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Rays Sign Pair To Minor-League Contracts

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Carter Gaddis/The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

TAMPA The Tampa Bay Rays signed infielder Andy Cannizaro and outfielder John Rodriguez to minor-league contracts Friday and invited both to major-league spring training.

Cannizaro, 29, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Yankees in 2001, and he has spent the past seven seasons in the New York organization. He came into the 2007 season competing for a major-league roster spot with the Yankees, but a back injury sidelined him until mid-summer.

In 52 games last season for Triple-A Scranton, Cannizaro batted .295 while playing second base, shortstop and third base. He batted .250 in 13 games with the Yankees in 2006.

Cannizaro could compete with Ben Zobrist for the utility infield job vacated by the trade of Brendan Harris to the Twins in December, but the Rays are likely to continue to try to fill that need either through a minor trade or by signing a more proven veteran.

Rodriguez, who turns 30 on Jan. 20, is a left-handed batter who hit .298 in 158 games for the Cardinals during the 2005-06 seasons. He is a .271 lifetime hitter in 11 minor-league seasons, including batting .263 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds this past season.

The Rays have 44 players on their early spring training roster, with 39 slots filled on the 40-man roster and five non-roster invitees. That number is sure to increase by at least one; prospective Opening Day third baseman Evan Longoria has not formally been invited to spring training.

Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14.

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