2013 could be a magical year for Nelson Figueroa. Image: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

I had almost forgotten that Figueroa first came up to the Big Leagues way back in 2000 with the D’backs.  His time in the Valley was brief as he appeared in three games before being a part of the deal that brought Curt Schilling to Arizona.  Now he has a chance to once again be a part of the team and this time make a different sort of history.  He is 39 years old with 20 career victories, not the kind of mark that would leave a great impression on anyone.  However, the poise the right-hander showed in setting down a good American lineup must have impressed D’back hierarchy, enough to maybe expand the candidates for the #5 spot back up to three.  Sure, Patrick Corbin and Randall Delgado has been impressive at times but did either of them have a game like Figueroa?  Yes, I get it the upside for Corbin and Delgado are much higher than Figueroa.   But Figueroa can start and relieve, versatility that I am sure manager Kirk Gibson appreciates.  Plus, he has shown an abundance of persistence, hanging around baseball even though he hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since 2011. 

Am I making too much of an issue based on one game in March?  A team can never have enough pitching depth.  Maybe he won’t start the season in Arizona but I have a  feeling this might be a pretty good year for Nelson Figueroa.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins a couple of big games down the stretch for his team, be it the D’backs or someone else.  Sometimes there is magic surrounding a pitcher who never quits, even one who is almost 40 years old.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Nelson Figueroa this week. Figueroa played with Houston last season and bolsters the pitching depth for the D’backs

Every week on Sunday, Venom Strikes will look at the transaction report to see what movement has been made by the Arizona Diamondbacks that might go unnoticed by many fans. Here is the first edition of the Wacky Wire.

The D’backs signed three pitchers over the past couple of weeks.

On December 12th, Arizona signed 38 year-old right handed pitcher Nelson Figueroa. Some Diamondback fans might remember Figueroa from his first stint with the club. He was initially acquired by the organization in 1998 as part of the deal with the New York Mets that brought Bernard Gilkey to Arizona. He pitched in the minor leagues for a couple of seasons before making his major league debut for the club in 2000. He started three games for the D’backs posting an 0-1 record with a 7.47 ERA in 15+ innings pitched.

In 2000, he was part of the monumental deal that shipped he, Travis Lee, Vicente Padilla and Omar Daal to Philadelphia and brought Curt Schilling to the desert.

Figueroa has bounced around the major and minor leagues since then. In nine major league seasons with six different teams (Arizona, Philadelphia, Milwaukee,  Pittsburgh, New York Mets, Houston), he has amassed a 20-35 record with a 4.55 ERA.

Arizona also signed free agent Warner Madrigal on Monday. The 28 year-old right handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic will look to win a position in the bullpen during Spring Training.

Madrigal last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Texas Rangers. He appeared in 13 games out of the bullpen and posted a 0-0 record with a 9.95 ERA in 12.2 IP. In 2008, he also pitched with Texas and posted better statistics, compiling an 0-2 record with a 4.75 ERA in 36 IP.

Madrigal has 10 years of minor league experience. Last season, he was with the New York Yankees organization in Class AA Trenton in the Eastern League. In two games for Trenton, he racked up a 20.25 ERA before he was released. During his minor league career, Madrigal is 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA in more than 200 innings of work. It is this type of production  that the D’backs are hoping to get from Madrigal this season.

Finally, the D’backs came to terms with free agent Alexis Lara on Tuesday. The 25 year-old right handed pitcher has pitched the last five seasons in the minor leagues.

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed pitcher Alexis Lara this week. Lara has played in the minors for the last five seasons with the Padres organization

Last season, Lara played at four different levels in the minors with the Padres organization (Low A, High A, Class AA, Class AAA). Over the four levels, Lara posted a 1-1 record with a 4.31 ERA in 31 innings pitching out of the bullpen.

He just finished pitching in the Dominican Winter League where he compiled a 0-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 8 appearances. Those are solid numbers in a highly regarded Winter League.

All three men who were signed this week did not have their contract’s disclosed to the press at the time of publication.