Reds Sign Ligtenberg & Burton

[RadioWink]

TODAY’S NEWS: The Reds today signed to a minor league contract and invited to Major League spring training camp RHP Kerry Ligtenberg, increasing the club’s spring roster to 57, and signed to a 1-year contract RHP Jared Burton.



Ligtenberg, 35, spent last season with the Cubs’ Class AAA affiliate in Iowa and posted 18 saves and a 3.57era in 53 relief apps...he allowed just 6 walks in 58.0 innings while striking out 44...in 8 Major League seasons he has a 3.82era in 386 relief apps for the Braves, Orioles, Blue Jays and Diamondbacks...in 1998 for the Braves he recorded 30 saves and a 2.71era in 75 apps, all career bests...Burton, 25, was selected from the Athletics in December’s Rule 5 Draft...last season at Class AA Midland he made a career-high 53 apps, all in relief.

[RedsManRick]

More depth = good. Even if the quality isn't top notch.

[Heath]

Kerry Lightenburg is still pitching?

He had one great year. check that, one great July/August/September.

Bullpen fodder. No Big Deal. Just fun to see numbers in the 90's now, I'm sure.

[captainmorgan07]

veteran guy prolly AAA if we keep him

[pedro]

When he was healthy he was a fairly competent reliever.

[Gallen5862]

A nice low risk type signing for the Bullpen. I like the signing of Lightenburg.

[Razor Shines]

Wasn't Ligtenberg the one with some sort of Chemical Engineering degree? If that's the right guy then I remember all the talk of how great he was going to be, guess not.

[rdiersin]

Wasn't Ligtenberg the one with some sort of Chemical Engineering degree? If that's the right guy then I remember all the talk of how great he was going to be, guess not.

Are you thinking about a Reds prospect? It was Thomas Pauly that had the masters in ChemE. He had shoulder surgery, JaxRed had an interesting post about him in the minor league forum, FYI.

[Razor Shines]

Are you thinking about a Reds prospect? It was Thomas Pauly that had the masters in ChemE. He had shoulder surgery, JaxRed had an interesting post about him in the minor league forum, FYI.

No I was thinking about a Braves closer from a few years ago.

[Razor Shines]

He is the guy that I was thinking of. I guess it was more than a few years ago though. His career K/9 is pretty nice at 8.2, but it's been a while since he's pitched well and he's now 35.

[rdiersin]

No I was thinking about a Braves closer from a few years ago.

Might be, I am not sure on Lightenberg, as far as if he is a ChemE. He was the Braves closer a couple of years ago. If so, I might have to root for him. Us nerdy engineering types have to stick together, even if he is a ChemE instead of an EE.

[Razor Shines]

Might be, I am not sure on Lightenberg, as far as if he is a ChemE. If so, I might have to root for him. Us nerdy engineering types have to stick together, even if he is a ChemE instead of an EE.

Yeah he got his from the University of Minnesota.

[redsmetz]

Does this mean Ligtenberg will help with team chemistry?

[thatcoolguy_22]

Does this mean Ligtenberg will help with team chemistry?

boo!

Lightenburg could be getting a look at a possible closer role. If he can still bring it somewhere above 95 it would be a good idea to me IMO.

[NatiRedGals]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Jhomyp53MI

Jared Burton