Today's minor moves…
- The Angels outrighted righty Billy Buckner to Triple-A, tweets J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles News Group. Buckner had been designated for assignment Sunday to make room for Kevin Jepsen. Buckner, 29, has a 4.56 ERA, 7.6 K/9, 4.8 BB/9, and 0.57 HR/9 in 47 1/3 Triple-A innings this year, and he also fired five scoreless innings to beat the Royals on Saturday. Buckner was drafted by the Royals in the second round in '04, a round which also produced notable big leaguers Dustin Pedroia, Hunter Pence, Yovani Gallardo, Kurt Suzuki, Jason Vargas, and Seth Smith. The Royals ultimately traded Buckner to the Diamondbacks in '07 for Alberto Callaspo, who was eventually dealt to the Angels for pitchers Sean O'Sullivan and Will Smith. Smith remains in the Royals' organization, serving as rotation depth at Triple-A.
- The Yankees outrighted southpaw Francisco Rondon to Triple-A yesterday, according to the International League transactions page. Rondon had been designated for assignment Saturday, upon the Yankees' waiver claim of David Huff. The 25-year-old Rondon has a 7.46 ERA, 6.9 K/9, 6.4 BB/9, and 1.29 HR/9 in 35 Double-A innings this year. He became a six-year minor league free agent at the end of last season, but the Yankees re-signed him in October and added him to the 40-man roster in November to prevent him from being taken in the Rule 5 draft, as Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues explained.
- Six players currently reside in DFA limbo: Edinson Rincon of the Padres, Ramon Ortiz of the Blue Jays, Michael Bowden of the Cubs, Robert Andino and Francisco Martinez of the Mariners, and Ben Francisco of the Yankees.
