San Diego Padres sign right-handed starting pitcher Jeff Suppan – MLB News
The San Diego Padres have continued their effort towards making their Minor League roster stronger in order to add some potential backup for the next Major League season as they signed former experienced right handed pitcher Jeff Suppan to a Minor League contract late Wednesday night.
Though other details of the contract are still to come out in the media but it is reported that Suppan will be getting bonuses and incentives along with his actual contract money. Suppan’s deal also includes an invitation to the upcoming Spring Training session with San Diego’s Major League team.
Suppan told the media and expressed why he is joining the Padres franchise in their Minor League. He said, “If I didn't feel I could still pitch, I wouldn't be doing this. There's not that many doors open. I'm going to play as long as I can, I still feel like I can contribute to a major-league team. That's been my drive, my motivation. I'm prepared.”
He added, “I feel I can still pitch at the Major League level, I love pitching. I wouldn't keep doing it if I didn't think I could still pitch. I wanted to make it to the Major Leagues. I wanted to play 10 years and I wanted to play as long as I can.”
Suppan is a highly experienced and talented player having played in many MLB teams including the Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.
In his 14-years in MLB, Suppan had a 138-143 record with a 4.69 ERA in 442 games with a total 411 starts. While last season with Omaha of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, he went 11-8 with a 4.78 ERA in 28 games in a total 27 starts.
Playing respectively with the Brewers and St Louis, Suppan achieved 3-8 with a 5.06 ERA in 30 games in 15 starts in the National League in 2010. Starting the season with the Brewers roster, Suppan started 13 games and later went to the Cardinals in the second half of the season as he proved his game going with 3-6 with a 3.84 ERA.
Tags: