Right-handed pitcher Carlos Villanueva has been signed by the St. Louis Cardinals to a minor league contract, the club announced this afternoon.
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Villanueva has also been invited to participate in the Cardinals’ Major League Spring Training Camp. Pat Neshek signed a similar deal last season and he went on to make the club out of Spring Training and pitched his way into an All-Star selection. Pitchers and catchers are expected to report to Jupiter, Fla. on Thursday, February 19.
In a nine year career with the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Chicago Cubs, the 31-year-old has posted a 45-50 won-loss record with a 4.26 ERA. Except for the 2010 season, Villanueva has seen time as both a starter and reliever in eight of his nine seasons.
Pitching for the Chicago Cubs in 2014, the Santiago, Dominican Republic native posted a 5-7 record with a 4.64 ERA over 42 appearances, including five starts. In 77.2 innings pitched, he struck out 72 batters while walking 19. Following the All-Star break, he posted a 1-1 mark with a 1.69 ERA in only 17 games played.
As a reliever, Villanueva has posted a 27-17 with a 3.55 ERA in 314 career appearances out of the bullpen. As a started, he owns a 18-33 record in his 76 career starts. The 2012 season saw a career-best sixteen starts while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Because it is a minor league contract, the Cardinals remain one player shy of the maximum on the 40-man roster.
In addition to today’s announcement of the signing, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that the club has invited the following non-roster players to participate in their 2015 Major League Spring Training Camp:
PITCHERS (9): Tim Cooney-LHP, John Gast-LHP, Mitch Harris-RHP, Marcus Hatley-RHP, Dean Kiekhefer-LHP, Mike Mayers-RHP, Zach Petrick-RHP, Miguel Socolovich-RHP, Carlos Villanueva-RHP;
CATCHERS (4): Steve Bean, Carson Kelly, Alberto Rosario, Travis Tartamella;
INFIELDERS (3): Scott Moore, Breyvic Valera, Jacob Wilson;
OUTFIELDERS (2): Rafael Ortega, Stephen Piscotty