Pirates sign Omir Santos to a minor league contract

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed catcher Omir Santos to a minor league contract, which also includes an invitation to Major League spring training as a non-roster player.

Santos spent the 2013 season in the Cleveland organization, where he hit .248 (51-for-206) with nine doubles, two triples, three home runs and 23 RBI in 61 games with Triple-A Columbus. He also appeared in one game with the Cleveland Indians on April 9 and went hitless in one at bat.

The 32-year-old Santos has a .248 career average (80-for-322) with 14 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 41 RBI in 122 games in the big leagues with Baltimore (2008), the New York Mets (2009), Detroit (2011-12) and Cleveland (2013).

Santos was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the 21st round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft before making his Major League debut with Baltimore in 2008. He hit a career-high seven home runs while knocking in 40 runs as a member of the Mets in 2009.

The Pirates have now invited 17 non-roster players to big league camp.

For more information, contact Pirates Director of Baseball Communications Jim Trdinich at [email protected].