Padres Sign Four Players To Minor League Deals

The Padres signed four players today to minor league deals, all with invites to Spring Training. The four players are: OF Travis Buck, C Eddy Rodriguez, RHP Daniel Stange and RHP Jason Ray. The report came courtesy of Padres beat writer Corey Brock

Buck, 29, has the most ML experience of the group, having played part of six ML seasons. Buck’s best year came as a rookie in 2007, when he posted a triple-slash line of .288/.377/.474, with 7 homers. Last year, Buck hit .216 in 81 plate appearances with the Houston Astros.

May 20, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Travis Buck (6) hits a single against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

Rodriguez, 26, made his ML debut with the Padres last season and homered in his first career at-bat. He spent the majority of the year playing for Lake Elsinore, where he hit just .223. The Padres removed Rodriguez from the 40-man roster in September.

Stange, 26, got into four games for the Diamondbacks in 201o. He pitched in the Padres system in 2012, mostly for AA San Antonio. As a reliever, Stange went 3-6, with a 3.35 ERA in 46 games. He did strikeout nearly 11 batters per 9 innings pitched last year.

Ray, 28, also pitched in the Padres system last season. Between AA San Antonio and AAA Tucson, Ray went 2-3, with a 3.71 ERA in 49 appearances out of the bullpen.

On the surface, all four would seem like longshots to crack the Opening Day roster, but should give the Padres some depth in the minors.