Transaction Analysis: Halt and Catch Frieri

ANAHEIM ANGELS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Selected the contract of LHP Edgar Ibarra from Triple-A Salt Lake; optioned OF-R Alfredo Marte to Triple-A Salt Lake; designated OF-R Gary Brown for assignment. [6/2]

A career member of the Twins' organization prior to last offseason, Ibarra received the call to the majors just days following his 26th birthday. Ain't that nice? Fastball command has plagued Ibarra throughout his development, and will ultimately determine whether he's more than an up-and-down arm. For now, Ibarra and his somewhat deceptive mechanics—his arm action is short and he drops down at the start, almost like a submariner, before releasing the ball from a three-quarters slot—will serve as the Angels' third lefty, behind Cesar Ramos and Jose Alvarez.

BOSTON RED SOX Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Acquired OF-L Alejandro De Aza and cash considerations from the Orioles in exchange for RHP Joe Gunkel; transferred RHP Brandon Workman to the 60-day disabled list (strained elbow). [6/3]

Prior to this season, De Aza had established himself as a solid platoon outfielder—someone who contributed a decent average and on-base percentage versus right-handed pitchers while playing acceptable defense and swiping a dozen-plus bags a year (albeit at shaky rates). That De Aza hasn't shown up yet in 2015. Rather his offensive numbers are down due to a bloated strikeout rate (30 percent) borne from his increasing tendencies to chase and whiff.

Whether De Aza returns to his old form or not with this change of scenery—and it's no sure thing that he does—the Red Sox can afford to carry him on the bench until Shane Victorino and/or Daniel Nava return from the disabled list. Of course if De Aza's poor play continues until then, the Red Sox might have to eat what's remaining on his $5 million salary in order to free up a roster spot. That's the cost of doing business, however, and the plausible reward is worth the risk.

Gunkel, by the way, is a tall righty with a low arm slot and more impressive statistics than stuff.

NEW YORK YANKEES Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Activated RHP Masahiro Tanaka from the 15-day disabled list (strained forearm); designated RHP David Carpenter for assignment. [6/3]

Acquired during the offseason, Carpenter seemed like a safe bet to solidify the Yankees' rebuilt bullpen. He was coming off two quality seasons with the Braves, during which he'd improved control over his power fastball-slider combination. Instead Carpenter's time in New York ends after two poor months that saw him post a 4.82 ERA and 1.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio. How did he explain those struggles? By making a vague reference to mechanical flaws and bleating about transitioning from high-leverage work to middle relief. Life won't get any easier for Carpenter in the coming weeks. While he's certain to land on a new team through trade or waiver claim, he'll have to work his way back into a set-up role.

TAMPA BAY RAYS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Recalled OF-R Mikie Mahtook from Triple-A Durham; designated RHP Ernesto Frieri for assignment. [6/2]

The problem with the Rays' buy-low approach to signing relievers is sometimes you get Fernando Rodney and sometimes you get this. To paraphrase Baseball Prospectus 2015, Frieri is proof that life can come at you fast: over the past 14 months he's went from a good team's opening day closer to being designated for assignment twice. Frieri's problems are twofold: 1) his previously stellar fastball has lost mileage (about three mph from last May) and deception; and 2) he hasn't improved under either Ray Searage or Jim Hickey—not even after tweaking his mechanics and rebuilding his arsenal. Frieri has to accept an outright assignment in order to receive the rest of his guaranteed salary. As such, he should report to Durham soon.

MIAMI MARLINS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Recalled RHP Kendry Flores from Double-A Jacksonville; optioned RHP Steve Cishek to Double-A Jacksonville. [6/2]

So much for Justin Nicolino taking one of the Marlins' vacated rotation spots. That honor instead goes to Flores, whom Miami grabbed in the Casey McGehee trade. Flores has spent the season in Jacksonville, starting nine games and accumulating a 2.06 ERA and 2.80 strikeout-to-walk rate. Don't get too excited about those numbers, however, since his top selling points are pitchability and quality control over an average-at-best arsenal. It beats watching Pat Misch or various other filler take their turns during an increasingly lost season, but Flores' upside is along the lines of a back-end starter.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Claimed 2B-R Hernan Perez off waivers from the Tigers; designated UTL-S Elian Herrera for assignment. [6/2]

Perez failed to find a niche with Detroit over parts of four seasons, but succeeded in exhausting his options along the way; hence the Tigers keeping him this year around in a glorified cheerleader role, resulting in 33 at-bats over 22 appearances. Perez hasn't shown his super-aggressive approach can work in the majors, yet his glove is good enough to fit on a bench as a spare infielder. The Brewers' chief alternative is Hector Gomez, who is three years older than Perez is, so they have little to lose here.