D-backs add four pitchers to minor league deals
Jan 23, 2018, 9:51 AM | Updated: 2:34 pm
The Arizona Diamondbacks added depth to their pitching staff heading into spring training by signing Antonio Bastardo, Michael Blazek, Kris Medlen and Fernando Salas to minor league contracts on Tuesday.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale added that the 32-year-old Medlen can make $1.1 million if he makes it to the big leagues and has an opt-out if he’s not on the 40-man roster by March 27.
Additionally, Bastardo will ink a deal worth $1.5 million if he makes the D-backs’ roster and up to $4 million in incentives if he is the closer. Bastardo, who has mostly been a middle reliever, has 12 saves in 419 games during his eight-year MLB career.
Medlen hasn’t played in the majors since 2016, his second year with the Kansas City Royals. Last year in three levels of minor league ball, Medlen went 5-8 with a 4.95 ERA in 20 starts.
The right-hander has experience with 75 MLB starts in 173 career games for the Atlanta Braves (2009-13) and Royals (2015-16). Medlen has a career 41-25 record and 3.25 ERA.
He’s dealt with two Tommy John surgeries and shoulder problems over the last several years.
Salas, 32, recorded a 5.22 ERA in 61 games between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels last season, striking out 56 batters in 58.2 frames.
Bastardo played in nine games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017, allowing 15 earned runs in just 9.0 innings. He also appeared in 12 Triple-A games, faring much better with a 3.18 ERA.
The same goes for Blazek, who last year in five games for the Milwaukee Brewers (one start) allowed eight earned runs but recorded a 3.71 ERA in 26 games (13 starts) in Triple-A ball.
