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Minor League Transactions: Worrell, Vazquez

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Russell Branyan, Garrett Atkins and Gary Matthews Jr. have been making headlines at the major league level, but some under-the-radar moves have been completed, too. Matt Eddy of Baseball America has the latest minor league transactions for June 14th-21st:

  • The Padres released right-hander Mark Worrell, who had been pitching in Triple A. His 5.45 ERA isn't pretty, but his 9.3 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 suggest that the 27-year-old could contribute on a team whose bullpen is a little thinner than San Diego's.
  • The Mariners released Ramon Vazquez, who appears to have signed with the Astros. The M's picked Vazquez up soon after the Pirates released him this spring, but the infielder wasn't the bargain pickup Jack Zduriencik was hoping for; Vazquez posted a .599 OPS at Triple A.
  • The Mariners signed David Winfree not long after the Yankees released him. The 24-year-old has posted a .700 OPS while playing first base, left and right at Triple A in 2010.

Astros Not Looking For Shortstop Help

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The Astros are not looking outside the organization for a shortstop, GM Ed Wade told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Despite Tommy Manzella’s broken finger, the Astros are content to play Geoff Blum and Oswaldo Navarro at short for the next five weeks or so.

"Right now we're not actively looking for a shortstop,” Wade said. “That said, if something came along we thought would make sense, we'd pursue it."

Navarro, 25, was hitting .298/.400/.466 at Triple A when the Astros recalled him. Wade wants to give the Venezuelan infielder the chance to prove that he belongs in the majors instead of relying exclusively on Blum or an outside replacement. Longtime Astro Adam Everett is one free agent shortstop for interested teams to consider, but it seems more likely that he’ll sign with the Red Sox, Angels or Rockies. The 29-47 Astros will presumably be sellers rather than buyers between now and July 31st.

This Date In Transactions History: Jose Bautista

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Six years ago today, the Devil Rays sold Jose Bautista to the Royals, who became the utilityman's fourth organization in seven months. It was just the beginning of a turbulent summer for Bautista, who would return to the Pirates in a three-team deal in July of 2004. Back then, Bautista was intriguing enough for teams to want him, but not quite good enough for them to keep him. Today, he's leading the American League with 20 homers.

The Pirates made Bautista available in the 2003 Rule 5 draft and acquired him back the next July. In between, Bautista was the property of the Orioles, the Devil Rays, the Royals and, briefly, the Mets. He didn't play particularly often or particularly well for any of the four teams he suited up for in 2004. Bautista played third base and all three outfield positions but didn't flash the combination of patience and power that has turned him into a valuable big leaguer.

Bautista has led the Blue Jays to a league-leading 115 homers and he's fourth in the Junior Circuit with 47 walks. Some Rule 5 picks, like Dan Uggla, start contributing immediately, but Bautista's history shows that some picks take longer to develop. Who knows – maybe Kanekoa Texeira, a Rule 5 pick in his third organization of 2010, will be an All-Star caliber player within a few years.

Mark Prior To Audition For MLB Teams

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It's been four years since Mark Prior threw a pitch in the major leagues, but he hopes to play at the highest level once again, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports. Prior will work out at USC on Wednesday, when "most major league teams are expected to have a scout in attendance." Prior, still just 29, signed with the Padres last year, but didn't appear in a game and was handed his release a few months later.

Prior put together a college pitching career that few pitchers before (Ben McDonald) or since (Stephen Strasburg) have matched. Drafted second overall behind Joe Mauer in the 2001 draft, he soon became a key member of the Cubs' rotation. Prior pitched to a 2.43 ERA in 211.1 innings as a 22-year-old in 2003 before shoulder problems derailed his career.

Giants, Red Sox Among Teams Eyeing Royals

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The Giants and Red Sox are among the teams eyeing Royals players, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Royals GM Dayton Moore is willing to listen to offers, but anticipating the return for the likes of David DeJesus and Jose Guillen is difficult, even for those in the team’s front office.

“I can tell you this much,” one Royals official told Dutton, “nobody is willing to take on payroll. But teams don’t want to deal prospects, either. So it makes it tough to do anything.” 

Dutton reports that the Giants have interest in Guillen on the condition that the Royals absorb most of the $6.3MM or so remaining on his contract. Earlier today, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported that the Royals are looking to move Guillen and are willing to pick up most of his salary in a trade, but Moore insists that the Royals are not actively looking to trade. Two rival scouts told Dutton that the Royals say they will take on a considerable amount of Guillen’s salary, so it doesn’t appear that Guillen would be tough to obtain.

If the Royals decide to start selling aggressively, they could discuss Mike Aviles and Willie Bloomquist with the Red Sox, who see the infielders as candidates to fill in while Dustin Pedroia's fractured left foot heals. The Red Sox are considering infielders and had some interest in Adam Everett before Pedroia's injury. One scout said Kyle Farnsworth could appeal to teams as a reliever if the Royals decide to part with him.

Reds Not Discussing DeJesus With Royals

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A team insider tells John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that the Reds are not discussing a David DeJesus trade with the Royals. The Reds appear content with Jonny Gomes, Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs in their outfield and are not currently pursuing the hot-hitting DeJesus. Chris Heisey and Laynce Nix are also on the Reds' active roster and Gary Matthews Jr. is at Triple A.

The Red Sox and Giants are among the teams that have been linked to DeJesus, who is having a career year. The 30-year-old outfielder is hitting .331/.397/.481 and makes $4.7MM this year. DeJesus has about $2.5MM left on his 2010 contract, plus a $6MM option or a $500K buyout for 2011, so any team acquiring him would have to pay at least $3MM in salary and send prospects to the Royals. Unlike Jose Guillen, a player GM Dayton Moore would like to move, DeJesus should command valuable prospects in return.

Red Sox Designate Fabio Castro For Assignment

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The Red Sox designated lefty Fabio Castro for assignment to create roster space for new acquisition Eric Patterson, according to the team. The Red Sox acquired Patterson from Oakland over the weekend after the A's designated the infielder for assignment.

The Red Sox have called Castro up twice this year, but manager Terry Francona has yet to bring the 25-year-old into a game. In 17 Triple A appearances, he has a 6.65 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9. Castro last appeared in a major league game as a member of the 2007 Phillies.

Boof Bonser Elects Free Agency

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Boof Bonser has elected free agency after clearing waivers, according to the Red Sox, who designated the righty for assignment earlier in the month. Bonser’s groin injury has limited him to two appearances since the Red Sox acquired him from the Twins over the winter. In two innings, Bonser allowed six hits and walked a pair without recording a strikeout. 

Bonser, now 28, was a reliable starter for the Twins in 2007. He started 30 games and logged 173 innings, though his ERA was 5.10. The former first rounder posted strong strikeout (7.3 K/9) and walk (2.9 BB/9) ratios in his three-year stint with the Twins, but has not proven himself in the majors since the shoulder surgery that sidelined him for 2009.

Cubs To Place Zambrano On Restricted List

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The Cubs will place Carlos Zambrano on the restricted list tomorrow, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat (via Twitter). Players on the restricted list do not count towards a team's 25-man or 40-man roster, so the Cubs will be able to add a player to replace Zambrano. It's not the first time a prominent player has been placed on the restricted list this year; former Cub Milton Bradley spent time on the restricted list earlier in the year, and so did Yorvit Torrealba.

By placing Zambrano on the restricted list, the Cubs free up a roster spot and provide themselves with time to determine their next move. The Mariners paid Bradley while he was on the restricted list, but teams do not always pay players on the restricted list. The Cubs will pay Zambrano, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports that Zambrano will not return before the All-Star break as he undergoes treatment for anger issues. Cubs GM Jim Hendry contacted MLB, the MLBPA, Zambrano and agent Barry Praver about the team's decision.

The Cubs may want to move Zambrano and (part of) the $45.4MM remaining on his contract, but trading the big right-hander won't be easy, as MLBTR's Tim Dierkes showed earlier today. Teams are presumably uneasy about acquiring Zambrano given his salary, his recent tirade, and his 2010 numbers (5.66 ERA, 8.6 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9).

Mariners Open To Dealing Lee; Looking To 2011-12

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Contenders in both leagues are calling about Cliff Lee and the Mariners would deal the lefty for the right return, sources tell John Hickey of AOL FanHouse. And Hickey says there seems to be consensus that GM Jack Zduriencik will look for players who can help the M’s in 2011 or 2012. The Mariners brought Russell Branyan back over the weekend, but realistically, they are out of contention for 2010.

Mariners prospects Alex Liddi, Dustin Ackley, Carlos Triunfel and Johan Limonta are in AA, so Hickey suggests the club could look to add outfielders and pitchers to that group. About ten days ago, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the Mariners are looking for young hitters in possible Lee trades.

The Mariners don’t figure to start rebuilding completely, so they would presumably want players who can help them win in 2012 at the latest. Prospects like Ackley could help the team soon, and Zduriencik has core players like Felix Hernandez, Ichiro and Franklin Gutierrez under multi-year deals. The Mets, Twins, Rangers and Cardinals are among the teams who could show interest in Lee in the coming month. 

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