The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have signed C Michael Barrett, C Raul Chavez, IF Randy Ruiz and LHP Mike Maroth to minor league contracts and extended invitations for all to attend spring training with the Major League club.
BARRETT, 32, has signed a one year minor league contract with a club option for the 2010 season. Last season he appeared in only 30 games for the San Diego Padres due to injuries and posted a .202 average with three doubles, two home runs and nine runs batted in. The 6-3, 215 lb. right-handed hitter captured Silver Slugger honours in 2005 with the Cubs after hitting .276 with 32 doubles, 16 home runs and 61 runs batted in. The Atlanta, Georgia native is a career .264 hitter with 220 doubles, 21 triples and 97 home runs with 422 RBI over 1,047 games in 11 seasons while playing for the Montreal Expos (1998-2003), Chicago Cubs (2004-2007) and San Diego Padres (2007-2008). CHAVEZ, 35, spent the 2008 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates appearing in 42 games and batting .259 with four doubles, a home run and 10 RBI. The Valencia, Venezuela native also threw out 12 of 25 base stealers last season (48%). The 5-11, 235 lb. right-handed hitting catcher also appeared in 26 games for Indianapolis of the International League (AAA) where he batted .306 with five doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in 26 games. In parts of ten Major League seasons he has hit .223 in 212 games with 19 doubles, five home runs and 50 RBI.
MAROTH, 31, appeared in three minor league games last season for Omaha of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) before missing the rest of the season due to injury. In those three games, all starts, he posted an 0-2 record with a 12.91 ERA. The 6-0, 190 lb. native of Orlando, Florida has a career record of 50-67 with a 5.05 ERA over six seasons. In those seasons, the left-handed pitcher made 150 starts and appeared in 161 games while pitching for Detroit (2002-2007) and St. Louis (2007).
RUIZ made his Major League debut with Minnesota in 2008 appearing in 22 games and batting .274 with a home run and seven RBI. The 31 year old right-handed hitter spent most of the season with Rochester of the International League (AAA) where he led the league with a .320 batting average in 111 games with 33 doubles, 17 home runs and 68 runs batted in. The 6-3, 235 lb native of Bronx, New York spent nine seasons in the minors before his debut last season and is a career .303 hitter in the minors with 167 home runs.
