Wacky Wire: D’backs Sign 9 to Minor League Deals

The Arizona Diamondbacks looked to bolster their depth this past week as they announced the signings of a number of veteran players to minor league deals. Some of the signings are intriguing as it is a mixture of veterans and local boys coming home.

September 14, 2011; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Mark Teahen (20) bunts the ball during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Teahen– The seven-year major league veteran played last year with Chicago (AL) and Toronto. He hit .200 with four home runs and 14 RBI’s in 78 games with both teams. Over his career, the 31-year-old utility player has hit .264 with 67 home runs and 332 RBI’s in the majors. He will be playing for his fourth team after spending most of his career in Kansas City before moving on to Chicago and Toronto and now Arizona. His versatility makes him valuable as he has played games at both corner positions and in the outfield over his career.

Jeremy Reed– The 31-year-old outfielder is a eight-year major league veteran who spent last season mostly in Class AAA, but did play for Milwaukee for a short stretch with the Brewers. In Milwaukee, Reed did not get a hit in the seven games he played in. In his eight year major league career, Reed has hit .252 with 12 home runs and 110 RBi’s in 483 games.

He spent most of his season with two Class AAA teams (Nashville- PCL, Rochester- IL). He hit .203 with one home run and 6 RBI’s in 40 games last season. He was let go by the Milwaukee organization and picked up by Minnesota at the end of the season, although he never appeared for the Twins. Reed was pnce seen by the Mariners as their center fielder of the future, but after leaving Seattle in 2008, Reed has been with five other organizations now including the D’backs. In his eight year major league career, Redd has hit .252 with 12 home runs and 110 RBi’s in 483 games.

Brad Snyder– The 30-year-old outfielder spent parts of the past two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, but spent most of his time throughout those seasons and his career at Class AAA. He hit .167 with zero home runs and six RBI’s in 20 games with the Cubs over the past two years. He was able to put together very good numbers at Class AAA Oklahoma City last season. Snyder hit .304 with 20 home runs and 66 RBI’s in 122 games. He also was able to show off his speed stealing 16 bases. In 10 minor league seasons, Snyder is a career .283 hitter.

Josh Wilson– The 31-year old shortstop is back for his third stint with the club after two brief appearances with the club in the 2009 and 2011 seasons. He has played for nine other major league organizations in his five major league seasons. His last major league appearance took place in 2011 as he split time between Milwaukee and Arizona. In 2011, he hit .224 with two home runs and five RBI’s in 60 major league games. He is a career .227 hitter with nine home runs and 67 RBI’s in 356 major league games. Known for his defense, Wilson has been able to ply his trade as a dependable backup throughout his career at the major league level.

Last season, Wilson was with the Atlanta Braves organization in Class AAA with Gwinnett of the International League. He hit .241 with five home runs and 43 RBI’s in 122 games. He is a career .277 minor league hitter.

Kila Ka’aihue– The first baseman/designated hitter played part of last season in Oakland where he hit .234with four home runs and 14 RBI’s in 39 games. The 27-year old has played parts of four years in the big leagues, three with Kansas City, in which he has hit .221 with 15 home runs and 46 RBI’s in 126 games. He is known for his big power in the lower levels of professional baseball. In 11 minor league seasons, he has hit .266 with 180 home runs and 715 RBI’s with his greatest success coming in his five years at the Class AAA level.

Tuffy Gosewisch– The local product out of Horizon High School and Arizona State University has played catcher and the outfield in the minors for the last eight seasons. The 28-year-old split time last year with two teams at the Class AAA level (Lehigh Valley- IL, Las Vegas- PCL) in the Philadelphia and Toronto organizations. He came on late with Las Vegas and produced better numbers towards the end of the year, hitting .277 with one home run and eight RBI’s in 24 games with the 51’s. In his career, Gosewisch has hit .234 with 45 home runs and 270 RBI’s for the Phillies and Blue Jays minor league affiliates.

Rommie Lewis– The 29-year-old, left-handed pitcher has pitched parts of two seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays in 2010 and 2011. In those stints,the 6’5, 230 lbs. Lewis posted a combined 7.23 ERA in 20 outings, working out of the bullpen. Last season, Lewis experienced a renaissance with Bridgeport of the Independent League where he appeared in 48 games posting a 3-1 record with seven saves. His 2.01 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched was a career best. He has pitched 11 minor league seasons posting a record of 29-50 with a 4.01 ERA and 45 saves in 412 games.

Garrett Mock– The former D’backs draft pick (2004- 3rd round) is back with the organization after bouncing around the minors over the past couple of years. The 28-year-old Mock has pitched parts of three seasons in the majors, all with Washington. He posted a 4-13 record with the Nationals in those three season, amassing a 5.17 ERA in 135.2 innings pitched between 2008-2010.  The 6’5, 230 lbs. right-handed pitcher split time last season in Class AAA with Pawtucket (IL) and Oklahoma City (PCL) with the Boston and Houston organizations. He posted a 3-2 record with a 3.79 ERA in 61.2 innings. He has pitched nine seasons in the minors with a career 41-42 record and a 4.22 ERA.

Eddie Bonine– The local product out of Mountain Ridge High School and D’backs 2001 Draft pick (20th round) returns back to the Valley this season. The 28-year-old Bonine last appeared in the major leagues in 2010 with Detroit. His three seasons in Detroit produced a 7-3 record and a 4.74 ERA in 62 major league appearances.  The 6’2, 220 lbs. Bonine played in Class AAA Lehigh Valley in 2011, putting together a 3-4 record with a 5.16 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate. Bonine has pitched eight minor leagues seasons, amassing a respectable 52-43 record with 4.56 ERA in 200+ games.