Marlins ink former All-Star Jose Lopez to minor league deal - MLB

According to the New Orleans Zephyrs’ official Twitter feed, the Marlins reached agreement on a minor league contract Thursday morning with infielder Jose Lopez and assigned him to Triple-A.

Lopez was cut loose by the Rockies earlier this week after batting just .208/.233/.288 with two home runs and six total extra-base hits in 129 plate appearances. Colorado is on the hook for the rest of the $3.6 million salary that he is owed this season.

The Marlins have settled on Gregg Dobbs as their starter at third base after playing with a few different looks during spring training. Dobbs has played performed well defensively and at the plate, but the Fish could be open to giving Lopez a shot as a bench player if he gets off to a strong start down in New Orleans, where he reported Thursday night.

Lopez, 27, slugged 25 homers and tallied 96 RBI in 2009 for the Mariners and was named an All-Star in 2006. That said, he has a poor .690 career OPS and is not a strong defender at second or third base.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.