transactions
Yankees Claim David Huff, Designate Rondon
The Yankees announced that they have claimed David Huff off of waivers. To make room on the roster, the club designated Francisco Rondon for assignment. Huff, 28, has a 5.40 ERA with 5.1 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 across 52 career big league starts and six relief appearances. Huff was designated for assignment by the Indians just two days ago in order to make room on the roster for fellow southpaw Scott Barnes. The hurler, who was drafted 39th overall in 2006, made just three relief appearances during his short stint with Cleveland’s varsity squad
Camden Riversharks Sign Wilson Valdez
The Camden Riversharks announced that they have signed infielder Wilson Valdez. The veteran is represented by Kinzer Management Group according to the MLBTR Agency Database. Valdez, who celebrated his 35th birthday earlier this week, signed a minor league deal with the Marlins in March. His performance at Triple-A New Orleans wasn’t enough to earn him a ticket up to the big leagues, however, as he hit .232/.275/.259 in 122 plate appearances. For his major league career, Valdez owns a slash line of .236/.281/.313 across seven seasons. While he has never shined at the plate, Valdez has a reputation for solid defense at second base, third base, and shortstop with a bit of outfield experience as well.
White Sox Outright Angel Sanchez
1:54pm: The White Sox announced that they have outrighted Sanchez to Triple-A Charlotte. With the move, Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 39. 12:53pm: Infielder Angel Sanchez, a Rule 5 pick who was waived on Thursday by the White Sox, cleared waivers and was offered back to the Angels, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. With a roster crunch at the major league and Triple-A level, however, DiGiovanna reports that the Angels declined to take Sanchez back. Sanchez, 29, has been on the disabled list since April 10th with a lower back strain. He has appeared in just one game this season with the White Sox. In parts of five seasons at Triple-A, Sanchez owns a .294/.359/.388 slash line. Zach Links contributed to this post.
Rangers Claim Joe Benson
The Rangers have claimed 25-year-old outfielder Joe Benson off of waivers from the Twins, tweets MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger. Apart from a brief call-up in 2011, Benson has spent his entire career in the minors. Thus far, he has struggled to a .192/.256/.285 line in 164 plate appearances for the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate. The claim enabled the Twins to free a 40-man roster spot for pitcher P.J. Walters to take the rotation spot of the scuffling Vance Worley. The Rangers subsequently optioned Benson to Double-A, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter). To make space on the team’s 40-man roster, Texas moved Matt Harrison to the 60-day DL, according to a tweet from Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Minor Moves: Angel Sanchez
We’ll track today’s minor moves right here: Infielder Angel Sanchez, a Rule 5 pick who was waived on Thursday by the White Sox, cleared waivers and was offered back to the Angels, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. With a roster crunch at the major league and Triple-A level, however, DiGiovanna reports that the Angels declined to take Sanchez back.
Nationals Designate Yunesky Maya For Assignment
Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced after tonight’s ballgame that the team designated pitcher Yunesky Maya for assignment, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times and others reported (via Twitter). In a corresponding move, the team will call up 24-year-old infielder Jeff Kobernus for his first big league tour. Maya, a 31-year-old righty who hails from Cuba, has disappointed since the Nats gave him $8MM to sign as an international free agent. In just 59 career big league innings, Maya has struggled to a 5.80 ERA and posted a substandard 4.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9. In his only appearance this season, he surrendered a walk-off home run to Pablo Sandoval. Kobernus, a 2009 second-round pick, was a Rule 5 draftee of the Tigers this past offseason. After challenging for a roster spot with Detroit in the spring, he was returned to the Nationals. Primarily a second baseman for much of his career, Kobernus has seen significant time in the outfield of late, both with the Tigers over the spring and with the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate. He earned the promotion by posting a .333/.378/.420 line over his 193 plate appearances this season.
Minor Moves: Dan Klein, Zach Braddock, Royce Ring
We’ll keep track of Friday’s minor transactions right here… Dan Klein, once a highly-rated Orioles prospect, was been placed on the club’s voluntary retirement list, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. A third round pick in the 2010 draft, Klein was dominant in the short time he spent on the mound, putting up a composite 1.11 ERA over 32 1/3 innings split between High-A and Double-A in the 2011 season as a 22-year-old. Since then, however, Klein has struggled with a series major shoulder injuries. As MASN’s Steve Melewski detailed last fall, Klein was hopeful of getting back on track this year, but he ultimately never advanced far enough to make a minor league appearance. The Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Orioles, have announced the release of left-hander Zach Braddock (on Twitter). The 25-year-old Braddock has a 4.41 ERA, 10.4 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in 51 Major League innings — all coming with the Brewers from 2010-11. Big strikeout numbers and high walk totals have been the norm for the New Jersey native since he was selected by the Brewers in the 18th round of the 2005 draft. Left-hander Royce Ring has signed with the Long Island Ducks, tweets ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin. Royce, 32, was selected by the White Sox with the 18th overall pick in the 2002 draft. In parts of five Major League seasons with the Mets, Padres, Braves and Yankees, the San Diego State University product has a 5.29 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 5.6 BB/9.
Mariners Designate Robert Andino For Assignment
4:28pm: The Mariners have officially announced that Andino has been designated for assignment via press release. 4:06pm: The Mariners will designate Andino for assignment and promote Carlos Triunfel, who is already on the 40-man roster, tweets Baker. 3:00pm: Andino is not the move that will be made to clear a 40-man roster space for Sucre, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. The Mariners are planning to designate a minor leaguer for assignment, but the front office has been discussing potential moves all morning. It’s possible that Andino has indeed been placed on waivers, he adds, but waiving him rather than designating him for assignment would allow him to play in tonight’s game, as teams would have 48 hours to claim Andino. 2:36pm: The Mariners have placed Robert Andino on outright waivers to clear a 40-man roster spot for Jesus Sucre, according to Dave Cameron of Fangraphs and the U.S.S. Mariner (on Twitter). The team announced yesterday that Sucre would be called up to replace Jesus Montero, who was demoted to Triple-A Tacoma. The 29-year-old Andino batted just .184/.253/.237 for the M’s this season, appearing primarily at shortstop
Minor Moves: Zach Braddock, Royce Ring
We’ll keep track of Friday’s minor transactions right here… The Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Orioles, have announced the release of left-hander Zach Braddock (on Twitter). The 25-year-old Braddock has a 4.41 ERA, 10.4 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 in 51 Major League innings — all coming with the Brewers from 2010-11. Big strikeout numbers and high walk totals have been the norm for the New Jersey native since he was selected by the Brewers in the 18th round of the 2005 draft. Left-hander Royce Ring has signed with the Long Island Ducks, tweets ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin. Royce, 32, was selected by the White Sox with the 18th overall pick in the 2002 draft. In parts of five Major League seasons with the Mets, Padres, Braves and Yankees, the San Diego State University product has a 5.29 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 5.6 BB/9.
Long Island Ducks Sign Royce Ring
We’ll keep track of Friday’s minor transactions right here… Left-hander Royce Ring has signed with the Long Island Ducks, tweets ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin. Royce, 32, was selected by the White Sox with the 18th overall pick in the 2002 draft. In parts of five Major League seasons with the Mets, Padres, Braves and Yankees, the San Diego State University product has a 5.29 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 5.6 BB/9.
