Baseball Notes | Phillies bring on 13 minor-leaguers

The Phillies signed 13 minor-league free agents yesterday, including former No. 1 pick Justin Pope, a righthanded pitcher.

The group consists of five pitchers, three infielders, three outfielders and two catchers.

Pope was the No. 1 choice of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001. Now 28, he spent most of the last five seasons in the New York Yankees' minor-league system.

Also signed were righthanders Jason Anderson, Matt Childers and Kris Wilson, plus lefthander R.J. Swindle; infielders Gookie Dawkins, Joey Hammond and Juan Tejeda; outfielders Jake Blalock, Branden Florence and Mike Spidale; and catchers Orlando Guevara and John Suomi.

Childers spent last season at the Phillies' triple-A affiliate in Ottawa, going 7-4. Tejeda and Florence spent the season at double-A Reading. Hammond split the season between Reading and Ottawa.

Wilson has a 14-9 career record in 95 major-league games with Kansas City and the Yankees.

Blalock is the younger brother of Texas Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock. The Phillies originally selected Jake Blalock in the fifth round of the 2002 draft.

Red Sox.

Mike Timlin finalized a $3 million, one-year contract and will return to Boston.

The 41-year-old righthander was 2-1 with a 3.42 earned run average and one save last season and had a 3.17 ERA in six postseason games. He ranks fourth on the career list with 44 playoff appearances.

Also, Boston acquired minor-league catcher Juan Apodaca, 21, from the Cincinnati Reds for cash.

Braves.

Atlanta asked for waivers on righthanded pitcher Lance Cormier for the purpose of granting his unconditional release.

The 27-year-old was 2-6 with a 7.09 ERA in 10 games.

Blue Jays-Reds trade.

Toronto sent minor-league pitcher Justin James to Cincinnati, completing a trade for outfielder Buck Coats.

The Reds traded Coats on Wednesday for a player to be named or cash.

Pirates-Brewers trade.

Pittsburgh sent former closer Salomon Torres to division rival Milwaukee for pitching prospects Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts.

The Brewers - rebuilding their bullpen since losing Francisco Cordero to Cincinnati and Scott Linebrink to Chicago via free agency - landed a proven reliever who, until last season, was one of the majors' most dependable and durable.

The 35-year-old made a major-league-leading 94 appearances in 2006 after pitching in 78 games in 2005 and 84 in 2004, but he had recurring problems with a sore right elbow last season.

Tigers.

Detroit sent outfielder Timo Perez outright to the triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.

Yankees.

First baseman Andy Phillips refused New York's assignment to triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and became a free agent.