A Few More Minor-League Signs
After a couple of uneventful weeks on the signing front, the Nationals have started back up, announcing the signing of a pitcher and a catcher with an invite to spring training this afternoon.
Former Toronto fireman Jeremy Accardo is the pitcher. The 31-year-old Accardo split time between both AAA and MLB and Cleveland and Oakland in 2012, making 27 appearances in the majors with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.554 WHIP, and posting marks of 2.25 ERA and 1.208 WHIP in 20 appearances in the minors.
Former Houston backstop Chris Snyder is the catcher. The almost-32-year-old spent 2012 as the Astros backup, slicing through National League pitching like (warm) butter with a triple-slash of .176/.295/.308 in 76 games.
Last week, the Nationals signed veteran AAA outfielder Jerad Head to a minor-league deal. The 30-year-old former Cleveland farmhand hit .268/.353/.451 in 85 games for AAA Columbus last summer. He is a career .276/.343/.495 hitter in four AAA seasons, and got a cup of coffee with the Indians with 10 games in late August/early September 2011.
All three guys are most likely destined to see time at Syracuse, presuming that neither non-roster invitee is released outright during spring training.
My apologies to anyone who might have been trying to access the site this afternoon — like Alois Bell and Applebee’s, we were having server issues. *rimshot!*
We all know that teams need 8-10 catchers to
catch pitchers in March. Not a bad spring vacation
for some which beats 9-5.!!!!
I have always thought that teams have several phases
through the year. the spring camp breakout rosters.
the pre-June draft rosters. aka 60 game evaluation phase.
, the first phase of promotions and cuts….
It was reported by Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider that Snyder’s contract has an “up or out” clause where he has to be called up or released by a certain date. That makes two tons of sense. Although he struggled last year, he’s a journeyman catcher and has the ability to be a MLB backup. Signing him to this deal is Ramos insurance for the team – until Wilson is truly 100%, the team can have Snyder back up Suzuki. He’s good enough so the team wouldn’t have to run Suzuki into the ground the way they did with Flores last year, and would also let them keep Solano (in AAA) and Leon (AA) playing regularly to hone their skills instead of sitting on the bench watching Suzuki play. Good for Snyder, too, because he either steps into a spot on a contending team or is free to try his luck elsewhere.