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The Diamondbacks have signed pitchers Kris Medlen and Antonio Bastardo to minor-league deals with major-league spring training invites, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale:
The #Dbacks sign veteran pitcher Kris Medlen to Minor league contract with spring training invite. He will earn $1.1 million if he returns to the big leagues and can opt out if not on 40-man roster by March 27
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 23, 2018
The #Dbacks also sign reliever Antonio Bastardo to Minor league deal that will pay him $1.5 million if he makes big league team with $4 million worth of incentives if team closer
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 23, 2018
Medlen and Bastardo join relievers Fernando Salas and Michael Blazek as depth additions for Arizona this week, giving the club for notable non-roster invites who will compete for roster spots in spring training. Arizona has already been busy in augmenting its staff this winter, acquiring Brad Boxberger and signing Yoshihisa Hirano while losing Fernando Rodney to the Twins.
Medlen, 32, never saw major-league action in 2017, working to a 4.95 ERA in 20 starts across three levels. He last appeared in the majors in 2016 for the Royals, working to a 7.77 ERA and 5.20 FIP in six starts in his second year with the club.
The ex-Brave was an effective starter for Atlanta in 2013, working to a 3.11 ERA mark in 197 innings. Arizona likely sees him as a depth option behind Zack Greinke, Robbie Ray, Taijuan Walker, Patrick Corbin, Zack Godley and Shelby Miller in its rotation mix.
Bastardo, also 32, was released by the Pirates in mid-July and had been jobless ever since. He allowed a staggering 15 earned runs on 16 hits in nine innings for Pittsburgh this year, continuing the struggles he saw splitting 2016 between the Mets and Pirates.
Bastardo inked a two-year, $12 million contract with the Mets almost exactly two years ago, but lasted only a few months in New York before being shipped back to the Bucs at the 2016 trade deadline. He’ll join Andrew Chafin and T.J. MacFarland as left-handed bullpen possibilities for the D-Backs.