Transaction Analysis

Transaction Analysis: May 22-26

ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed LHP Allen Watson on the 15-day DL (strained elbow); recalled 3B/1B Frank Bolick from Vancouver. [5/24] Thanks to a few handy off-days this week, the Angels aren’t really going to be hurt much in the short term by placing the combustible Watson (7.69 ERA) on the DL. Jack McDowell will continue to...

Transaction Analysis: May 19-21

by Christina Kahrl 5/22

ANAHEIM ANGELS Activated RHP Jack McDowell from the 15-day DL; optioned 3B/1B Frank Bolick to Vancouver. [5/21] Black Jack’s return has bumped Jason Dickson from the rotation, which will hopefully let Dickson work on his assortment while giving him a lighter workload so that he can get back to where he was last season. With...

Transaction Analysis: May 15-18

by Christina Kahrl 5/19

ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed UT Randy Velarde on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 5/15 (elbow); recalled SS/2B Justin Baughman from Vancouver. [5/16] It looks like Velarde’s elbow woes are of the career-ending variety, which means the Angels have to get away from the ugly temporary solutions at second (Carlos Garcia, Paco Martin, or Craig Shipley), and...

Transaction Analysis: May 11-14

by Christina Kahrl 5/15

ANAHEIM ANGELS Activated UT Randy Velarde from the 15-day DL; placed INF Carlos Garcia on the 15-day DL (broken bat, er… strained hamstring). [5/13] Velarde’s return has apparently lasted all of two days, since he’s already complaining about soreness in his bum elbow. Garcia’s bat will take a lifetime to heal up, which leaves Paco...

Transaction Analysis: May 8-10

by Christina Kahrl 5/11

ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed RHP Mike James on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 5/5 (torn muscle – forearm); recalled LHP Jarrod Washburn from Vancouver; announced that RHP William Vanlandingham cleared waivers and his contract was optioned to Vancouver. [5/8] Activated RF Tim Salmon from the DL; optioned LHP Jarrod Washburn to Vancouver. [5/9] Salmon’s return is...

Transaction Analysis: May 5-7

by Christina Kahrl 5/08

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Recalled C Damian Miller from Tucson; optioned LHP Ricky Pickett to Tucson. [5/6] An interesting development. To add a third catcher (who isn’t decisively better than Fabregas or Stinnett), they dump their lone lefty reliever after barely using him. It might mean that they’ll be trading for a new fifth starter after Daal’s...

Transaction Analysis: May 1-4

by Christina Kahrl 5/05

ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed RF Tim Salmon on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 4/23 (foot); purchased the contract of LHP Greg Cadaret from Vancouver. [5/1] Recalled RHP Pep Harris from Vancouver; optioned LHP Rich Robertson to Vancouver. [5/4] As long as Omar Olivares in the rotation, and as long as Terry Collins is pretending that nothing...

Transaction Analysis: April 27-30

by Christina Kahrl 5/01

ANAHEIM ANGELS Sold 1B Troy Neel‘s contract to the Orix Blue Wave (Japanese Leagues). [4/28] Placed RHP Jack McDowell on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 4/27 (inflamed right elbow); activated INF Craig Shipley from the DL. [4/30] In Black Jack’s absence, Omar Olivares will step into the rotation, and Shigetoshi Hasegawa may finally get some...

Transaction Analysis: April 24-26

by Christina Kahrl 4/28

BALTIMORE ORIOLES Placed RHP Scott Kamieniecki on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 25 (groin strain & inflamed elbow); recalled RHP Nerio Rodriguez from Rochester. [4/26] It’s easy to take potshots at the Orioles and say that Billy Gardner is no Davey Johnson or that Doug Johns is a waste of time, but matters aren’t...

Transaction Analysis: April 20-23

by Christina Kahrl 4/24

ATLANTA BRAVES Optioned RHP Paul Byrd to Richmond, and recalled OF Damon Hollins from Richmond. [4/23] When you’re the Braves, I guess you feel you can afford to waste a roster spot for five days to get two mopup innings of relief, because that’s all they got out of Byrd; considering that their bullpen had...

Transaction Analysis: April 15-19

by Christina Kahrl 4/20

ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed INF Craig Shipley on the 15-day DL (irritated nerve – right hand); activated 1B Chris Pritchett from 15-day DL and optioned him to Vancouver; recalled LHP Rich Robertson from Vancouver. [4/16] Activated RHP Pep Harris from the DL and optioned him to Lake Elsinore (A). [4/18] Losing Shipley may make the pickup...

Transaction Analysis: April 6-14

by Christina Kahrl 4/16

ATLANTA BRAVES Placed Lucky Charm Rafael Belliard on the 60-day DL (torn left quad); purchased the contract of INF Ray Holbert from Richmond. [4/10] Is there any potential downside with replacing arguably the worst major league player with a living, breathing utility infielder? Only in the sense that Cox may feel less comfortable with his...

Transaction Analysis: March 31-April 5

by Christina Kahrl 4/06

ANAHEIM ANGELS Purchased the contracts of OF Damon Mashore and 3B Frank Bolick; placed 1B Chris Pritchett on the 15-day DL (inflamed right elbow). [3/31] Mashore weeded through Pat Lennon, Gary Thurman, and Orlando Palmeiro to win a spot as a backup outfielder, while Bolick apparently caught on as a backup to both Hollins at...

Transaction Analysis: March 27-31

by Christina Kahrl 3/31

ANAHEIM ANGELS Signed INF Carlos Garcia; optioned OF Orlando Palmeiro to Vancouver; returned C Eric Helfand, INF Steve Scarsone and CF Gary Thurman to Vancouver; outrighted RHP William VanLandingham to Vancouver; acquired INF Craig Shipley from St. Louis for 2B Chip Hale. [3/30] Ick. Adding Garcia and Shipley give them "options" to Paco Martin at...

Transaction Analysis: March 24-26

by Christina Kahrl 3/27

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Waived RHP Hector Carrasco. [3/25] For all of the hullaballoo about this, Carrasco isn’t a unique talent, and that’s his problem. Finding relievers who throw moderately hard just isn’t very difficult, and if you’re not wedded to the belief that situational usages reflect ineffable qualities like "closer’s moxie" or whatever, you’re left with...

Transaction Analysis: March 20-23

by Christina Kahrl 3/25

ANAHEIM ANGELS Placed C Angelo Encarnacion on the 15-day DL. [3/22] Optioned RHP Geoff Edsell to Vancouver. [3/23] With Jason Dickson a probable health risk, and Jack McDowell and Omar Olivares being their uninspiring selves, there’s a very good chance that Edsell could start some games for the Angels this year. He had a rocky...