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Cards sign Carlos Villanueva to Minor League deal

Veteran RHP will be among invitees to team's Major League Spring Training

ST. LOUIS, Mo., February 4, 2015 - The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have signed veteran right-handed pitcher Carlos Villanueva to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to the team's Major League Spring Training Camp.   Cardinals' pitchers and catchers report to Jupiter, Fla. on Thursday, February 19.

Villanueva, 31, has compiled a 45-50 won-loss mark and a 4.26 ERA in a nine-year career that has included stops with Milwaukee, Toronto and the Chicago Cubs.   The 6-2, 215-pound Villanueva (pronounced vee-yan-WAY-vuh) has served as a swing-man throughout his career, serving as both a starter and reliever in all but one (2010) of his nine seasons.

Villanueva, was 5-7, 4.64 ERA in 42 games (5 starts) for the Cubs last season, fanning 72 batters in 77.2 innings pitched while walking just 19. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native was 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 17 games following the All-Star break.

As a reliever, Villanueva has gone 27-17 with a 3.55 ERA in 314 career appearances out of the bullpen. He's 18-33 in his 76 career games started, making a single-season high 16 starts in 2012 with the Blue Jays.

The Cardinals have invited the following non-roster players to their 2015 Major League Spring Training Camp:

PITCHERS (9): Tim Cooney-LHP, John Gast-LHP, Mitch Harris-RHP, Marcus Hatley-RHP, Dean Kiekhefer-LHP, Mike Mayers-RHP, Zach Petrick-RHP, Miguel Socolovich-RHP, Carlos Villanueva-RHP;

CATCHERS (4): Steve Bean, Carson Kelly, Alberto Rosario, Travis Tartamella;

INFIELDERS (3): Scott Moore, Breyvic Valera, Jacob Wilson;

OUTFIELDERS (2): Rafael Ortega, Stephen Piscotty

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