David Aardsma hasn’t seen much action in the Major Leagues over the past two seasons thanks to injury, but could find his way into the Mets bullpen in the coming weeks after joining the team on a minor league deal today. (Image Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports)

David Aardsma didn’t have to wait long once he hit the open market last Thursday, as the 31 year old has agreed to a deal to join the New York Mets according to a team release. Aardsma will report to the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.

Having joined the Miami Marlins on a minor league deal in the offseason, Aardsma had been pitching well at Triple-A. In 14.0 IP across 10 appearances he’d posted a 2.57 ERA and 1.214 WHIP. Most importantly he seemed to be healthy again, having missed most of the past two seasons to injury. With it looking increasingly less likely that he’d be called up to the Marlins bullpen, Aardsma exercised an opt-out clause in his contract last week that permitted him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Reports surfaced quickly that the Hanshin Tigers had expressed some interest in bringing Aardsma to Japan, but it seemed inevitable that he’d find an opportunity somewhere here given the volatility of relievers across baseball. The Mets will give him that opportunity and if he can continue to throw well in the minor leagues then chances are high that he could make his way into the team’s bullpen mix before long. Beyond Bobby Parnell the team hasn’t seen the production from their bullpen that they were hoping for heading into the season and reinforcements will be welcomed.

Carlos Zambrano has signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and will head to Extended Spring Training. (Image Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

Last week it appeared as though Carlos Zambrano would be heading to play in the independent Atlanta League, having signed a deal with the Long Island Ducks. While Zambrano did agree to the terms of a deal with the Ducks, he never ended up actually signing the contract as he continued to seek employment with a Major League organization. This afternoon, according to multiple sources, Zambrano instead signed a minor league deal to join the Philadelphia Phillies.

He’ll head to the team’s Spring Training complex in Clearwater, Florida initially and will then join one of the team’s minor league affiliates.

Philadelphia’s need to add to their pitching depth has been widely publicized as the team is already dealing with multiple injuries. Roy Halladay will miss the next three months, if not the remainder of the season, after undergoing shoulder surgery. John Lannan has been sidelined with a knee injury and isn’t expected to return until early June. Both Kyle Kendrick and Cliff Lee have pitched well, but the team has also had to cope with Cole Hamels’ struggles. Thus far they’ve relied on internal options – namely Jonathan Pettibone and more recently, Tyler Cloyd – but there is little experienced depth within the organization.

Shortly after Zambrano’s agreement with the Ducks was first announced there were rumblings that the Phillies might have interest, but GM Ruben Amaro expectedly downplayed much of the rumblings. With this signing, less than a week later, it’s clear that the team is leaving no stone unturned in their search for options. Based on his track record in the clubhouse and recent success (or lack thereof) on the mound, Zambrano is going to need some strong showings in the minor leagues in order to join the Phillies’ pitching staff. His deal contains a July 1st opt-out date, meaning there will need to be a decision made one way or another by then.

Roy Oswalt might not have much left in the tank, but the veteran has signed a minor league deal with the Rockies and will try to pitch his way back to the Majors. (Image Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

Having spent the offseason deflecting questions about his own future in baseball, Roy Oswalt entered the 2013 season without a contract and without any certainty that he’d pitch again. While the possibility remained on the table, it was believed that Oswalt would only sign with a contender if he were to continue his career. The 35 year old has finally put an end to some of those questions, signing a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies late Thursday afternoon, according to the team’s official Twitter account.

He’ll report to the team’s extended spring training facilities initially, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post, and will be monitored closely. There is no certainty that Oswalt will end up seeing any time in Colorado, as a promotion will entirely depend on how he performs in the minor leagues first. Oswalt is slated to make 2-3 starts before potentially heading to the team’s Double-A affiliate for continued work.

Colorado has faced plenty of questions of their own this season on the mound, but appeared to have a number of options already in house. The team’s current rotation consists of Jorge De La Rosa, Jeff Francis, Juan Nicasio, Jon Garland, and Tyler Chatwood. Jhoulys Chacin could return from the DL before the end of the coming weekend and the team still has Drew Pomeranz in the minor leagues. Oswalt has long preferred to start, but it’s unclear if the organization will look to use him in that role should they elect to bring him to the Major Leagues.

A 12 year MLB veteran, Oswalt holds a 163-96 career record and 3.28 ERA in 2,213.0 IP. He spent the first nine and a half seasons of his career with the Houston Astros before spending some time with the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers.

Infielder Tyler Greene has reached a deal with the Chicago White Sox. He’ll likely begin the season with their Triple-A affiliate. (Image Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Free agent infielder Tyler Greene, who was released by the Houston Astros late last month after the team brought aboard veteran shortstop Ronny Cedeno, has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. Greene will report to the team’s Triple-A affiliate in the coming days where he’ll provide some depth across the infield in the event that the team needs him at the Major League level down the road.

Greene, a former 1st Round pick in the 2005 Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, has seen time in the Major Leagues over parts of the past four seasons. He’s a career .224/.292/.356 hitter in 689 PA with the Cardinals and Astros. Houston acquired him from St. Louis last August. 2012 was easily his best season to date, as he batted .230/.274/.400 with 15 2B and 11 HR in 330 PA, though most of that power came in the friendly confines of Minute Maid Park.

With under three years of service time to his credit, the White Sox could potentially retain Green’s services for a while to come if he is able to produce for them.

Jose Valverde seemed destined to leave the Tigers organization this winter, but ended up returning on a minor league deal this morning. (Image Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

One of the last remaining free agents has finally signed a contract and landed with a new team, only in this case that new team is actually the same one he’d spent the past three seasons with. Former Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde has signed a minor league deal to return to the organization, after a reunion seemed almost assuredly like it was not going to happen, according to 1500 ESPN’s Patrick Reusse.

Valverde will report to the team’s Spring Training complex in Lakeland initially. Plans beyond that remain unclear, but Tom Gage of the Detroit News reports that Valverde’s deal contains an out clause, allowing him to become a free agent if he’s not on the team’s MLB roster by May 5th.

Over the past three seasons with Detroit, Valverde has been mostly reliable working out of the back of the team’s bullpen. He’s appeared in 206 games for the team over that stretch, saving 110 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.199 WHIP. His 2011 season, in particular, was a standout campaign. He led the league with 75 appearances, going a perfect 49-for-49 in save opportunities. He’d make the All Star team and finish in the Top 5 in Cy Young voting. Valverde’s peripheral stats during his Tigers career aren’t overly impressive – 7.9 K/9, 4.1 BB/9 – but he’s generally been able to get the job done anyways when called upon.

That is until this past postseason, of course. Valverde imploded. He’d allow 9 earned runs in just 2.2 IP. By the time the team reached the World Series he’d been replaced as the team’s closer and his departure from Detroit appeared all but certain.

The Tigers appear to going with a bullpen by committee this season, having spent most of the offseason fighting off questions surrounding the team’s perceived plan to use Bruce Rondon in the closer’s role. Rondon needs more minor league seasoning before taking on such a role, so the opportunities are mostly going to be shared between Phil Coke and Joaquin Benoit initially. Should Valverde throw well in the minor leagues and should the team’s MLB bullpen falter, a return prior to the opt out date could be a real possibility.

Right-hander Chad Cordero retired from baseball in 2011, but after signing a minor league contract with the Angels will make a comeback attempt. (Image Credit: Creative Commons Search via Wikipedia)

Former All Star reliever Chad Cordero is attempting to make a comeback and has signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels, according to an announcement on his own Twitter page. The deal does not appear to include an invitation to Spring Training.

Cordero was originally a 1st Round pick in the 2003 Draft by the Montreal Expos and was the on the fast track to the Major Leagues, making his debut before the season concluded. He made 305 appearances over the next six seasons, posting a 20-14 record with 128 saves for the Expos and Washington Nationals franchise. He added a 2.78 ERA and 1.198 WHIP over 320.2 IP. By the end of the 2004 season Cordero had assumed the team’s closer’s role. He’d make the NL All Star squad in 2005 while on his way to a franchise-best 47 save season.

Cordero would undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum following the 2008 season and has seen his career derailed since. He last pitched in the Major Leagues with the Seattle Mariners in 2010.

Prior to the 2011 season Cordero had signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, would be released in May, and would end up pitching for the Independent League St. Paul Saints. Mid-June he somewhat surprisingly announced his retirement. Cordero’s family had dealt with a terrible tragedy that Spring, the sudden death of his infant daughter, and it’s believed that he needed some time to cope with the unfortunate events.

Late last Spring it first became known that Cordero, now 30, was interested in potentially pursuing a comeback. There was some initial early speculation that such an effort could take place with the Nationals, but the two sides never appeared to be close to any sort of deal last season. Cordero will need to prove himself in the minor leagues, but assuming he is able to return to his pre-surgery form the Angels may have just found one of the biggest steals of the minor league free agent market.

Jun 1, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jon Garland (21) delivers a pitch against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Garland, once a top prospect for the White Sox, including being ranked as the 32nd best prospect per Baseball America prior to the 2000 season, never morphed into an ace or #2 starter but was a solid pitching arm that ate up innings while still producing quality results. Over his twelve year big league career, Garland owns a lifetime record of 132-119 with a 4.32 ERA and a 4.9 K/9. Its highly unlikely that he sees anytime at the major league level this year unless Seattle’s pitching staff suffers a few injuries, however, its hard to go wrong when you sign a veteran to a minor league deal.

Taking a physical is just a formality, however, the Indians signed Garland to a minor league deal last offseason but voided the deal when Garland refused to take a physical. Its highly doubtful that he repeats that same mistake twice, but its worth throwing it out there just in case.

Micah Owings will give up the mound for a first baseman’s mitt after signing with Washington. (Image Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

Owings has spent the past six seasons spread between the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres organizations. For his career he holds a 32-33 mark with a 4.86 ERA over 483.0 innings of work. Primarily a starter early on, Owings has been utilized in more of a relief role over the past three years. In 2012 he made just 6 appearances for the Padres, all before the end of April. He underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in early July and was released in October.

Owings, however, has long been one of the better hitting pitchers in baseball and it appears that the Nationals are banking on his bat and not his arm in the deal. In 219 career plate appearances he’s a .283/.310/.502 hitter with 9 HR and 14 doubles. Owings will come to camp as a first baseman, though one has to wonder if he could handle an outfield corner as well. Some have suggested that Owings may stand a solid chance at winning a spot off the team’s bench this Spring, potentially even challenging Tyler Moore for a spot given their similarities. At 6’5”, 220 pounds Owings certainly has the size to handle first base, but it remains to be seen how proficient he can be in the field.

Should Owings make the team and establish himself as a regular fielder he will be the latest in a long line of players to transition from the mound to the field in their career. Rick Ankiel, perhaps the most notable to recently accomplish such a feat, spent the past two seasons in Washington.