CLEVELAND -- The Indians have a solid history of finding diamonds in the rough when it comes to non-roster invitees. Last year, Austin Jackson capitalized on that kind of spring opportunity and became a key part of Cleveland's roster. A handful of pitchers have won Opening Day jobs on invites with the Tribe in recent years, too.
On Thursday, the Indians continued to stockpile depth behind the active roster in that way, signing pitchers Evan Marshall and Neil Ramirez, along with outfielder Brandon Barnes, to Minor League contracts with invitations to attend Major League Spring Training. That trio joins pitchers Jeff Beliveau and Leonel Campos and infielder Andrew Maggi on Cleveland's list of non-roster invitees.
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The 27-year-old Marshall appeared in six games with the Mariners last season, but was sidelined for most of the year with a severe right hamstring injury. In stops at three Minor League levels in 2017, the right-hander posted a 4.97 ERA with 27 strikeouts against eight walks in 25 1/3 innings.
Marshall has turned in a 4.94 ERA in 91 Major League games in parts of the past four seasons in stints with the D-backs and Mariners. On Aug. 4, 2015, Marshall sustained a fractured skull on a line drive while pitching at Triple-A Reno. The right-hander was back in the Majors the next April.
Like Marshall, Ramirez has spent time in the Majors in each of the past four seasons. In 116 games, the right-hander has averaged 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings with a 4.22 ERA. Over 113 innings, Ramirez has compiled 136 strikeouts against 62 walks in stops with the Cubs, Brewers, Twins, Giants and Mets. The 28-year-old righty had a 7.18 ERA in 31 1/3 innings with San Francisco and New York in '17.
Barnes, 31, appeared in 465 games between stints with the Astros and Rockies across the 2012-16 seasons, but spent last year at Triple-A New Orleans in the Marlins' system. In 109 Minor League games in 2017, Barnes hit .276 with 11 home runs, 22 doubles, 49 RBIs, 55 runs and a .751 OPS, while playing mostly center. The right-handed hitter turned in a .325/.393/.463 slash line against left-handed pitching. For his career, Barnes has hit .242/.289/.356 in the big leagues, and he has experience at all three outfield positions.