Around the Majors: Francisco is placed on the DL

1) The Rangers placed P Frank Francisco on the 15 day DL.

Francisco has a sore elbow. He had a 3.33 ERA/10 RSAA in his first 45 career games.

2) The Nationals placed OF Alex Escobar on the 15 day DL and released C Keith Osik.

Escobar has a strained right quadriceps muscle. He has -8 RCAA/.677 OPS in 92 career games, including a .309 SLG, .318 OBA, .627 OPS, -7 RCAA in 46 games with the 2004 Indians.

Osik has -63 RCAA/.632 OPS in 450 career games, including a .080 SLG, .080 OBA, .160 OPS, -5 RCAA in 11 games with the 2004 Orioles.

3) In addition to his recent fights, Orioles P Sidney Ponson was arrested on DWI charges in January.

4) The Rockies sent OF Jorge Piedra and P Jason Young to the minors.

5) The Angels sent P Mark Watson to the minors.

6) The Orioles named Rodrigo Lopez their Opening Day starter.

After 3.57 ERA/18 RSAA and 5.82 ERA/-25 RSAA seasons, Lopez had a 3.59 ERA/23 RSAA in 23 starts (37 games). He has a 4.42 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.55, and 4 RSAA in 102 games.

7) The Devil Rays released P Denny Neagle and OF Tom Goodwin and sent C Pete LaForest and P Doug Waechter to the minors.

Neagle, who missed the entire 2004 season, while recovering from Tommy John surgery, has a 4.24 ERA/45 RSAA in 392 career games. He hasn’t had a positive RSAA since 2000.

Goodwin has -146 RCAA/.671 OPS in 1288 career games, including a .276 SLG, .254 OBA, .531 OPS, -10 RCAA in 77 games with the 2004 Cubs.

8) The Diamondbacks sent OF Carlos Quentin to the minors.

9) According to the Rocky Mountain News, the Mets are scouting Rockies C Charles Johnson.

10) The Astros released P Turk Wendell.

They had previously sent him to the minors. Wendell requested his released and is expected to retire.

11) The Redsox released P Josias Manzanillo.

Manzanillo had been sent to the minors on Sunday.

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