: RHP Tim Adleman (New Jersey (Can-Am)) Cleveland Indians Signed: RHP Matt Capps (re-signed), 3B Ryan Rohlinger (re-signed) Elected free agency: LHP Clay Rapada Colorado Rockies Signed: RHP Leuris Gomez (re-signed), RHP Josh Sullivan (released by Rockies, Aug. 9) Elected free agency: RHP Jeff Manship Removed from 40-man: RHP Jeff Manship (outrighted to Triple-A) Houston Astros Elected free agency: RHP Jorge De Leon, OF Trevor Crowe Removed from 40-man: RHP Jorge De Leon, OF Trevor Crowe (both players outrighted to Triple-A) Kansas City Royals Signed: RHP Sugar Ray Marimon (re-signed) Los Angeles Dodgers Signed: SS Miguel Rojas (re-signed), OF Robbie Garvey (re-signed) Traded: OF Alex Castellanos to Red Sox for OF Jeremy Hazelbaker Milwaukee Brewers Signed: 3B Taylor Green (re-signed) Removed from 40-man: RHP Santo Manzanillo, RHP Josh Ravin, RHP Jesus Sanchez (all players outrighted to Triple-A) Minnesota Twins Signed: C Jairo Rodriguez (re-signed), 1B Reynaldo Rodriguez (re-signed), 3B Deibinson Romero (re-signed) Removed from 40-man: OF Wilkin Ramirez (outrighted to Triple-A) New York Mets Released: 3B Alex Sanchez, OF Eris Peguero, OF Greg Pron Elected free agency: LHP Sean Henn Removed from 40-man: RHP Greg Burke, LHP Sean Henn (both players outrighted to Triple-A) New York Yankees Signed: SS Carmen Angelini (re-signed) Oakland Athletics Signed: SS Hiroyuki Nakajima (re-signed) [Nakajima was outrighted to AAA in August, so the fact he signed a minor league pact for 2014 is just a procedural move, as his contract guarantees him $2.5M next season with a 2015 $5.5M club option ($0.5M buyout)] Philadelphia Phillies Elected free agency: RHP J.C. Ramirez, OF Roger Bernadina, OF Casper Wells Removed from 40-man: RHP J.C. Ramirez, LHP Cesar Jimenez, OF Roger Bernadina, OF Casper Wells (all players outrighted to Triple-A) Seattle Mariners Signed: RHP Mayckol Guaipe (re-signed), LHP Nick Hill (re-signed), 3B Ramon Morla (re-signed) Tampa Bay Rays Signed: RHP Mike Colla (re-signed) Texas Rangers Signed: RHP Jon Edwards (re-signed), RHP Kyle Lotzkar (released by Reds, Sept. 24), LHP Aaron Poreda (released by Pirates, March 6) Released: OF Hirotoshi Onaka The Rangers signed lefty Neal Cotts during spring training 2012 after he had missed all of the previous two seasons. He served as a valuable bullpen piece in 2013. That’s one example of successful reclamation work performed by the organization’s pitching coaches and coordinators. Now they have two new projects with which to work in the form of one- time top prospects Kyle Lotzkar, the 53rd pick in the 2007 draft out high school in British Columbia, and Aaron Poreda, the 25th pick in that same draft who attended San Francisco. Both Lotzkar and Poreda have dealt with injuries, but both still throw hard, and the Rangers have monitored them both through the years. In fact, big league pitching coach Mike Maddux already has begun working with Poreda, who had Tommy John surgery last October.