The Giants on Wednesday sent righthander Scott Atchison outright to Fresno of the PCL. The 31-year-old Atchison declined to go to San Francisco's affiliate and elected to become a free agent.

The Kansas City Royals have announced that infielder Wes Bankston has been claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. Also, left-handed pitcher Paul Mildren cleared waivers and was outrighted to Omaha. Both players were designated for assignment by the Royals on Nov. 20. Bankston, 23, was claimed off waivers by the Royals from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 21. Mildren, 23, made three starts for Omaha in late August after being claimed off waivers from the Florida Marlins on Aug. 17.

The Phillies claimed lefthander Shane Youman off waivers from the Pirates on Wednesday. The 28-year-old went 3-5 with a 5.97 ERA in 16 games with the Pirates last season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates cut former Toronto Blue Jay Josh Phelps from their 40-man roster in a surprise move late Tuesday. Pittsburgh designated Phelps for assignment along with right-hander Josh Sharpless and lefty Shane Youman. The latter two must pass through waivers before they can be assigned to a Pirates farm team, while Phelps is prohibited from re-signing with Pittsburgh until May 15.

Scott Podsednik was cut Tuesday by the White Sox, who no longer had a spot for the catalyst of their 2005 World Series championship team. The 31-year-old never regained the form he showed in 2005 when he batted .290 and stole 59 bases, the second-highest total in franchise history. He hit a pair of home runs during the playoffs, including a game-ending drive in Game 2 of the World Series against Houston.

The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have added three players from within their organization to the 40-man roster and claimed right-handed pitcher Jimmy Barthmaier off waivers from the Houston Astros. Olivo Astacio (RHP) ? Signed by Pittsburgh as a minor league free agent on 3/9/06 after spending three seasons in the Boston farm system?Went 1-2 with 12 saves and a 4.93 ERA while striking out 91 batters in 65.2ip over 38 relief appearances between Hickory (A), Lynchburg (A) and Altoona (AA) in 2007?The 6?6? native of the Dominican Republic also ranked 14th in all of minor league baseball in strikeouts/per 9.0ip in 2007. Jimmy Barthmaier (RHP) ? Was claimed today off waivers from Houston?Spent 2007 season with Corpus Christi (AA) and has gone 30-27 with a 3.67 ERA in 98 career games (84 starts) in the minor leagues?Was Houston?s 13th round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft?Led Carolina League with 134 strikeouts and 146.2ip and ranked second with 11 wins in 2006 and was rated by Baseball America as the Astros fourth-best prospect prior to the 2007 campaign. Ronald Belisario (RHP) ? Signed by Pittsburgh as a minor league free agent on 11/9/06?Native of Venezuela was originally signed by Florida as a non-drafted free agent on 8/2/99?Went 1-3 with four saves and a 3.97 ERA in 37 games between Lynchburg and Altoona in 2007?Was a member of Florida?s 40-man roster in 2004-05. Brian Bixler (INF) ? Pittsburgh?s second round selection in 2004 First-Year Player Draft?Was named to both the International League?s mid-season and post-season All-Star teams?Spent entire 2007 campaign with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he hit .274 with 23 doubles, five home runs, 51 RBI and 28 stolen bases in 129 games...Also shared the International League lead with 10 triples and ranked fourth with 77 runs scored...Led league shortstops in games (113) total chances (485) and double plays (80) in 2007?Hit a combined .302 in 133 games between Lynchburg and Altoona in 2006 and was named to the Carolina League mid and post-season All-Star squads?Was a non-roster invitee with Pittsburgh this past spring training. The Pirates also announced today that they have designated for assignment pitchers Josh Sharpless and Shane Youman, along with first baseman Josh Phelps. The 40-man roster now contains 40 players (24 pitchers, 2 catchers, 7 infielders and 7 outfielders).

The Seattle Mariners declined their contract options for 2008 on right fielder Jose Guillen and oft-injured reliever Chris Reitsma.

The Kansas City Royals have claimed right handed pitcher Colby Lewis off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. With the addition of Lewis, the Royals' 40-man roster now stands at 37 with five players remaining on the 60-day D.L. Lewis, 28, has spent parts of five seasons at the big league level with the Texas Rangers (2002-04), Detroit Tigers (2006) and Oakland A's (2007), compiling a 12-15 record with a 6.71 ERA in 72 games (34 starts). The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder missed most of the 2004 season and the entire 2005 campaign after undergoing surgery on his right rotator cuff on May 19, 2004. The native of Bakersfield, California made 26 appearances (1 start) in two stints for Oakland in 2007, compiling a 0-2 mark and a 6.45 ERA. In 37.2 innings, he allowed 28 runs, 27 earned runs and 44 hits. He issued 14 walks and struck out 23. He pitched well down the stretch, posting a 3.00 ERA in seven relief outings in September and recorded a 4.46 ERA in his 25 relief appearances. He retired 24 consecutive batters from June 1-17, the third-longest streak in Oakland history by a reliever. Around his stints with the big league club, Lewis was the ace of the Triple-A Sacramento staff, going 8-3 with a 1.88 ERA (95.2 IP, 70 H, 20 ER, 23 BB, 97 SO) in 15 starts. Originally selected by the Rangers as a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds (38th overall) of the 1999 draft, Lewis was rated as a top 10 prospect in the Texas system from 2000-2003. He made the Rangers' Opening Day roster in 2002 and went 10-9 in 26 starts for Texas in 2003, leading all A.L. rookies in victories. The Tigers claimed him off waivers following the 2004 season, and after recovering from the rotator cuff surgery, he split the 2006 campaign between Toledo (AAA) and Detroit. He spent the 2007 spring camp with the Washington Nationals before the A's signed him in late March.

The Padres declined outfielder Rob Mackowiak's $3.25 million option for next season, making him eligible to become a free agent. The Padres chose instead to pay a $300,000 buyout.

The Orioles cut ties with Kris Benson on Thursday, declining their $7.5 million option on the right-hander and making him eligible to become a free agent.