On the move

Three major-league relief pitchers with Arkansas ties found themselves with new teams before July ended as two of them were traded, while a third signed as a free agent.

Hunter Wood (Rogers Heritage) was traded by the Tampa Bay Rays on July 28 with Christian Arroyo to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Ruben Cardenas and international signing money.

Wood, 25, had been a reliable arm out of the bullpen — plus two games as an opener — for the Rays, posting a 2.48 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and 7 walks over 29 innings. He was assigned to Class AAA Columbus, where he gave up a solo home run and struck out three in 11/3 innings Thursday in an 8-5 loss to the Louisville Bats (AAA Reds), but he was recalled to the Indians on Friday.

The Rays weren’t done there, sending opener Ryne Stanek (Arkansas Razorbacks) and outfield prospect Jesus Sanchez to the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.

Stanek, 28, has made 41 appearances this season, including 27 as an opener. He’s posted an 0-2 record with a 3.40 ERA, allowing 24 runs (21 earned) on 44 hits with 20 walks and 61 strikeouts in 552/3 innings.

Stanek is on the injured list with right hip soreness. Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Wednesday that Stanek is slated to start a rehab assignment with High-A Jupiter and will make a couple of appearances before joining the Marlins.

Blake Parker (Arkansas Razorbacks/Fayetteville), who was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins on July 24, opted for free agency and was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

Parker, 34, has a 1-2 record and 3.89 ERA with 10 saves this season playing for the Twins and Phillies. Parker made his Philadelphia debut Thursday, allowing 2 hits with 2 strikeouts in 1 inning of work against the San Francisco Giants. He went two scoreless innings Friday against the Chicago White Sox and had four strikeouts.