Transaction Analysis: May 19-21

ANAHEIM ANGELS

Activated RHP Jack McDowell from the 15-day DL; optioned 3B/1B Frank Bolick to
Vancouver. [5/21]

Black Jack’s return has bumped Jason Dickson from the rotation, which will
hopefully let Dickson work on his assortment while giving him a lighter
workload so that he can get back to where he was last season. With the decision to
call up Justin Baughman and play him regularly at second, the Angels didn’t
really need to carry a third backup infielder (Bolick) behind Paco Martin and
Craig Shipley.

CHICAGO CUBS

Optioned RHP Don Wengert to Iowa; purchased the contract of RHP Kennie
Steenstra from Iowa. [5/20]

Well, here’s the far-sighted use of Wengert’s option that Ed Lynch used to
justify last week’s decision to waive Amaury Telemaco. I don’t mean to knock
Steenstra, a crafty junkballer and organizational soldier who’s deserved a cup
of coffee after putting in three full seasons in Iowa before ’98, but he won’t
stick any more than Dave Swartzbaugh did. This makes even less sense when you
consider that Kevin Foster is due back by the first week of June. Rotating
bodies through the last roster spot may be a nice gesture for somebody like
Steenstra to make his debut, but its a gesture that cost the team Telemaco, so
I don’t care for it.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Activated LHP Alvin Morman from the DL; optioned RHP Jason Rakers to Buffalo.
[5/19]

Activated LHP Tom Martin from the DL and optioned him to Buffalo. [5/21]

Morman was beginning to pitch strongly in middle relief before his injury, but
it also gives the Tribe four lefties in the pen (although Krivda figures to
continue to get spot starts, with the next coming up in Chad Ogea’s spot). As
long as Mike Hargrove continues to give everyone full innings, or only use Paul
Assenmacher as a specialist, this shouldn’t be a problem. Rakers came up to
toss one inning.

FLORIDA MARLINS

Purchased the contract of RHP Matt Mantei from Charlotte, and the contract of
RHP Ryan Dempster from Portland (AA); optioned LHP Chris Hammond and RHP Rob
Stanifer to Charlotte. [5/20]

Moves for moves’ sake? Mantei hasn’t been pitching particularly well in
Charlotte as he recovers his arm strength (16.1 IP, 11 H, 18 BB, 25 K), and
Dempster could be highly combustible in his major league debut (8 HRs in 7
starts, 3.22 ERA, 44.2 IP, 34 H, 15 BB, 33 K), and he’s still very young (21),
and hasn’t really added the velocity people are expecting from him. He’ll step
into the rotation behind Livan Hernandez, Jesus Sanchez, Brian Meadows, and
notionally Andy Larkin, although Larkin should get bumped to make room for Joe
Fontenot on Saturday. Of course, neither Hammond or Boom-boom Bobby Stanifer
are commodities either, so as long as everyone keeps their nametags on,
everyone will get to play…

HOUSTON ASTROS

Placed 1B/3B Jack Howell on the 60-day DL (dislocated wrist); purchased the
contract of 1B/OF J.R. Phillips from New Orleans. [5/20]

Losing Howell bites into the Astros’ depth in LH pinch-hitters, not to mention
costing them their first-choice replacement for Jeff Bagwell (who’s still
expected back by the end of the month). Daryle Ward will not step into the role
for the next week’s worth of playing time, however, as Phillips will get the
work. He’s coming off of a hot five weeks’ work: .312/.372/.682, with 14
homeruns. When Bagwell comes back, Ward will be the one sent back, partially
because of Phillips’ contract (he has the option to become a free agent if he’s
sent back down).

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Activated 1B Joe Vitiello from the DL, and outrighted him to Omaha. [5/19]

Because of the injuries, Vitiello has to be considered one of the bigger
prospect washouts of the ’90s.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Placed RHP Paul Wagner on the 15-day DL, retroactive to 5/18 (stomach
disorder); purchased the contract of RHP Bobby Chouinard from Louisville;
transferred C Jesse Levis from the 15- to the 60-day DL. [5/21]

In Wagner’s absence, Brad Woodall is getting the first start, although
journeymen Chouinard and Bronswell Patrick could each get a spot start until
Wagner recovers. None of them may have more than two months to carve out roles
on this team for themselves, since Jeff D’Amico is expected back by the
All-Star break, Steve Woodard should have cemented a spot in the rotation, and
they’ll know what’s going on with Jose Mercedes by that point. All three
(Woodall, Chouinard, and Patrick) live off of breaking stuff, and only
Patrick’s had any sort of success in recent seasons, so don’t be surprised when
the Brewers rush Wagner back.

MONTREAL EXPOS

Recalled LHP Rick DeHart from Ottawa. [5/19]

Pending Carl Pavano’s activation, DeHart’s callup should be brief, unless the
Expos decide to get upset with Marc Valdes.

NEW YORK METS

Activated 3B Edgardo Alfonzo from the DL; optioned OF Preston Wilson to
Norfolk; announced UT Shawn Gilbert cleared waivers and accepted assignment to
Norfolk. [5/19]

Wilson’s fun debut was followed by the general recognition he’ll still swing at
anything, which probably made the Mets feel better about his pre-punched return
ticket to Norfolk. Alfonzo’s return moves Matt Franco back to his spot as
Valentine’s top pinch-hitter.

NEW YORK YANKEES

Signed RF Paul O’Neill to a one-year contract extension, with a club option for
2000. [5/21]

“Ricky Ledee, we love you… in Columbus. Its still a very nice place, isn’t
it? Still got the same apartment? Smart thinking, kid.”

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Activated SS Miguel Tejada from the DL, and optioned him to Huntsville (AA).
[5/20]

With Kurt Abbott doing everything in his power to remind folks of Alfredo
Griffin’s bad weeks in the field, Tejada will hopefully get every chance to
show he’s healthy and reclaim the job he’d won in camp.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Activated OF/1B Mark Smith from the DL; optioned INF Chance Sanford to
Nashville. [5/19]

Smith had a very strong rehab at Nashville (10 games, .390/.479/.756), and
there’s speculation that the Pirates are going to let him start at first,
moving Kevin Young to third. Since Cam Bonifay has also come out and said we
can expect to see Aramis Ramirez in a Pirates uniform before the end of the
season, there’s no strong commitment to playing Young at third for long. Mark
Smith is a handy spare part, fourth OF, and pinch-hitter, but he also isn’t
good enough to keep Aramis Ramirez out of Pittsburgh.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Activated RHP Bob Wells from the DL; optioned OF Ryan Radmanovich to Tacoma.
[5/19]

Radmanovich gets cast aside as Robert Perez was cast aside, after a fistful of
crummy at bats. Bob Wells is no savior, but he’d probably be a better option in
the rotation that sticking with what’s left of Billy Swift. So would Felipe
Lira. In either case, it would take a bit of patience to simply stick either in
the rotation for more than a start or two, and I doubt Lou Piniella can sit
still that long.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Activated C Brian Johnson from the DL; optioned C Doug Mirabelli to Fresno.
[5/20]

Not exactly an earth-shattering move. Mirabelli wasn’t going to get to play,
and Brent Mayne should continue to get the lion’s share of playing time behind
the plate.