Cards sign reliever Neshek to Minor League contract
Veteran, who played last two seasons with A's, will be in big league camp
With Spring Training set to open next week, the Cardinals added another player Thursday, signing reliever Pat Neshek to a Minor League contract. Neshek will be in big league camp as a non-roster player.
A seven-season veteran in the Majors, the right-handed Neshek spent the past two seasons with the Athletics. He also pitched for the Twins from 2006 to 2010 and Padres in 2011. He has postseason experience in 2006 and '11.
Neshek, 33, had a 3.35 ERA in 45 games for Oakland last season and finished 17 of them. Over 40 1/3 innings, he allowed 40 hits with 15 walks and 29 strikeouts.
Over his career, the sidearm-throwing Neshek has a 3.07 ERA over 226 career appearances, all in relief. His best season was with Minnesota in 2007 when he was 7-2 with a 2.94 ERA in a career-high 74 games. He has held right-handed batters to a .181 batting average over 492 career at-bats and has limited the opposition to a .193 average with runners on base and .183 with runners in scoring position.
Cardinals' Spring Training opens in Jupiter, Fla., when pitchers and catchers report Feb. 13. The club will have 58 players in big league camp.