Piñeiro, Phillies Agree to Minor League Deal

Phillies invite veteran righty to spring training

While Cole Hamels and the Phillies agreeing to a one-year, $15 million contract understandably stole headlines Tuesday, another deal could also have an impact on the 2012 Phightins.

After a couple days of rumors, the Phillies and Joel Piñeiro agreed to a minor league contract, the team announced.

The 33-year-old right-hander went 7-7 with a 5.13 ERA in 27 games (24 starts) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last season. Overall Piñeiro is 104-93 with a 4.41 ERA and 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings while serving mostly as a starter in 12 seasons spent with the Angels, Cardinals, Red Sox and Mariners.

At spring training, Piñeiro will get a chance to compete with Joe Blanton and Vance Worley for the rotation. And he could possibly even serve as another veteran arm out of a bullpen. But if I were putting money on it I wouldn’t bet any on an aging righty who doesn’t light it up with strikeouts making the Phillies 25-man roster.

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