Transactions Notes 5/4/12 - 5/10/12

It was an incredibly busy week of roster moves, mostly near the top of the organization. Let's get right down to it.

MLB

First, we must go over the madness around this Jhoulys Chacin move. The pitcher was optioned to AAA early in the week, but was never activated from the Colorado Springs Reserve List. Carlos Torres was added to the 40 man roster, filling it, and was recalled to take Chacin's spot on the 25 man roster as well. Ultimately, the Rockies chose to instead put Chacin on the 15 day disabled list instead. The Rockies were allowed to actually negate Chacin's option, because he never pitched after the DL stint was retro-activated to the day after his start (for either the Rockies or Sky Sox), and because that retroactive move was before Torres' recall, the roster moves would have been acceptable in that situation. Very clever maneuver from the Rockies to prevent Chacin from burning his option, at least at this point.

Eric Young Jr. left the team to join his family as his grandfather's health took a turn for the worse, and was placed on the bereavement list. On this list, young still gains service time and can only be gone seven days at most, but the team is allowed to send a replacement player for that time. In this case, Jordan Pacheco was recalled to the Rockies to ensure their position player count was adequate. Young is expected to rejoin the team today. The Rockies also optioned Guillermo Moscoso back to the Sky Sox after it was clear he would not be sticking in the rotation right now. Adam Ottavino was recalled to help fill more innings for a fatigued bullpen.

Alex White was recalled to take Jhoulys Chacin's spot in the starting rotation, at the expense of Edgmer Escalona, sent back to AAA where he started the season, after struggling at the MLB level. The Rockies also recalled Christian Friedrich to make his MLB debut, with Guthrie not deemed ready to pitch when eligible to be activated. This time, the Rockies returned Ottavino to the Sky Sox.

Jeremy Guthrie began a rehab assignment with the Modesto Nuts, while Josh Outman began his second stint on his own rehab assignment with the Sky Sox. Having completed the first phase of his rehab assignment, Jorge De La Rosa was promoted to Tulsa to continue. This week also saw the optional assignments of Jordan Pacheco, Tyler Chatwood and Edgmer Escalona reach 20 total days in the season, burning another option year for each player. Pacheco and Chatwood each have one regular option remaining. Escalona is out of regular options, but could theoretically qualify for a bonus one next year if he ends up not pitching a "fill pro season" as defined, though this is unlikely.

FInally, the Rockies chose to finally remove suspended catcher Eliezer Alfonzo from their 40 man roster. The timing was a bit odd, as he didn't actually count against the roster limit, so the move wasn't designed to free space. Also, by my count, Alfonzo has only served around half of his 100 game suspension. Unless certain offseason days or Spring Training games or something count towards the limit, his suspension still has a long way to go. I had assumed that the Rockies were going to hold onto the catcher until he finished his suspension. In theory, they still can; Alfonzo was outrighted to the Sky Sox, and can continue to serve his suspension there. We'll see what the deal is soon, when Alfonzo is either activated, placed back on the restricted list or elects free agency.

The madness doesn't end here. Minor league rosters all over were up and down. Check out the rest after the jump.

AAA

First, a note to last week. Tyler Chatwood was placed on the 7 day disabled list last Thursday, which I missed before I published my transactions notes the following day. Catcher Wil Nieves and reliever Stephen Dodson were activated from the disabled list to fill the roster spots of Pacheco and Ottavino as they were recalled. The Sky Sox also returned utilityman Jimmy Cesario back to Tulsa, FINALLY filling that extra roster spot Tulsa has had for oh so long, though that roster spot didn't stay filled.

Cory Riordan was promoted from the Drillers to fill the extra spot, leaving Tulsa a man short again. Riordan was spending his first season as a reliever in Tulsa, but is expected to return to starting with the Sky Sox in the absence of so many of their original starters. Leuris Gomez was also promoted from the Modesto Nuts in case the Sox needed innings filled. Neither of the two pitches has gotten into a Sky Sox game yet. Rounding out the AAA transactions are the promotion of Royce Ring from the Drillers, and the demotion of Zach Simons to the Drillers. The Sky Sox roster is currently at 24, though Adam Ottavino is likely to be activated from the reserve list to fill that fifth spot any day now.

AA

Nothing much to report here. As mentioned above, Cesario and Riordan switched places, followed by Ring and Simons. Tulsa remains one player short overall.

A+

Fourth outfielder Scott Robinson was activated from the 7 day disabled list, taking Gomez' spot on the roster as he was sent up to AAA. After struggling with the Nuts, starter Josh Slaats was reassigned to the Dust Devils, meaning he will be working in Extended Spring Training for the time begin. His roster spot was taken by 2011 draftee Roberto Padilla, who had spent the first month of the season at EST himself. Michael Wolford was also assigned to the Nuts, though he has not yet been activated since there is currently no roster room.

A

Infielder Taylor Featherston was activated from the 7 day disabled list, filling the spot vacated by David Kandilas' trip to the DL last month, filling Asheville's roster back up.