Transactions

Placed 3B Pat Osborn (A+) on the Disabled List (hamstring)

Promoted IF Brett Parker to Kinston (A+) from Extended Spring

Placed LHRP Shea Douglas (A+) on the Disabled List (shoulder)

Promoted LHRP David Martinez to Kinston (A+) from Lake County (A-)

Demoted RHSP Fausto Carmona to Kinston (A+) from Akron (AA)

Released LHRP Marcos Mendoza from Akron (AA)

Reinstated RHSP Kyle Evans from the Disabled List (AA)

Sent RHRP Scott Sturkie (AA) to the Atlanta Braves to complete the Russell Branyan trade

Demoted RHRP Jake Robbins to Akron (AA) from Buffalo (AAA)

Released RHRP Luther Hackman from Buffalo (AAA)

Signed free agent RHSP Scott Elarton to a minor-league contract; Assigned him to Buffalo

Sent RHSP Jeff D’Amico to Lake County (A-) for Rehab Assignment

The big news here is the signing of Scott Elarton. He’ll get a start or three in Buffalo, and if successful, might get a shot at the Cleveland rotation. He was dumped by the Rockies last week after posting an ERA of 9.80. Basically more grist for the mill. Since the internal starter options are either injured or struggling, I’d expect more of these kind of moves until the rotation gets stabilized a bit.

Scott Sturkie, the PTBNL in the Branyan trade, has been pitching well for the Aeros this year, and is a little better player than I expected to be going to Atlanta. He’s posted very good ERAs his entire minor-league career, but is getting up there in age, and has never had good strikeout ratios. But he’s still a nice guy to have floating around your system.