Mariners sign Catcher Humberto Quintero to Minor League deal with Spring Training Invite
Veteran catcher will receive invite to Major League Spring Training
Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today the club has signed free agent catcher Humberto Quintero to a minor league contract with an invite to Major League Spring Training.
Quintero (keen-TAIR-oh) is not currently on the Mariners 40-man roster (full at 40 players). He will participate in Major League Spring Training when camp opens next month in Peoria, Ariz. Pitchers and Catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 12 with the first on-field activity on Feb. 13. Position players report Feb. 17 with the first full-squad workout Feb. 18.
Quintero, 34, split last season between the Mariners (signed with Seattle on July 26) and the Phillies. In 22 games with the Mariners he batted .224 (15x67) with 2 home runs. Behind the plate he combined to throw out 12 of 33 attempted base stealers (36.4%) with the Mariners and Phillies.
Quintero is a veteran of 11 Major League seasons with the Padres (2003-2004), Astros (2005-2011), Royals (2012), Phillies (2013) and Mariners (2013). He began his professional career in 1997 in the Chicago White Sox organization.
The Mariners have now signed four players to minor league deals that include an invitation to Major League Spring Training: OF Cole Gillespie, RHP Matt Palmer, RHP Ramon Ramirez and catcher Humberto Quintero. A list of organizational spring training invites will be released later this month.