Brian Burres

Here are today’s minor league transactions from around baseball, with the latest moves at the top of the post…

• VeteranBrett Tomko has found a new home with the Rockies on a minor league deal,reports Robert Murray of Sports Rumor Alert. Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com (Twitter link) also cites a source saying that the 41-year-old righty is headed to Colorado Springs. Tomko, who was recently set loose by the Royals, last threw in the bigs in 2011 with the Rangers. He owns a 4.65 ERA over 1,816 career innings with ten clubs, much of them as a starter.
• PitcherBrian Burres has also signed a minor league deal with the Rockies and will join their Triple-A affiliate, reports Mike Ashmore of MyCentralJersey.com (via Twitter).MLBTR reported back in May that Burres, most recently of the independent league Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, was drawing interest. The 33-year-old owns a 5.75 ERA through 358 1/3 career MLB frames.
• Alfredo Aceves has accepted his outright assignment to Triple- A rather than electing free agency, MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillotweets. Aceves was designated for assignment last week and outrighted to Triple-A on Sunday.
• TheMariners moved southpawJames Paxton to the 60-day disabled list in order to open a 40-man roster spot forJi-Man Choi, the team announced.  Paxton has already spent more than 60 days on the DL while recovering from shoulder inflammation.  Choi will return to Double-A action after serving a 50-game PED suspension.
• TheMets selected the contract of catcherTaylor Teagarden on Sunday, the team announced.  Teagarden will replaced the demotedTravis d’Arnaud on New York’s 25-man roster.  For making the Major League roster, Teagarden will earn $725K, as perthe minor league deal he signed with the Mets in January.  The 30-year-old Teagarden posted a .950 OPS in 127 PA at Triple-A Las Vegas, a notoriously hitter-friendly park.
• TheAngels released outfielderChevy Clarke,Baseball America’s Matt Eddy reports.  Clarke was picked in the first round (30th overall) of the 2010 draft as a high schooler, but he has yet to play above the high-A level, hitting .219/.306/.337 with 23 home runs over 1542 career PA.
• Also from Eddy, theDiamondbacks released right-handerEric Smith.  Originally taken by Arizona in the second round of the 2009 draft, Smith posted a 5.10 ERA over 429 minor league innings (65 starts, 77 relief appearances).  Smith was hit with a 50-game suspension last season for taking a drug of abuse, his second such violation.
• TheRangers released right-handerChris Schwinden last week, as announced by the team’s Triple-A affiliate (via Twitter).  Schwinden was hit hard in three starts for Round Rock, posting an 11.25 ERA over 12 innings.  The 27-year-old pitched 29 2/3 innings for the Mets in 2011-12 and has pitched for five different organizations (plus an independent league team ) since the start of the 2012 season.

Three clubs were willing to offer major league deals toKyle Farnsworth,tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  Farnsworth chose theAstros in part because he could see high leverage chances and due to his relationship with manager Bo Porter. Here are some notes on a few other players who are still looking for their next professional opportunity:

• Brian Burres, who has been throwing well this year in the independent Atlantic League, has recently received interest from a few clubs, MLBTR has learned. The 33-year-old southpaw carries a 1.80 ERA through 20 innings, striking out 6.3 and walking 1.8 batters per nine. Burress has 358 1/3 MLB innings under his belt; he last saw MLB time in 2011 with the Pirates.
• The Yankees and Mariners are two of the five finalists to sign Cuban outfielderDaniel Carbonell, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reportson Twitter. TheTwinsattended Carbonell’s most recent showcase,tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN, and are “monitoring” him. Carbonell, 23, wasdeclared a free agent back in April.
• The Phillies are in on Todd Coffey, a source tells Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish (via Twitter).  TheOrioles, meanwhile, are likely out on Coffey after signingHeath Bell (link).  Coffey has multiple offers in hand and could decide soon, according to sources.
• LeftyPedro Feliciano is getting a hard look from the Cardinals,according to Steve Nations of KSDK Sports. Feliciano threw live BP to Cards minor leaguers yesterday, and will appear in a simulated game today in hopes of convincing the St. Louis brass to give him a minor league deal. The 37-year-old has seen time in nine MLB campaigns, returning to the bigs for 25 appearances (but just 11 1/3 innings) with the Mets last year, putting up a 3.97 ERA. His career mark stands at 3.33 earned per nine over 383 2/3 frames.

Johan Santana will throw for interested teams at some point soon, Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.comtweets. When he does, the Twins will be in attendance. Yesterday, Santana himselfindicated that he had begun throwing off a mound, the latest step in his recovery from shoulder surgery. Here are more notes on free agents, all of them pitchers.

• Brian Burres threw for teams on Thursday, and he will throw again on Monday in Florida, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes has learned. Burres last appeared in the big leagues in 2011 with the Pirates. He spent 2012 in the Giants' system, and 2013 in Taiwan.
• The Red Sox continue to "check in on" relieverJoel Hanrahan, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports (viaTwitter). Hanrahan's agenttold MLBTR yesterday that Hanrahan would host a showcase for interested teams in March. Hanrahan is making his way back after a 2013 season mostly lost to elbow troubles. 
• The Red Sox watchedRyan Madson on Friday in Arizona, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globetweets. Like Hanrahan, Madson is a once-dominant reliever trying to make his way back after dealing with elbow problems. The Phillies are among the teams that haveshown interest in Madson, who last appeared in the big leagues in 2011 as a Phillie.

SouthpawBrian Burres will take the hill this Thursday to audition for interested clubs, Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reported yesterday (via Twitter). The 32-year-old spent parts of six seasons in the bigs, with about half of his appearances coming as a starter, but has not seen MLB action since 2011. After throwing for the Taiwanese Lamigo Monkeys last year, Burres will look to effect a comeback. 

Here are a few business notes from around the game:

• The MLB and MLBPA are working through the annual review of the Joint Drug Agreement (JDA), tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Among other things, the sides are discussing increasing the penalties provided under the program. As I argued in November, creating a more effective set of incentives requires not an enhancement of the poorly functioning existing penalties, but a whole new approach altogether.
• Matt Holliday spoke in favor of changes to the qualifying offer system in an appearance today on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (audio link). Though he says that compensation to a player's former club is not problematic, requiring signing teams to give up a pick is "not fair" to players who turned down a QO. Holliday explains that teams are valuing draft picks higher as more and more players reach the bigs quickly, and argues that the system "needs to be amended as soon as possible." 
• Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca explains the effects of the QO system, arguing that its compensatory purposes have turned into a punishment to free agents. Indeed, upper middle class free agents likeUbaldo Jimenez,Ervin Santana,Stephen Drew,Kendrys Morales, andNelson Cruz have found a market that consists of an unattractive set of potential buyers: teams that have no interest in them regardless; teams that might otherwise want them but will not give up a pick; teams that only want them at a cheap price, because they do not want to sacrifice a pick; and teams that strongly want them but can wait for prices to drop. 
• International spending is on the rise despite the new bonus pool system, writes Baseball America's Ben Badler. In 2013, the total outlay jumped to $97MM from $84MM the year prior, though Badler says that levels could remain flat for 2014. 
• TheRangers will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to announce a new naming rights deal for Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the team announced today. Details of the sponsorship agreement are not known, but clearly the park will see some modification to its current name.
• A federal judge has issued an order placing the parent company of Comcast SportsNet Houston under federal bankruptcy protection,David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports. TheAstros had sought dismissal of the case. With the order, the team's TV network will continue to operate while the business partners seek to agree upon a reorganization plan and deliver the entity out of bankruptcy.

We'll track the day's minor moves here…

• ThePadressigned second basemanAdam Buschini to a minor league deal,according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. The 25-year-old Buschini was a fourth-round pick of the Phillies in 2009 but hasn't appeared in affiliated ball since 2010. He spent this past season in the Australian Baseball League where he won the Triple Crown by hitting .363 with 15 homers and 50 RBIs.
• Left-handerBrian Burres has agreed to sign with Taiwan's Lamigo Monkeys, agent Marc Kligman tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The 31-year-old Burres has a 5.75 ERA, 5.6 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 358 1/3 innings between the Orioles, Blue Jays and Pirates. 
• TheOrioles agreed to sign right-hander Joel Pineiro to a minor league deal, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (allTwitterlinks). The 34-year-old last-pitched at the MLB level with the 2011 Angels. Pineiro, who pitched in the Orioles' minor league system in 2012, had surgery to repair a SLAP tear in his right shoulder last July.
• TheOrioles also completed a minor league deal with left-handerMark Hendrickson, Connolly reports. Hendrickson, the former NBA player who pitched with Baltimore from 2009-11, recently threw bullpen sessions for Orioles personnel. The 38-year-old is now pitching sidearm as he attempts to return to the MLB level for the first time since 2011. 
• TheIndians have agreed to signJeremy Hermida to a minor league contract, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (onTwitter). Hermida played for the Padres in 2012, appearing in 13 games. The 29-year-old was regarded as a top prospect early in his professional career and he hit 18 home runs for the 2007 Marlins, but he hasn't produced on offense in the past three seasons. Hermida, a first round pick in 2002, bats from the left side.

The Giants signed left-handerBrian Burres to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training, MLBTR has learned. San Francisco drafted Burres in the 31st round of the 2000 draft, but the 30-year-old has never played for the Giants at the MLB level.

In six seasons with the Orioles, Pirates and Blue Jays, Burres has a 5.75 ERA with 6.4 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and a 38.3% ground ball rate. He posted a 3.86 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 14 innings with the Pirates this past season and spent most of the year as a starter at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.66 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 129 1/3 innings.

Players outrighted off 40-man rosters today:

• TheReds announced that they outrightedDaryl Thompson andJared Burton off of the 40-man roster.  Burton would have been arbitration eligible for the second time and MLBTR projected a salary in the $900K range for the 30-year-old.
• ThePirates announced that they outrightedBrian Burres,Kevin Hart,Brandon Wood andSteve Pearce to Triple-A to create 40-man roster space.  All four players can now elect free agency.  Wood and Pearce would have beenarbitration eligible for the first time this offseason, and though neither player projected to earn even $1MM, the Pirates decided to cut them loose instead of tendering contracts.
• TheTigers outrighted catcherOmir Santos and leftyBrad Thomas, tweetsMLB.com's Jason Beck.  Thomas would have been arbitration eligible, but it was clear he wouldn't make it to the point of being tendered a contract after missing much of the season with an elbow injury.

ThePadres andPirates have announced their Spring Training non-roster invitees, write MLB.com's Corey Brock and Jenifer Langosch, respectively.

Among San Diego's 20 NRIs is a small handful of players with big-league experience and a decent chance of making the 25-man roster at the end of Spring Training. Here's a quick look at some of those guys:

• Kevin Frandsen has spent parts of five seasons with the Giants and Angels, and he has a "good shot" of catching on with the Padres as a utility man, according to Brock. The 28-year-old plays multiple positions and would earn a salary of $575,000.
• Guillermo Quiroz could challengeRob Johnson for the backup catching job, notes Brock. Quiroz, 29, has played for four teams (Rangers, Blue Jays, Mariners and Orioles) in parts of seven seasons.
• Gregorio Petit spent parts of two seasons with the A's as a utility infielder in 2008-09. The 26-year-old spent the entirety of 2010 with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate.
• Bullpen hopefulsLuis Perdomo andScott Munter each have Major League experience. Perdomo made 35 appearances with San Diego in 2009 but only one last season, and Munter was with the Giants for parts of three seasons.

The Pirates, meanwhile, have a slightly more interesting cast of notable names:

• Garrett Atkins,Jeff Clement,Josh Fields andAndy Marte form a quartet of one-time blue-chip prospects. Atkins, in particular, was an above-average player for the Rockies in 2006-07, but he declined quickly in the following years. Clement, a former catcher, was a No. 3 overall pick of the Mariners in 2005, and Fields and Marte were raw-power corner-infield prospects coming up with the White Sox and Braves/Indians, respectively.
• On the pitching side,Tyler Yates has a 8.1 K/9 for his career but did not pitch in the bigs in 2010.Donald Veal, selected by the Bucs from the Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft prior to the 2009 season, is a hard-throwing but wild lefty.Brian Burres has started 54 games in his five-year career with the Orioles, Blue Jays and Pirates.Sean Gallagher was dealt from the Cubs to the A's in the deal that sentRich Harden to Chicago, and has appeared in 91 games.Fernando Nieve has appeared in 99 games (19 starts) with the Astros and Mets in parts of four seasons.

Here are some recent updates on contracts from around the majors:

• RelieverTakashi Saito will earn a base salary of less than $2MM with the Brewers but incentives could push his salary close to the $3.2MM he made with Atlanta last year, writesMLB.com's Adam McCalvy.  Saito could mark the Brewers' last major offseason acquisition.
• Adrian Beltre will earn $14MM in 2011, $15MM in 2012, $16MM in 2013, $17MM in 2014, and $18MM in 2015, according toAnthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Left-handerChris Capuano gets a base of $1.5MM in 2011 but he could earn more than $4.5MM through incentives, according toAdam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. 
• The Padres agreed not to offer salary arbitration ifOrlando Hudson,Brad Hawpe, orAaron Harangend up being Type A free agents, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter).
• If they make the Bucs' major league roster,Garrett Atkins andBrian Burres will earn $800K and $600K, respectively, according toJenifer Langosch of MLB.com.  If Atkins is not on the 25-man roster on April 1 or June 1, he can request his release.  Burres also has an out clause of sorts as can sign with an Asian team for $50K between now and Opening Day or for $100K during the season.

The Pirates added a candidate for the starting rotation today, agreeing to re-signBrian Burres, according toMLB.com's Jenifer Langosch. Even after he non-tendered the 29-year-old left-hander, GM Neal Huntington maintained that the club had interest in a new deal.

Burres appeared in 20 games for the Pirates last year, serving as a swingman. He started 13 games and relieved in seven others, logging 79 1/3 innings and posting a 4.99 ERA. His strikeout (5.1 K/9) and walk (3.9 BB/9) ratios are below-average, but he will provide the Pirates with depth.

Manager Clint Hurdle will choose between some new additions and some familiar faces when he lines up his 2011 rotation. Burres,Kevin Correia,Scott Olsen,Paul Maholm,Ross Ohlendorf,James McDonald,Charlie Morton,Jeff Karstens,Daniel McCutchen andBrad Lincoln could all start for the Pirates this season.

The Pirates can retain Burres through 2013 if they offer him arbitration.