Pirates sign seven Minor League free agents

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed the following five players to minor league contracts, which includes an invitation to Big League camp.

Travis Ishikawa (1B) - Went a combined 2-for-19 (.105) with one RBI in seven big league games between Baltimore and New York (AL) in 2013...Also hit .316 (56-for-177) with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 31 RBI in 49 games for Triple-A Norfolk and .250 (30-for-120) with five doubles, two triples, two homers and 23 RBI in 34 games for Triple-A Charlotte last season...Has a .260 career batting average (201-for-774) with 42 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs and 111 RBI in 382 Major League games with San Francisco (2006-2010), Milwaukee (2012), Baltimore (2013) and the Yankees (2013).

Michael Martinez (OF/INF) - Hit .300 (73-for-243) with 11 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 28 RBI and 35 runs scored in 71 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2013...Also hit .175 (7-for-40) with three RBI in 29 games with the Phillies last season...Has a .187 career average (68-for-364) with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 34 RBI and 40 runs scored in 162 career games in the big leagues with the Phillies from 2011-2013.

Daniel Schlereth (LHP) - Went 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA (11.0ip/1er) in 12 relief appearances with Triple-A Norfolk last season...Has gone 5-3 with a 1.71 ERA (121.1ip/23er), four saves and 156 strikeouts in 101 games (six starts) during his minor league career...Has posted a 5-6 record with one save and a 4.36 ERA (93.0ip/45er) in 94 big league games with Arizona (2009) and Detroit (2010-2012).

Adam Wilk (LHP) - Pitched for the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Futures League in 2013, where he went 4-8 with a 4.12 ERA (91.2ip/42er) and 70 strikeouts in 17 games ...Has a career record of 30-23 with five complete games (one shutout), a 2.66 ERA (493.1ip/146er) and 385 strikeouts in 83 games (83 starts) in his minor league career...Has gone 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA (24.1ip/18er) in eight games (three starts) in the big leagues with Detroit from 2011-2012.

Kyle McPherson (RHP) - Was limited to two starts with Triple-A Indianapolis in 2013 before undergoing ulnar collateral ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery on 7/10...Was designated for assignment by the Pirates on 11/25...Has spent his entire career with Pittsburgh since being selected by the Pirates in the 14th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft...Has a career record of 38-33 with a 3.57 ERA (602.1ip/239er) and 509 strikeouts in 126 games (104 starts) at the minor league level...Has also gone 0-2 with a 2.73 ERA (26.1ip/8er) in 10 games (three starts) in the Major Leagues with the Pirates.

The Pirates also signed left-handed pitcher Brandon Mann and right-handed pitcher Elvin Ramirez to minor league contracts (no invitations to big league camp). Mann went to big league camp with Washington last season before pitching in Japan. Ramirez went a combined 1-1 with one save and a 5.46 ERA (61.0ip/37er) in 49 games (one start) between Salt Lake City and Arkansas in 2013.