Indians sign J.C. Romero
The Cleveland Indians today signed free agent LHP JC ROMERO to a Minor League contract and assigned him to the AAA Columbus roster.
Romero, 37, had a 2.84 ERA (4 ER/12.2 IP) with 16 strikeouts and just 4 walks in 13 relief appearances for Washington's Triple-A Syracuse this season prior to electing free agency. He also appeared in 5 games for his native country Puerto Rico in the 2013 WBC, limiting opponents to just 2 earned runs while recording 5 strikeouts and one save. This is his second stint in the Indians organization after signing a minor league contract with the club on July 21, 2012. In 25 appearances for Triple-A Columbus, he went 1-0 with a 2.74 ERA (7 ER/23.0) with 20 strikeouts and a 0.96 WHIP.
In parts of 14 Major League seasons, Romero has a 4.16 ERA and has averaged 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings as opposed to just 5.1 walks. The left-handed reliever has held opposing lefties to a .220 (216-983) average against and just 15 home runs. Romero spent his first 7 big league seasons with Minnesota after the Twins selected him in the 21st round of the 1997 First-Year-Player Draft.