Arizona    

Leo Rosales - Optioned to Tucson (AAA).
Billy Buckner - Optioned to Tucson (AAA).
    
Boston    

Josh Beckett - Back spasms, 15-day DL.
    
Cleveland    

Aaron Laffey - Optioned to Buffalo (AAA).

Baseball America ranks him fifth in their prospects list for the Indians and even mention that he has surpassed Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers in their future plans.  He throws a heavy sinker that reaches 89 mph and mixes it with a slider and change-up that are average to above-average for the major leagues.  With a Spring pitching line that looks better then the other two (13 IP, 15 H, 11 BB, 8 K), this is difficult to see what went wrong, but GM Mark Shapiro had something to say about the situation:

In a move expected throughout camp, the Indians named Lee their fifth starter Monday morning. He beat out fellow left-handers Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers -- who were both optioned to Triple-A Buffalo -- because of his experience, his spring performance and his $3.75 million contract for '08. In other moves, the Tribe was waiting to make a move regarding reliever Aaron Fultz.

"[Lee] came in here in outstanding shape, very determined, and he got better as the spring went along," general manager Mark Shapiro said of Lee, who had a 5.27 ERA in five spring starts. "He didn't always get the results, but he kept getting better and better. He consistently leveraged his fastball, his command in and out got better and better, and his secondary stuff was the best it's been..."

...The Indians are not assigning a pecking order to Laffey and Sowers in terms of which youngster would be called upon first if a need arose in the big league rotation. Laffey, who took Lee's spot in the rotation at the end of last season, went 0-1 with a 7.62 ERA in five spring outings.

"Aaron Laffey, a year ago at this time, was in Double-A," Shapiro said. "When he came into camp this year, it was the first time he came in with expectations and people knowing who he was. It took him a while to get comfortable with that. As he got comfortable in camp, he was the same guy, just throwing ground balls, relying on his strengths and competitiveness."

Sowers, who lost his job in the rotation last year, went 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in five games.

"He came into this camp in a much better spot than he was last year in camp," Shapiro said. "It was as good an arm strength as we've seen. His command of his secondary pitches needs to keep getting better. If it does, we have a guy who can definitely impact our big league rotation this year. I'm really excited about where Jeremy is right now."

Jeremy Sowers - Optioned to Buffalo (AAA).
   
Florida    

Anibal Sanchez - Right shoulder surgery, 15-day DL.

After throwing a no-hitter in 2006, everything seems to have gone downward for the 24-year-old.  He has thrown only 30 innings last season (43 H, 19 BB, 14 K).

Henry Owens - Right shoulder surgery, 15-day DL.
Sergio Mitre - Forearm injury, 15-day DL.

He is scheduled to come back to the rotation in June.

Josh Johnson - Elbow surgery, 15-day DL.

It would be surprising to see the 24-year-old throw a meaningful pitch before the 2009 season.  He put himself on the map in 2006 when he pitched 157 innings and allowed only 136 hits and struck out 133 batters in his rookie season.  He finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year award voting.

Harvey Garcia - Right shoulder tendinitis, 15-day DL.

Another player that was included in the Josh Beckett trade.  He made his debut last year and struck out 15 batters in 12.3, but allowed 7 walks and 3 home runs.  He throws a fastball (mid-90s), slider and change-up.

Robert Andino - Optioned to Albuquerque (AAA).
Burke Badenhop - Assigned to minor league camp.
    
Minnesota    

Joe Nathan - Signed by the Minnesota Twins to a three-year contract extension with a club option for 2012.
Casey Daigle - Assigned to minor league camp.
Denard Span - Optioned to Rochester (AAA).
Jason Pridie - Optioned to Rochester (AAA).

The left-handed batter was 'another guy' in the trade that brought Delmon Young to Minnesota for Matt Garza (among others).  He stole 26 bases last season between AA and AAA, in addition to have good contact abilities and developing power.  Comparisons have been made to Steve Finley, because if he improves his plate discipline, his power and batting average would increase with his already advanced hitting skills.  He provides great range with a strong and accurate arm in center field.

Brian Buscher - Optioned to Rochester (AAA).

From Rotoworld:  The Twins predictably chose to keep utility infielder Matt Tolbert over Buscher, who has a better bat and a weak glove.

Philip Humber - Optioned to Rochester (AAA).

He had a very good season last year in AAA, throwing 139 innings, allowing 129 hits 44 walks, while striking out 120.  He is simply out of the picture with the almost-settled starting rotation the Twins could present in 2008 (Bill James projections in parenthesis):

Francisco Liriano (12-5, 2.84 ERA)
Scott Baker (9-10, 4.13)
Livan Hernandez (9-11, 4.55)
Boof Bonser (8-12, 4.60)
Kevin Slowey (9-6, 4.15)

He can throw a fastball (tops at 91-92 mph), slider, curve and change.  He had a very good Spring: 14 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K.
    
Oakland    

Gregorio Petit - Optioned to Sacramento (AAA).
Chad Gaudin - Hip injury, 15-day DL (retroactive to March 19).
Eric Chavez - Back surgery, 15-day DL (retroactive to March 19).
Kiko Calero - Torn right rotator cuff, 60-day DL.
Mike Sweeney - Contract purchased from Sacramento (AAA).
    
Philadelphia    

Brad Lidge - Arthroscopic knee surgery, 15-day DL (retroactive to March 21).
    
Seattle    

Jake Woods - Assigned to minor league camp.
Rob Johnson - Optioned to Tacoma (AAA).
Wladimir Balentien - Optioned to Tacoma (AAA).

With Adam Jones gone to Baltimore, Balentien now has the best power bat in the farm system.  Last year, he learned to increase his contact abilities, without losing his impressive raw power to all fields (.291, 24 HR).  He slashed his K/9 by almost 10% last season even if they challenged him with a promotion to AAA to begin the year.  Impressive 23-year-old that will patrol a corner outfield position in the future and bat in the middle of a major league lineup.  He's hitting .319/.360/.638 in March.
    
Tampa Bay    

Reid Brignac - Assigned to minor league camp.
Evan Longoria - Assigned to minor league camp.

I'm surprised, but on a business standpoint, it makes sense.  His arbitration and free agency clock will just begin running later. Said GM Andrew Friedman:

"It was a tough decision; it's something that was a collaborative process and we spent a lot of time thinking about it,'' Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "It wasn't a unanimous decision. It's one of those things I think with the way he played this year and the way he carried himself his timetable has been expedited even in our minds.''

Friedman said the Rays felt they were doing what was best for Longoria and his long-term development and that they tend to "err" on being cautious in these type of decisions. He also said the financial ramifications were "virtually irrelevant" because he expected the Rays would do a long-term deal with Longoria.
    
Texas    

John Patterson - Signed by the Texas Rangers to a minor league contract.

Good pickup.  Take a flyer and see what happens. 
    
Toronto    

Buck Coats - Recalled from Syracuse (AAA).

A Rule V pick from the Chicago Cubs this past December.