The Toronto Blue Jays signed catchers Michael Barrett and Raul Chavez, infielder Randy Ruiz and left-hander Mike Maroth to minor-league contracts yesterday and invited them to spring training.
Barrett's deal includes a club option for the 2010 season. The 32-year-old appeared in just 30 games last season with San Diego, hitting .202 with three doubles, two homers and nine runs-batted in. The six-foot-three, 215-pound catcher captured Silver Slugger honours in 2005 with the Chicago Cubs, hitting .276 with 32 doubles, 16 homers and 61 RBI.
Barrett is an 11-year major-league veteran with Montreal (1998-2003), Chicago Cubs (2004-2007) and San Diego (2007-2008).
Chavez, 35, spent last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, appearing in 42 games and hitting .259 with four doubles, a homer and 10 RBI.
The native of Valencia, Venezuela, has played parts of 10 major league seasons, hitting .223 in 212 games with 19 doubles, five homers and 50 RBI.
Maroth, 31, appeared in three games with triple-A Omaha before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
The six-foot, 190-pound pitcher has a career record of 50-67 with a 5.05 ERA over six seasons with Detroit (2002-2007) and St. Louis (2007).
Ruiz, 31, made his major league debut with Minnesota last year, appearing in 22 games and hitting .274 with a homer and seven RBI.
He spent most of the year with triple-A Rochester, leading the International League with a .320 batting average in 111 games with 33 doubles, 17 homers and 68 runs-batted in.
