Minor MLB Transactions: 8/23/17

Here are some of the latest minor moves from around the game, as reported by Baseball America’s Matt Eddy, unless otherwise noted:

• The Tigers announced tonight that they’ve optioned lefty Chad Bell to Triple-A Toledo and will select the contract of right-hander Zac Reininger prior to Thursday’s contest. The 24-year-old Reininger was Detroit’s eight-round pick back in 2013 and has had a strong season across three minor league levels in 2017, rising from Class-A Advanced to Triple-A. In 63 2/3 total innings, Reininger has posted a 2.54 ERA with 8.5 K/9 against 2.5 BB/9. His ground-ball rate was a strong 53.4 percent in 28 Class-A frames but has fallen to the 39 percent range in the upper minors.

Earlier Moves

• Former top pitching prospect Zach Lee has been released by the Padres. Lee, who is still just 25 years of age, lost his 40-man spot this summer. He did pick up his first-ever MLB win earlier this year, but was knocked around upon returning to Triple-A. Over 67 innings there, he carries a 7.12 ERA with 5.8 K/9 against 4.6 BB/9.
• The Diamondbacks released righty Jose Martinez, once one of the organization’s higher-rated prospects. While he intrigued with a big fastball/curve combination, Eddy notes, an elbow fracture back in 2014 changed Martinez’s trajectory. He has struggled in the low minors since; this year, over 19 1/3 total frames, he has walked 34 opposing batters.
• Righty Fernando Rodriguez has joined the Red Sox on a minors deal. He was cut loose by the Cubs earlier this summer after a brief but promising showing at Triple-A, where he allowed four earned on nine hits and just one walk while striking out 13 in 11 2/3 innings. Rodriguez has thrown over two hundred MLB innings, mostly with the Athletics and Astros.
• The Cubs have signed righty Scott Carroll to a minors pact. He had not previously appeared this season after seeing time with the White Sox over the past three seasons. In 168 1/3 frames as a swingman with the southside Chicago organization, Carroll worked to a 4.60 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9.
• With injuries sapping their infield depth, the Marlins added a pair of new players. Grant Green joins the organization on a minors deal while Jake Elmore was acquired from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash. Green, 29, has seen at least some MLB action in each of the past five years but owns a meager.261/.300/.370 batting line this year through 258 plate appearances. The 30-year-old Elmore also has appeared in five major league campaigns; his slash at the highest level of the minors this year stands at .235/.325/.274 through 380 plate appearances.
• The Reds have made a pair of minor moves involving right-handed pitchers. Prospect Ian Kahaloa was released after a recreational drug suspension earlier this year. The 19-year-old was a fifth-round pick in 2015 and had produced quality results at the Rookie ball level before running into off-the-field trouble. In another move, Cincinnati signed Rafael De Paula after he was cut loose by the Padres. He originally went to San Diego along with Yangervis Solarte in the 2014 swap that sent Chase Headley to the Yankees. De Paula had some success at the Double-A level for the Pads after converting to a relief role, but struggled to a 4.99 ERA in his 30 2/3 Triple-A frames.
• The Mariners signed southpaw Ashur Tolliver after he was released by the Astros. The 29-year-old has twice briefly cracked the majors, but suddenly ran into control problems at Triple-A this season, posting an ugly 7.43 ERA with 28 strikeouts and 34 walks in his 36 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Seattle cut loose infielder Jeff Kobernus, who managed only a .222/.279/.252 slash in 150 plate appearances at Double-A on the season.