Minor league transactions

I’ve already gone into how much I enjoy digging through BA’s minor league transactions page, so I figured I’d make it a nice little bi-weekly feature. I guess this will be the standard format, but enough already…

New York Yankees
Signed: SS Andrew Beattie
Released: RHP Cory Stuart, C Mark Davis, 2B Kevin Howard
Optioned to Double-A: RHP Jeff Kennard
Placed on minor league disabled list: RHP Joba Chamberlain, RHP J. Brent Cox, RHP Chris Garcia, RHP Mark Melancon, RHP Paul Patterson, RHP Steven White, 2B Russell Raley, SS Andy Cannizaro, SS Grant Plumley
Place on voluntarily retired list: 1B Ben Jones
Placed on restricted list: RHP Rolando Japa, RHP Daniel McCutchen, RHP Hector Noesi

Four of the Yankees’ top 15 prospects begin the season on the shelf. Melancon and Garcia both had Tommy John surgery. Cox had elbow surgery and will likely miss the season.

I’m guessing that Mark Davis is actually Ben Davis. Even though Kevin Howard was released, I’d still rather have him than Tony Womack. Looks like Low-A Charleston’s all-time leader in homers (35) and RBI’s (165) called it career. Thanks for helping Tabata get pitches to hit last year, Ben.

Potential scrap heap steal: C/1B Shawn Wooten, who was cut by the Padres. (very slim pickin’s this time around)

He’s still in baseball?: RHP Tim Drew (Nancy and Stephen’s brother), who was signed by the Indians. 3B (and former Yank) Erick Almonte, who was cut by the Rockies. OF Bubba Trammell, who was put on the Orioles’ minor league disabled list.

The forever underappreciated Ramiro Mendoza was cut by the Mets.