Mariners sign right-handed pitcher Scott Baker to minor league deal
Baker will be invited to Major League Spring Training
Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today the club has signed right-handed pitcher Scott Baker to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Baker , 32, has combined to go 63-48 with a 4.14 ERA in 166 Major League appearances (162 starts) with the Minnesota Twins (2005-2011) and Chicago Cubs (2013). He has missed most of the last two seasons after having "Tommy John" ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on April 17, 2012. He worked his way back to the Majors last season to make three starts for the Chicago Cubs in September (0-0, 3.60 ERA, 15.0 IP).
Over a four-season stretch from 2008-2011 with the Twins, Baker combined to go 46-28 with a 3.92 ERA (295 ER, 677.1 IP) in 113 games/111 starts for the Twins.
Baker was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round (58th overall) in the 2003 June Amateur Draft out of Oklahoma State University.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Peoria, AZ on Feb. 12 (physicals) and will hold their first workout Feb. 13. Position players are scheduled to report for physicals Feb. 17 and the first full-squad workout will be held Feb. 18.
The Mariners Spring Training roster (attached) is currently at 65 players (40 roster, 25 non-roster), including 33 pitchers (15 non-roster), 7 catchers (4 non-roster), 14 infielders (4 non-roster) and 11 outfielders (2 non-roster).