Winter desk: Minnesota gives Schwing a $150,000 bonus; Motown adds seven pitchers

Minnesota put a dollar figure on one of the week’s smaller deals: reliever Dennis Schwing signed a minor-league contract with a $150,000 bonus on January 9.

The Lumberjacks also signed four other free-agent pitchers to minor-league contracts during January 6–11: starter Aaron Armes on January 6, starter Jimmy Carey on January 9, reliever Ben McDonald on January 10 and reliever Luke Chiera on January 11.

Motown’s pitching additions kept the transaction desk occupied. Reliever Lance Hannan signed January 6; relievers Josh Williams and Alex Reyes followed January 8; reliever Steve Pilny signed January 9; and relievers Joey Jorgensen and Jesus Escobar joined starter Alex Vega on January 10. All seven were free-agent signings on minor-league contracts.

Charlotte added free-agent starter Danny Bigelow on a minor-league deal January 6, then signed third basemen Steve Cash and Dennis Kelso and shortstop Diego Lopez to minor-league contracts January 7.

Tijuana signed free-agent relievers Jaden Gardner and Josh Markin on January 6, starter Alastair Cuff on January 8 and reliever Jeremy Ankerson on January 11, all to minor-league contracts. Boston signed free-agent third baseman Ronnie Estes on January 6, while Vancouver signed free-agent starter Jaiden Cain on January 11; both received minor-league deals.

Five international amateurs also signed minor-league contracts. Miami added Australian center fielder Roy Aitken on January 8. On January 9, Lehigh Valley signed Venezuelan center fielder Danny Chavez, and Motown signed Dominican catcher Israel Monroy. New York signed Dominican starter Juan Rodriguez on January 10, the same day Charlotte signed Dominican catcher Rodolfo Velazquez.