Phillies invite Juan Cruz to spring training
Posted by Corey Seidman, Wed, January 16, 2013 12:22 AM | Comments: 3
Signings, Transactions
The Phillies added some depth to their spring roster by signing veteran right-handed reliever Juan Cruz to a minor-league contract, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Championship.
Cruz, 34, had a 2.78 ERA last year but was wild and when he refused to accept a demotion to Triple-A, the Pirates released him.
He’s pitched for seven teams in 12 years. He has a 4.05 career ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and has struck out four more batters than innings pitched. He has a mid-90s fastball, and also uses a cutter, slider and changeup.
Cruz’s best year was 2008 with the Diamondbacks, when he pitched to a 2.61 ERA in 51.2 innings, with 71 strikeouts.
He’s also made 10 postseason appearances and finished two games. When the Phillies were swept in the 2007 NLDS by the Rockies, Cruz — pitching for Arizona — held Colorado hitless with eight strikeouts in four appearances in the next round.
The only other notable thing to add is that Cruz was part of the package the Athletics sent to the Braves in December 2004 for Tim Hudson. It was Cruz, reliever Dan Meyer and outfield Charles Thomas for Hudson. Thomas had upside but never realized it.
Really points out how long Hudson has been with the Braves. Can you believe he’s made 50 more appearances for Atlanta than Oakland?
Posts: 0 Don M
Reports out there that Phillies signed Aaron Cook to a minor league deal that would be worth $1.625 M in the majors . . . . Cook had some decent years in COLORADO .. thanks in large part to being a ground ball pitcher …. nice move to add depth
Posted: 10:15 AM on January 16, 2013
Posts: 28 landshark
I’m loving the Perez signing. He was awesome the past few seasons. He was even pretty solid as the Pirates closer for the games he filled in…Good move! Can’t believe the Pirates let him go
Posted: 01:24 PM on January 16, 2013
Posts: 0 hk
Who is Perez that they signed? Not Tomas, I hope.
Posted: 07:44 PM on January 16, 2013