Minor Moves: Mustelier, Valdes, Leroux

Here are some of today’s minor moves from around the league…

• The Yankees have released third baseman Ronnier Mustelier, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com (via Twitter). Mustelier, 29, signed with the Yankees out of Cuba, but never saw minor league action until he was 26 years of age. He raised some eyebrows at the Triple-A level in 2012, when he put up a solid .303/.359/.455 line in 385 plate appearances. Mustelier took a slight step backward last year (.272/.319/.398), however, and failed to earn an invitation to MLB camp during the spring.
• The Astros announced that lefty Raul Valdes has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City after being designated for assignment over the weekend. Valdes, 36, was sent to DFA limbo after the team recalled lefty Darin Downs. Because he’s been outrighted before, Valdes can reject the assignment in favor of free agency. He has a rather unsightly 5.13 ERA in his big league career, but he’s averaged 9.4 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 throughout his career, which could intrigue some clubs in need of lefty relief.
• The Yankees have outrighted Chris Leroux to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, according to the team’s transactions page. The 30-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment over the weekend when the team purchased the contract of Alfredo Aceves. Leroux has previously been outrighted and can therefore elect free agency, as he did last April when the Pirates outrighted him. Leroux has a 6.03 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 71 2/3 innings but has a strong Triple-A track record.