Oakland and Texas have led the AL West in reported minor league signings, while Seattle and Anaheim trail the rest of the division. We discussed the A's signing of OF-R Mike Edwards, 1B-L Graham Koonce, C-S Adam Melhuse, OF-L Chris Prieto, C-S Mike Rose, and OF-L Brian Sellier earlier this month. Oakland's also signed RHP Heath Bost, RHP David Hooten, RHP Jose Silva, 1B-R Dave McCarty, OF-L Billy McMillon, and C-S Mitch Meluskey to minor league deals.

Heath Bost was in the Oakland system last season after leaving the Colorado organization as a minor league free agent. He was demonstrating solid skills even when still in the Rockies system and continued to do so after Oakland signed him last year. The 28-year-old displayed solid skills at AAA Sacramento and would be a fine candidate for a middle relief job in the majors.

David Hooten looks very similar to Bost with even better H/9 and HR/9 numbers. However, the Cubs left the 27-year-old in AA last season, so I expect him to spend most of the season in AAA with Oakland. After a year of AAA development, the he could potentially warrant a trial as a middle reliever.<

While the A's focus in their minor league signings was on position players, they've picked up a few cheap relief options. Injury troubles have kept Silva out of the majors for over a year, but 28-year-old displayed strong skills at AAA last season that indicate he's ready to return to a major league bullpen.

Dave McCarty's split the last decade between AAA and the majors. He offers a little power, but generally possesses weak plate discipline. The 33-year-old may wind up in the majors for a few weeks at some point, but I expect Oakland to find superior alternatives.

Billy McMillon is another AAAA player. However, he's shown promising plate discipline throughout his career, in addition to defensive skills the A's will likely value. The 31-year-old should compete for a job as a reserve outfielder in Spring Training and will probably spend some time on the major league roster in that capacity during the season.

While the circumstances behind the Mitch Meluskey signing aren't quite the same as with Scott Hatteberg last year, because Meluskey's suffered serious injury troubles that have prevented him from playing the last two years, Oakland has shown a willingness to use poor defensive catchers with good offense in other roles. Provided the 29-year-old's sufficiently healthy, I expect Meluskey to begin the season with a brief adjustment period in the minors and perhaps help the A's at DH later in the year.

Meanwhile C-R Danny Ardoin, OF-R Rontrez Johnson, C-R Fernando Lunar, IF-R Donnie Sadler, LHP Ray Beasley, RHP Robert Ellis, RHP Rosman Garcia, LHP Ron Mahay, LHP C.J. Nitkowski, RHP Victor Santos, and LHP Brian Shouse signed minor league contracts with the Rangers.

Texas' current catching situation may leave a larger opening for the catchers they sign to minor league contracts to find jobs in the majors. However, Danny Ardoin has shown little offensive promise in the last three years, so I don't expect the 28-year-old to receive much playing time with the Rangers in 2003. Fernando Lunar has no offensive skills, but the 25-year-old's prior major league experience might earn him a shot at a job.

Rontrez Johnson has displayed solid plate discipline throughout his minor league career and complements that skill with speed and a little power. The 26-year-old should receive a shot at a reserve roll in Spring Training and will at least provide quality injury insurance.

Texas grabbed Donnie Sadler off waivers from the Royals late last season. Sadler offers the Rangers few offensive skills and I don't think they'll need 27-year-old's defense enough to give him a place on the team this year.

Atlanta drafted Ray Beasley out of Lake City Florida Community College in the 16th round of the 1996 draft, and he's now leaving the organization for the first time as a minor league free agent. In his second season at Richmond, Beasley displayed solid though not outstanding skills. The 26-year-old should perform acceptably as a middle reliever for Texas if called upon.

Robert Ellis pitched for AAA Las Vegas last season, compiling a 110:37 K:BB with 195 H and 17 HR in 172.2 IP for a 4.17 ERA in a park known to be favorable to hitters. I doubt the 31-year-old will start the season with the major league team, but he should be a good candidate to make a spot start, if the Rangers run into injury problems again next season.

Rosman Garcia spent last season at AA in the Rangers' organization after joining the club as a part of Texas' trade of Randy Flores to the Yankees. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old displayed weak skills and should probably repeat the level.

The Cubs used Ron Mahay for a few innings of major league relief last season. He has strong dominance skills but has struggled with his control a bit at the major league level. However, the 31-year-old could contribute to the Rangers' pen if needed.

I doubt Nitkowski received quite as nice a contract this season, as Texas gave him last year. The 29-year-old performed acceptably at AAA, but the Rangers barely called-upon him even with all of their bullpen difficulties.

Victor Santos managed to perform fairly well at least at AAA last season despite spending the season in the Rockies' organization. The 26-year-old should offer the Rangers an inexpensive bullpen option and might even make a few starts.

Brian Shouse suffered some arm problems last season that probably limited his performance in the majors. The 34-year-old still displayed strong skills in AAA, making him a candidate for a relief job with the Rangers.

Seattle has signed OF-L Elpidio Guzman, UT-R Chad Meyers, C-R Julio Mosquera, and 1B-L A.J. Zapp to minor league deals. Anaheim signed Elpido Guzman out of the Dominican Republic as a nondrafted free agent out in 1995. The 26-year-old hasn't played above AA, and outside of some speed skills, he's shown few positive offensive qualities. Seattle shouldn't need him in the majors in 2003.

The Pacific Coast League inflated Julio Mosquera's numbers last season, or the 30-year-old wouldn't have shown much offensively. He should spend the season at AAA as injury insurance and roster filler.

Chad Myers has shown strong plate discipline over his minor league career, possesses strong speed skills, and has a little power. However, he doesn't hit for a high average, so he finds himself as a AAAA utilityman. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old could find himself on the major league team at any time.

Atlanta drafted A.J. Zapp out of high school with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 1996. He's now leaving the organization for the first time as a minor league free agent. Zapp's plate discipline and defensive limitations have weakened his upside, though he possesses promising power skills. The 24-year-old has had little experience above AA, and Seattle should probably return him to that level for most of a third season.

Lastly UT-R Trent Durrington and RHP Kevin Gregg have signed minor league contracts with Anaheim. Durrington has impressive position flexibility, including catching. Additionally while he needs to improve his plate discipline to become a good offensive player, the 27-year-old offers speed and moderate power skills. Most of Kevin Gregg's skills were solid at AAA last season, but he allowed far too many hits. I expect the 24-year-old to start next season at AAA with Anaheim, but if he can reduce his H/9, Gregg could be a candidate to fill-in as a mid-season injury replacement in the bullpen.