Mets, Latroy Hawkins agree to minor-league deal

The New York Mets have brough yet another possible bullpen arm to the orgnization Wednesday evening, signing veteran right-hander LaTroy Hawkins to a minor-league deal, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

The #Mets signed great guy LaTroy Hawkins to minor league deal w Spring Training invite

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 31, 2013

Hawkins, 40, is the second reliever in as many days to get a minor-league deal with the Mets. The club signed highly underrated right-hander Scott Atchison to a similar deal on Tuesday.

An 18-year veteran, Hawkins spent the 2012 season in the Angels' bullpen. Primarily working in low-leverage situations, the right-hander posted a pretty decent 3.64 ERA and 4.9 K/9 rate in 42 innings of work, missing some time mid-season with a broken pinkie finger.

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Other than three anomalous seasons in his prime, Hawkins has never had much success racking up strikeouts -- he owns a career 6.0 K/9 rate -- but the right-hander has found success when he is able to keep his free passes to a minimum.

The right-hander has played for eight different organizations in his 18 MLB seasons, but this will be his first chance at throwing in the NL East.