Braves Place RHP John Smoltz on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 3, with pain in his right shoulder.
Smoltz will have surgery on his shoulder that will end his season, but he wants to play next year.
White Sox Sign RHP Esteban Loaiza.
It looks like Loaiza will join the bullpen for now. The White Sox pitching has been their strong point. Loaiza's greatest season was with the White Sox, so we'll have to see.
Rays Place INF Carlos Pena on the 15-day DL with a fractured left index finger and Recall OF Justin Ruggiano from Triple-A Durham.
Broken fingers tend to heal a little bit faster than other bones, so it is possible that he'll miss only three weeks, but four weeks is likely.
Red Sox Place DH David Ortiz on 15-day DL, retroactive to June 1, with a partial tear of the ECU tendon sheath in his left wrist and Recall 1B/OF Chris Carter from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Here is the deal. Ortiz will wear a cast for three weeks and see if it heals on its own. If it doesn't, then he is looking at season ending surgery. The bigger concern is that wrist injuries sap power and if you have Ortiz it is for his power. Chris Carter will replace him. Carter was hitting .310 with 10 homeruns in Triple-A. Carter was acquired by the Red Sox from the Nationals. He's not likely to get full-time AB, but if he does, he has some power.
Indians Place RHP Jake Westbrook on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 29, with right elbow inflammation.
Westbrook had an MRI and now is going to see Dr. Lewis Yocum for a second opinion. Never a good sign.
Nationals Place INF Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 26, with a small labral tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.
The Nationals are treating the tear with anti-inflammatory drugs and he'll rest until he is able to play again. Zimmerman was a breakout candidate this year, but he had hit only .257 with 8 HR so far.
Red Sox Activate RHP Clay Buchholz from the 15-day DL and option him to Triple-A Pawtucket.
As expected, Buchholz was sent to Triple-A after coming off the DL. There was no longer room in the rotation and Buchholz needs full-time innings.
Braves Place OF Mark Kotsay on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 26, with lower back soreness and Recall OF Josh Anderson from Triple-A Richmond.
The Braves traded for Anderson to be their centerfielder and then traded for Kotsay for now. Anderson is sharing time with Greg Norton but he is better defensively. If he does get some real at-bats, he is a speed play.
Red Sox Place RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka on 15-day DL, retroactive to May 28, with mild right rotator cuff strain.
Matsuzaka has some inflammation in the shoulder, but no damage, he'll rest the shoulder and he might just miss just the league minimum.
Indians Place DH Travis Hafner on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 26 with a right shoulder strain.
Hafner has been a huge disappointment hitting only .217 with 4 homeruns. He received a cortisone shot and will do strength exercises to build the shoulder back up.
Angels Activate 2B Howie Kendrick from the 15-day DL and placed 3B Chone Figgins on the 15-day DL (retroactive to May 22) with a strained right hamstring.
Kendrick started off slowly and watched his batting average drop from .462 to .379. He did have five RBI during that time. Figgins has a tweaked hamstring which needs rest. He'll go on a rehab assignment and hopefully return in the league minimum.
Cardinals Recall OF Joe Mather from Triple-A Memphis and Option OF Chris Duncan to Memphis.
Duncan was supposed to be a major breakout candidate. He hit 21 homeruns in 375 AB last year and could easily hit 30, but it didn't work out. He'll go to Triple-A and try and find his power.
Tout Wars Update
This week was shaping up to be a disaster. Ryan Zimmerman ends up on the DL. Connor Jackson is day to day and play all day. Despite that, I've had the second best week this week.
This week I'll have to find a third baseman in the free agent pile, but there are quite a few starters. Hopefully, I should get some of these guys back and get back in the pack.