Pirates Sign Nelson Figueroa

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed pitcher Nelson Figueroa to a minor league deal, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. The Pirates have assigned the former Pirate to Class Triple-A Indianapolis.

Figueroa, 37, began the season on Houston's starting rotation, posting an 8.69 ERA, a WHIP over 2.1, along with a poor 1.06 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 29 innings of work. He then was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City, but didn't find much more success in the PCL league either. In 15 starts, the Brooklyn native posted an 6.50 ERA, 5.7 K/9, and a 3.3 BB/9 in 81 2/3 innings.

Figueroa had been released by the Houston Astros this past Friday becoming the fifth player from the Astros' opening day roster to be no longer with the Astros organization. But perhaps it spoke more about Figueroa, who's now joining his eleventh organization. That's including all three times Figueroa signed with the New York Mets within 15 months.