Reds sign Mahay, Zavada

[klw]

I don't know if this is thread worthy but the Reds have signed Ron Mahay and Clay Zavada to minor league deals.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...ay-zavada.html

The Reds have signed left-handers Ron Mahay and Clay Zavada to minor league contracts, as announced via the team's official Twitter feed. Both deals contain invitations to the Reds' Major League Spring Training camp.

Mahay, 40, last pitched in the Majors for the Twins in 2010 and was signed and released by the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Cardinals in 2011. Despite these setbacks, Mahay said last week that he wanted to continue pitching. Mahay has a career 3.83 ERA and 7.4 K/9 in 568 innings and has pitched for eight other teams in his 14-year career. He is your classic left-handed specialist, holding left-handed batters to a .689 OPS over his lengthy career (including a .520 OPS in 2010).

Zavada posted a 3.35 ERA and struck out 52 batters in 51 innnings for the D'Backs in 2009, but hasn't pitched in the Majors since that solid rookie season. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010 and appeared in 44 games for Arizona's Double-A affiliate (posting a 3.43 ERA and a 2.19 K/BB rate). Pitching aside, Zavada is perhaps best known for his awesome, Rollie Fingers-esque mustache.

Mahay is best known in some circles (my parent's house) for once having a child in my mother's nursery school back when she was still teaching. He had his then Texas teammates sign balls for a couple of the parents.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by klw

I don't know if this is thread worthy but the Reds have signed Ron Mahay and Clay Zavada to minor league deals.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...ay-zavada.html



Mahay is best known in some circles (my parent's house) for once having a child in my mother's nursery school back when she was still teaching. He had his then Texas teammates sign balls for a couple of the parents.

Not that familiar with Zavada, but Mahay has had some success. I'd say they're just injury insurance and one will probably end up in the Bats pen to give them another lefty to go with Horst.

[Tornon]

I hope Zavada still has that mustache

[Gallen5862]

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blo...Piecoro/118696

Zavada a no-show, pictures, videos & other stuff

Diamondbacks left-hander Clay Zavada did not undergo his scheduled physical exam on Sunday night and did not show up for workouts on Monday morning, and General Manager Kevin Towers said the reliever is considering retirement.

“He was having some doubts on wanting to go through this again,” Towers said.

Zavada has walked away from the game before, missing the 2007 season following the death of his father.

He underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in May and had been working his way back

[Mario-Rijo]

Seems like decent depth, as long as Zavada brings the Rollie Fingers stache otherwise I give the edge for 1st up to Carlos Fisher. That Rollie stache' was awesome I remember the kid sporting it a couple season ago.

[RedsManRick]

Looks like Sam LeCure and Corky Miller have another challenger.

[Tom Servo]

Yes! I've been wanting the Reds to get the mustache guy ever since he arrived on the scene.

[redsfan30]

A sticky?

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by redsfan30

A sticky?

Yes, it is. Good question.

[Plus Plus]

Seeing as how both players received invites to spring training and have major league track records, I'm not sure why there is confusion as to why this might be stickied for a day or two. I'm sorry if this post being stickied offends any of the posters here, but this is not out of the ordinary at all.

[Scrap Irony]

This may signal the end of Carlos Fisher as a Red. It could also pave the way for either (or both) of Andrew Brackman or Sam LeCure back to the AAA rotation.

[redsmetz]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

This may signal the end of Carlos Fisher as a Red. It could also pave the way for either (or both) of Andrew Brackman or Sam LeCure back to the AAA rotation.

Is this assuming that either of these guys makes the big club's roster coming out of a Spring Training? Seems as if they're organizational depth. No question there will be loads of competition for remaining spots on the 25 man roster, but I see these signings as having arms at the ready (which is probably where Fisher remains too). Not sure Brackman comes east either, but he's on the 40 man, so that's not an issue if he does well in Arizona.

[Scrap Irony]

No, it's not assuming they make the club out of Spring Training. But, because they're in Louisville and have major league experience, the Red braintrust may decide they don't need to sign a starter or two to minor league contracts.

They still need that depth in the starting rotation and the next best starting candidates might be LeCure and Brackman.

[cinreds21]

This make me more curious to what happens in Louisville more than Cincinnati. You would guess that if neither Mahay or Zavada make the club, one or both would be released. However, if one does go down to Louisville, that would, in theory, give the Bats four potential lefties in the bullpen in (Zavada/Mahay,) Horst, Webb, and then Joseph.

[JaxRed]

I think there's a very good chance that Zavada is penciled in for AA