Arizona Diamondbacks purchased the contract of 3B Mark Reynolds from Double-A Mobile; Placed 3B Chad Tracy on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique; Claimed INF Jason Smith off waivers from the Blue Jays; Transferred OF Jeff DaVanon from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list; Designated RHP Casey Daigle for assignment.
Analysis: Reynolds was batting .306 with six homers and 22 RBI in 134 at-bats for Double-A Mobile after hitting .318 with 31 homers and 98 RBI in 387 at-bats combined between Single-A Lancaster and Double-A Tennessee last season. The 23-year-old should have some short term value in NL-only leagues. Tracy has been a disappointment this season and his struggles against lefties have played a big part in that. In 26 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, Tracy has just six hits and one RBI. Smith gives the Diamondbacks a veteran option as a utility infielder, but he shouldn’t see much playing time. Shifting Davanon from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list was merely a formality that will have no impact on his return date. Daigle may not be having much success with his baseball career, but he is married to softball star Jennie Finch so don’t feel too sorry for him.

Atlanta Braves placed LHP Mike Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list and recalled LHP Macay McBride from Triple-A Richmond.
Analysis: Gonzalez maxed out at around 83 mph with his fastball last night and was removed from the game with two outs in the eighth innings as a precaution. He will undergo an MRI on Thursday. McBride will resume the middle relief role he had to start the season. However, he likely will not be available until Thursday since he pitched five innings for Richmond on Monday night.

Chicago White Sox reinstated INF Alex Cintron from the Bereavement List; Optioned INF Andy Gonzalez to Triple-A Charlotte.
Analysis: Cintron had just five hits and one RBI in 39 at-bats prior to his four day leave. Gonzalez was hitless in two at-bats while with the White Sox.

Detroit Tigers placed RHP Jeremy Bonderman on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 9.
Analysis: Bonderman, out with a cut on the middle finger of his pitching hand, figures to be back as soon as he is eligible for reinstatement. No word yet on who will start in his stead, but Andrew Miller, the sixth overall pick in last June’s draft figures to be recalled from Double-A Erie.

Kansas City Royals recalled 1B Ryan Shealy from his injury rehabilitation assignment and activated him from the 15-day disabled list; Optioned OF Billy Butler to Triple-A Omaha.
Analysis: Butler’s stay was short-lived, but he still has a bright future ahead. Shealy managed just six hits with one homer and five RBI in 53 at-bats prior to the injury. He figures to get better as the season goes along as there is no reason for him to continue to struggle at that clip.

Minnesota Twins placed RHP Jesse Crain on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation and recalled RHP Julio DePaula from Triple-A Rochester.
Analysis: After an MRI was performed, Crain was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum. He will see Mets team physician David Altcheck, widely considered one of the top shoulder specialists around, on Monday for a second opinion. Season ending surgery seems likely. DePaula should be an adequate middle reliever for the Twins, but he will not have any fantasy value.

New York Mets placed OF Moises Alou on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled left quad; Recalled LHP Jason Vargas from Triple-A New Orleans; RHP Lino Urdaneta was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Analysis: Alou has not played since May 12 due to the injury. The Mets believe he will be ready to return as soon as he is eligible. Endy Chavez and Carlos Gomez will continue to handle left field duties until Alou is healthy. Vargas will most likely only get one start before Orlando Hernandez is activated from the disabled list next week.

Oakland Athletics placed OF Chris Snelling on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 11 with a left knee contusion; Purchased the contract of OF Hiram Bocachica from Triple-A Sacramento; Transferred outfielder Bobby Kielty from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Analysis: The return of Travis Buck and Milton Bradley had already relegated Snelling to a reserve role. Bocachica will assume that role and have no fantasy value. Kielty has been out since April 29 with a strained left calf.

Seattle Mariners transferred LHP Arthur Rhodes from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Analysis: This move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Jason Davis. Rhodes is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this month.

Texas Rangers placed OF Brad Wilkerson on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled right hamstring. Purchased the contract of OF Kevin Mahar from Triple-A Oklahoma; Transferred LHP John Rheinecker from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Analysis: Nelson Cruz and Victor Diaz will fill-in while Wilkerson is out. Mahar, 25, was hitting .276 with four homers and 19 RBI in 134 combined at-bats between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he isn’t likely to have any fantasy value. Rheinecker has been out all season with a back injury suffered late in spring training.

Washington Nationals placed RHP Jerome Williams on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain and selected the contract of LHP Billy Traber from Triple-A Columbus; Transferred 1B Nick Johnson from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Analysis: An MRI on the Williams’s ailing shoulder revealed a slightly torn labrum but no damage to the rotator cuff. He will not throw for 10 to 14 days and will then be reevaluated. Micah Bowie, a 32-year-old left-hander who has not started in a major league game since 1999, will assume the spot in the starting rotation vacated by Williams. Traber will pitch out of the bullpen and have no fantasy value. Johnson’s return date was unaffected by that technical move.

5/17/07

Arizona Diamondbacks designated INF Donnie Sadler for assignment.
Analysis: Sadler received just one at-bat while with Arizona before making way for recently acquired Jason Smith.

Atlanta Braves gave INF Craig Wilson his unconditional release; Activated C Brayan Pena from the 15-day disabled list.
Analysis: Wilson just got not get things going in Atlanta this season. The 31-year-old tallied just ten hits with one homer and two RBI in 58 at-bats this season. Switch-hitting Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the team’s top prospect, will stick around and serve as backup catcher and Scott Thorman’s platoon partner at first base. Thorman will get most of the playing time at first base giving way to Saltalamacchia against the tougher lefties. Saltalamacchia should have a little value in NL-only leagues playing a few games a week. Pena will serve as the team’s third catcher and a pinch-hitter.

Chicago White Sox recalled C Toby Hall from his rehabilitation assignment from Triple-A Charlotte and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list. Optioned C Gustavo Molina to Triple-A Charlotte.
Analysis: Two backup catchers with no fantasy value.

Cincinnati Reds placed RHP Aaron Harang on the bereavement list.
Analysis: Harang’s status for his scheduled start on Sunday is still up in the air, but there is a good chance he will make that start.

Cleveland Indians sold the contract of RHP Brian Sikorski to the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League; Acquired RHP Gregorio Rosario from the Seattle Mariners.
Analysis: Sikorski, 32, posted a 4-5 record with a 5.40 ERA in 71-2/3 career innings as a major leaguer. Rosario completes the Jason Davis trade. He is an 18-year-old right-hander who was 4-4 with a 3.41 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 68-2/3 innings last year in the Dominican Summer League.

Detroit Tigers recalled RHP Zach Miner from Triple-A Toledo.
Analysis: Miner is expected to start Thursday’s game in place of Mike Maroth and then return to Toledo.

Florida Marlins activated RHP Byung-Hyun Kim from the disabled list, and returned him from his rehabilitation assignment; Placed INF Mike Jacobs on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 14, with a fractured right thumb.
Analysis: Kim will replace Wes Obermueller in the starting rotation and is worth watching in NL-only leagues. Jacobs is expected to miss about a month. Aaron Boone figures to see plenty of playing time in his stead.

Oakland Athletics optioned LHP Dallas Braden to Triple-A Sacramento. Released INF Todd Walker.
Analysis: Braden was 1-3 with a 6.41 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in four starts. He could be back the next time the Athletics need a starter, but given those results, they could also choose to go in another direction.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays placed OF Rocco Baldelli on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain, and activated Greg Norton from the 15-day disabled list.
Analysis: Elijah Dukes is expected to see most of the playing time in center field with Norton and Jonny Gomes platooning at designated hitter while Baldelli is out. The Devil Rays will not rush Baldelli back so it’s possible he could be out for a month or so.

Texas Rangers optioned LHP A.J. Murray to Triple-A Oklahoma; Transferred INF Joaquin Arias from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list; Purchased the contract of INF Ramon Vazquez from Triple-A Oklahoma.
Analysis: Vazquez will provide some short term infield depth while Hank Blalock (arm) and Jerry Hairston Jr. (neck) recover from their respective injuries. Hairston Jr. could be headed to the disabled list with a pinched nerve in his neck, but that determination has not yet been made. Arias has been out since late March with right shoulder inflammation.

5/18/07

Atlanta Braves activated LHP Mark Redman from the 15-day disabled list and optioned C Brayan Pena to Triple-A Richmond.
Analysis: Redman will stick around at least for a couple of days to serve as an extra arm should either Anthony Lerew or John Smoltz have a short outing against Boston on Saturday. If Lerew pitches well, he could take Redman’s old spot in the starting rotation or at the very least move the decision to one between Redman and Kyle Davies for the final spot. Pena will likely soon be back in Atlanta as a third catcher and switch-hitting bat off the bench.

Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Carlos Marmol from Triple-A Iowa and optioned INF Mike Fontenot to Iowa.
Analysis: Marmol was 4-1 with a 3.95 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41 innings for Triple-A Iowa this season. He’ll pitch middle relief for now, but could be a candidate for a spot in the starting rotation the next time a spot opens up. Fontenot was up for a few days to provide insurance for Mark Derosa who was battling a finger injury. Derosa returned to action Thursday so Fontenot was no longer needed.

Cincinnati Reds recalled RHP Brad Salmon and INF Jeff Keppinger from Triple-A Louisville; Placed RHP Marcus McBeth on the bereavement list.
Analysis: Salmon and Keppinger will fill the roster spots opened up with McBeth and Aaron Harang on the bereavement list. Both figure to return to the minors within the next couple of days as Harang could return Sunday and McBeth not long after that.

Colorado Rockies placed RHP Zach McClellan on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 14, with right shoulder inflammation; Recalled RHP Darren Clarke from Tulsa.
Analysis: No fantasy relevance here.

Detroit Tigers recalled LHP Andrew Miller from Double-A Erie; Optioned RHP Zach Miner to Triple-A Toledo.
Analysis: Miller will take Jeremy Bonderman’s place in the starting rotation for at least one start. The soon to be 21-year-old was 1-4 with a 2.92 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 49-1/3 innings combined between Single-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie this season.

Florida Marlins claimed OF Todd Linden off waivers from the San Francisco Giants; Designated OF John Gall for assignment.
Analysis: Linden batted .182 with no homers and three RBI in 55 at-bats this season before being released by the Giants earlier this month. He’ll take Gall’s spot as a reserve outfielder and have no fantasy value.

Oakland Athletics recalled LHP Ron Flores from Triple-A Sacramento.
Analysis: Flores was 1-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings for Triple-A Sacramento this season. He’ll pitch in middle relief until the Athletics need a fifth starter.

Washington Nationals placed RHP Jason Bergmann on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 15, with right elbow inflammation and transferred RHP Luis Ayala from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.
Analysis: Bergmann joins fellow Nationals starting pitchers John Patterson, Shawn Hill and Jerome Williams on the disabled list. The 25-year-old was off to a fine start to the season amassing a 1-3 record with a 2.76 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 49 innings. The team is expected to recall left-hander Mike Bacsik from Triple-A Columbus in time to start Saturday’s game. Bacsik, 29, is 1-3 with a 4.00 ERA in 36 innings for Columbus.

Have a question or comment for Greg? Send it to gregpyron@sportsgrumblings.com.