Josh Lindblom, Rob Brantly, Chris Colabello, and others claimed off waivers

Waiver claims appeared to be the transaction of choice early Monday afternoon, as five players ultimately ended up changing teams through such moves helping to mark a busy first day for the Winter Meetings. A pair of pitchers, Josh Lindblom and Scott Barnes, catcher Rob Brantly, and outfielder/first basemen Marc Krauss and Chris Colabello were all on the move.

Lindblom was claimed by the Pirates Pirates. The right-hander had recently been designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics after just one season with the organization. Lindblom appeared in just one game for the A’s this past season, while also struggling mightily at Triple-A. He threw just 84 innings for Sacramento on the year, posting a 5.79 ERA and 1.405 WHIP.

Pittsburgh in turn outrighted Angel Sanchez to Triple-A to clear space on their 40-man roster.

Barnes was claimed by the Texas Rangers, plucking him away from a Baltimore Orioles team that had only recently acquired him (from the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations). Barnes has just 27.2 IP at the major league level in his career, all coming between the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He spent all of 2014 at Triple-A, posting a 3.69 ERA and 1.200 WHIP in 31.2 IP.

Brantly has been claimed by the Chicago White Sox, where he’ll compete for a role as the team’s backup catcher. Still just 25, Brantly spent all of last season at Triple-A where he hit .255/.291/.341 in 392 plate appearances. He’d impressed in his MLB debut in 2012, but struggled at the plate in 2013 before falling further down the depth charts for the Miami Marlins – ultimately finding himself expendable within the team’s future plans behind the plate.

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Krauss will join the Los Angeles Angels, leaving behind a Houston Astros organization that he appeared in 119 games with over the past two seasons. Krauss is a career .200/.274/.341 hitter in 354 plate appearances. He can handle either corner outfield position and has some limited experience at first base, making him likely a bench option for the Angels.

Finally, Colabello will move to the Toronto Blue Jays after being claimed from the Minnesota Twins. The 31 year old figures to battle Justin Smoak for playing time at first base, while also giving the club another option in either corner outfield. Colabello is a .214/.284/.364 hitter in 401 PA over the past two seasons, but has shown some decent power numbers in the upper minor leagues.