2008 MLB Transactions - July 22

[Hache Man]

Jesus Delgado - SP - Marlins

Marlins optioned RHP Jesus Delgado to Double-A Carolina.

Delgado spent less than a week with the team and saw zero work in his first taste of the majors. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Rick VandenHurk - SP - Marlins

Marlins recalled RHP Rick VandenHurk from Double-A Carolina.

He's scheduled to start Tuesday against the Braves, but could be headed back to the minors shortly afterward if Anibal Sanchez is deemed ready to come off the disabled list. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Brian Wolfe - RP - Blue Jays

Blue Jays optioned RHP Brian Wolfe to Triple-A Syracuse.

Wolfe tossed three scoreless innings during two weeks with the team and now has a 3.00 ERA in 18 innings overall this season after posting a 2.98 ERA in 45 1/3 innings last year, but for some reason the Blue Jays can't find room for him in their bullpen. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Jon Rauch - RP - Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks acquired RHP Jon Rauch from the Nationals for 2B Emilio Bonifacio.

An outstanding pickup for Arizona's pen at a small cost. Rauch probably won't close initially, but he can be a fallback if Brandon Lyon continues to struggle. He'll upgrade the eighth inning and push Tony Pena and Chad Qualls back to the sixth and seventh innings. Theoretically, it gives the Diamondbacks one of the best setup corps in baseball. Bonifacio wasn't going to be the answer at second base next year if Orlando Hudson leaves, so it's no problem giving him up in this one, particularly with Rauch under control through 2010 ($2 million in 2009, $2.9 million option in 2010). Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Randy Wolf - SP - Astros

Astros acquired LHP Randy Wolf from the Padres for RHP Chad Reineke.

Wolf will take Roy Oswalt's rotation spot now and maybe Runelvys Hernandez's later. He was 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA for the Padres and 1-6 with a 6.63 ERA away from Petco Park. It's doubtful that he'll be an asset in Houston, and any fantasy value he still had is now gone. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Joel Peralta - RP - Royals

Royals recalled RHP Joel Peralta from Triple-A Omaha.

Peralta was just sent down yesterday, but that was before Jimmy Gobble got hurt. He'll resume pitching in middle relief. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Jimmy Gobble - RP - Royals

Royals placed LHP Jimmy Gobble on the 15-day disabled list with a stiff lower back.

One day after he gave up 10 runs to take his ERA from 7.99 to 11.31. Lefties are still hitting just .200 against him, but right-handers are threatening to kill his career. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Eric Stults - SP - Dodgers

Dodgers optioned LHP Eric Stults to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Stults was 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA and averaged 5 2/3 innings in his six starts. Clayton Kershaw was 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA and averaged under five innings in his eight starts earlier this season. It doesn't look like an upgrade. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Clayton Kershaw - SP - Dodgers

Dodgers recalled LHP Clayton Kershaw from Double-A Jacksonville.

Kershaw will rejoin the rotation and start tonight against the Rockies. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Mitch Stetter - RP - Brewers

Brewers optioned LHP Mitch Stetter to Triple-A Nashville.

Stetter has a 2.78 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings for Milwaukee, but he's also walked 16, which is one of the reasons the Brewers have been in the market for left-handed relief help. He'll be back. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Jeff Suppan - SP - Brewers

Brewers activated RHP Jeff Suppan from the 15-day disabled list.

Suppan, who missed a couple of weeks with an irritated elbow, will get the start tonight against the Cardinals. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Joe Mather - OF - Cardinals

Cardinals recalled outfielder Joe Mather from Triple-A Memphis.

Mather has hit .244/.333/.422 in 45 major league at-bats this season. He's returning after just four days in Triple-A because of Chris Duncan's injury. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Chris Duncan - OF - Cardinals

Cardinals placed outfielder Chris Duncan on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disk in his neck.

It's turning into a lost year for Duncan, who has hit .248/.346/.365 in 222 at-bats. Joe Mather will replace him as the Cardinals' fourth outfielder, though perhaps only until Brian Barton returns. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Shaun Marcum - SP - Blue Jays

Blue Jays activated RHP Shaun Marcum from the 15-day disabled list.

Marcum takes Brian Wolfe's roster spot. He will start tonight, but he probably won't throw more than four or five innings against the Orioles. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Ryan Zimmerman - 3B - Nationals

Nationals activated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the 15-day disabled list.

Zimmerman will return as the starting third baseman, though he'll probably get routine off days for the first time in his career. It seems unlikely that he'll start hitting like he did last year, but he should at least be an asset in NL-only leagues. Jul. 22

[Hache Man]

Cristian Guzman - SS - Nationals

Nationals agreed to terms with shortstop Cristian Guzman on a two-year contract extension through 2010.

Hooray? Guzman has been an above average regular this year, and though he's been around forever, he's still only 30 years old. On the other hand, his declining steal totals suggest that he's an old 30 and if he finishes this year with more than 120 games played and a 700 OPS, he'd be doing it for the first time in his career. It's just a two-year deal and it was going to be a barren shortstop market this winter, so it's probably not a bad move, pending the dollars. Still, he's not going to lead the team anywhere in 2009 or 2010. Jul. 22