Cowtipper
01-14-2009, 11:31 AM
Astros general manager Ed Wade dipped back into the veteran free-agent bargain store Tuesday when he signed righthander Russ Ortiz to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Ortiz, who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery, will compete for a spot in the Astros’ starting rotation. He has a career 110-82 record with a 4.42 ERA, winning 21 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2003.
“He obviously put up great numbers in the past, and he started to have health problems all the way back to 2006,” Wade said. “It’s been a while since he’s been completely healthy.
“(Scout) Jack Lind saw him throw in September in a workout and felt that he was throwing free and easy and looked like he was pain-free at that point in time. It makes sense to go ahead and bring in a guy like that and put him into the mix and compete.”
Ortiz, 34, hasn’t pitched since injuring his elbow near the end of the 2007 season with San Francisco.
He started his career with the Giants in 1998 and has spent time with Atlanta (2003-04), Arizona (2005-06) and Baltimore (2006).
Wade said the Astros are close to signing a veteran catcher to a minor league contract to compete for a job at spring training. That would give the Astros 54 players heading into spring camp.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6209710.html
Ortiz, who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery, will compete for a spot in the Astros’ starting rotation. He has a career 110-82 record with a 4.42 ERA, winning 21 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2003.
“He obviously put up great numbers in the past, and he started to have health problems all the way back to 2006,” Wade said. “It’s been a while since he’s been completely healthy.
“(Scout) Jack Lind saw him throw in September in a workout and felt that he was throwing free and easy and looked like he was pain-free at that point in time. It makes sense to go ahead and bring in a guy like that and put him into the mix and compete.”
Ortiz, 34, hasn’t pitched since injuring his elbow near the end of the 2007 season with San Francisco.
He started his career with the Giants in 1998 and has spent time with Atlanta (2003-04), Arizona (2005-06) and Baltimore (2006).
Wade said the Astros are close to signing a veteran catcher to a minor league contract to compete for a job at spring training. That would give the Astros 54 players heading into spring camp.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6209710.html