Tampa Bay Rays add Juan Cruz to depleted bullpen competition

The Rays continued their bargain bin shopping Thursday by signing relief pitcher Juan Cruz to a minor league contract with the requisite invitation to spring training as they continue to bring in veteran arms to staff a depleted bullpen.

Cruz has been mentioned in the past as a closer candidate, in Chicago and Arizona. The Rays would be the sixth team in his ten year career.

Cruz has solid strikeout potential but his sub 2.0 K/BB almost certainly relegates him to low and middle leverage situations.

Cruz is not the typical gas can that teams often use to fill their middle relief roles, and brings another experienced arm into camp to compete for a wide-open bullpen.

With pitchers and catchers reporting on February 15th I expect we’ll see a few more similar signings in the coming days.