July 2008 Transactions

Pirates · Post by **Pirates** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:44 pm

Brewers release Jamie Vermilyea

Pirates · Post by **Pirates** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:03 pm

Brewers sign Fernando Tatis

Phillies · Post by **Phillies** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:27 am

Phillies release Doug Brocail

Phillies · Post by **Phillies** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:27 am

Phillies sign Jody 0-Gerut

Rays · Post by **Rays** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:32 pm

Padres release Samuel Gervacio

Rays · Post by **Rays** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:33 pm

Padres sign Ricardo 0-Romero

Rays · Post by **Rays** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:44 pm

Padres release Kieron 0-Pope

Rays · Post by **Rays** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:45 pm

Padres create Zachary 6-Dials

Rangers · Post by **Rangers** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:34 pm

Tigers release Adam 0-Russell

Rangers · Post by **Rangers** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:34 pm

Tigers sign J.D. Martin

Cubs · Post by **Cubs** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:32 am

BlueJays release Rich 0-Dorman

Cubs · Post by **Cubs** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:32 am

BlueJays claimed Doug Brocail

Phillies · Post by **Phillies** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:12 pm

Phillies release Brad Harman

Phillies · Post by **Phillies** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:28 pm

Phillies sign Charlie Haeger

Mariners · Post by **Mariners** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:20 pm

DBacks release Adam Loewen

Best wishes at becoming the 2nd version of Rick Ankiel.

By Jim Callis
July 21, 2008

Rick Ankiel has pulled off an improbable transformation from pitcher to outfielder, and now Adam Loewen will try to follow the same path. A stress fracture in his left elbow derailed Loewen in 2007, and the same injury recurred this summer. Faced with the prospect of a second surgery and an 18-month rehab, Loewen and the Orioles decided he would be better off trying to become an outfielder.

The fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft, Loewen spent the next spring as a two-way player at Chipola (Fla.) Junior College before signing with Baltimore as a draft-and-follow. In the Feb. 5, 2003 Ask BA, I dealt with Loewen's potential as a position player:

. . . The [Major League Scouting] Bureau graded Loewen higher as a pitcher, but he's not far behind as a hitter. He finished third at the 2002 World Junior Championships in batting with .542-1-10 totals in 24 at-bats. Our crack Expos/Canadian correspondent Michael Levesque reports that one scout who saw Loewen in high school graded his power potential as a 75 on the 20-80 scouting scale. The scout also gave him a 60 for his batting potential and an 80 for arm strength. His speed and defense project as fringe average because Loewen will slow down as he gets bigger.

Because Loewen is lefthanded and has such good stuff (92-96 mph fastball, nasty curveball, a splitter that serves as a changeup and a new slider), I'd be surprised if a team moved him off the mound. But if that happened, Loewen certainly has the talent to make it to the majors as a hitter.

Twins · Post by **Twins** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:21 pm

Orioles release Jason Botts

Mariners · Post by **Mariners** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:22 pm

DBacks create Luis 0-Exposito

From Peter Gammons:
"One scouting director claims that while some clubs will overdraft a catcher out of desperate need, "none of the catchers in this draft are much better than second or third rounders." That includes Pepperdine's Chad Tracy, who comes with extraordinary bloodlines as Jim's son, as well as high schoolers Max Sapp of Windermere, Fla., and Hank Conger of Huntington Beach, Calif. "We liked Luis Exposito (signed by Boston out of St. Pete J.C. as a draft and follow) better than almost any of them," says a scouting director."

RedSox · Post by **RedSox** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:02 pm

Rays release Charlie 0-Zink

RedSox · Post by **RedSox** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:03 pm

Rays create Zachary 7-Cozart

Cardinals · Post by **Cardinals** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:43 pm

Pirates sign Joe Bateman

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:35 pm

Athletics release Brian 7-Rike

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:35 pm

Athletics sign Chris 6-Johnson

Cardinals · Post by **Cardinals** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:28 am

Pirates release Freddy 0-Dolsi

Cardinals · Post by **Cardinals** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:28 am

Pirates sign Chris 0-Lambert

Reds · Post by **Reds** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:23 pm

Nationals release Diory Hernandez