Paul Maholm led an array of veteran major leaguers who inked minor league deals over the weekend. Joining Maholm with newfound hope of making a major league roster by Opening Day is long-time backup catchers Will Nieves and Gerald Laird as well as short stop Alexi Casilla. All four have landed in spots that give them an ample opportunity to be big leaguers in 2015.
Maholm is the former 8th overall pick, selected in the first round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2003. He made it to the big show in just two quick seasons and the young lefty looked to have a promising future. Maholm posted a 3-1 record in his 2005 debut that went along with a 2.18 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his first career six starts. That would be the best he would get. Maholm ha become a steady back end of the rotation arm over his 10-year career, getting innings and decisions annually. He is 77-100 on his career with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.
Cincinnati.com reports that the Cincinnati Reds have brought in Maholm on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. The Reds have already lost Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon this season and are in desperate need of rotational depth. They have brought in Jason Marquis on a minor league deal, so he and Maholm will most likely go head-to-head for the fifth rotation spot.
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The San Diego Padres bulked up their starting lineup this offseason and now are looking to build depth. Will Nieves comes into camp looking to lock down the back-up catcher role. Derek Norris is locked in at starter, but apparently the Padres lack faith in 27-year old Tim Federowicz who, in 247 career at bats, has show little in which to be excited. The 37-year old journey man backup brings a career .243/.281/.317 slash line and a 25 percent career caught stealing rate into competition with Federowicz and Cody Decker.
The Arizona Diamondbacks addressed their catching situation by bringing in 35-year old Gerald Laird. The D-backs have huge question marks at catcher with the departure of Miguel Montero this offseason and with a strong spring training, the veteran could stick even as a starter. Tuff Gosewisch, last season’s back-up, and Rule 5 draftee Oscar Hernandez joins top prospect Peter O’Brien (who is not major league ready just yet) as the only catching depth in camp this spring. Laird is not the most attractive piece to the puzzle (he slashed in his one season playing over 120 games .225/.306/.320), but he has experience handling major league pitching staffs and could be a stop gap to start the season until the inexperienced options move forward.
Alexi Casilla signed a MiLB deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, providing depth at both second base and shortstop. Castilla spent the first seven years of his career with the Minnesota Twins as a versatile middle infielder, splitting time at short stop and second base. It seems like a long shot for Casilla to break spring training on the Opening Day roster, especially with Juan Francisco and Allan Dykstra in camp as non-roster infield invitees. Still, Casilla should provide minor league depth with nine years of major league experience should injury strike.
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