Padres To Sign Former USD Torrero Sammy Solis to Minor League Deal
Credit: AP Photo
The San Diego Padres have added to their bullpen depth as they have signed veteran reliever Sammy Solis to a contract.
A former Torero is getting the chance to pitch in San Diego again.
Fresh off of a release from the Washington Nationals on Saturday, Sammy Solis has signed with the San Diego Padres on a minor league deal in the hopes of securing a roster spot with more than two weeks of Spring Training left.
A product of the University of San Diego, Solis was selected in the second round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
After Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2012 season, Solis made his major league debut in 2015 and pitched to a 3.38 ERA in 21 1/3 innings pitched. He was at his best in 2016, carrying a 2.41 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 37 games and 41 innings. Solis has playoff experience, pitching in all five games in the 2016 National League Divisional Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in the 2017 NLDS against the Chicago Cubs.
Solis struggled in his last two seasons with the Nationals, which could explain his release from the team. The tall left-hander logged ERA’s of 5.58 and 6.41 in 2017 and 2018 respectively, but that 2018 ERA is tempered by a 4.92 FIP and 4.11 xFIP and strong strikeout numbers (10.7 K/9). While his walk numbers are high for a reliever (4.12 BB/9), Solis can still get batters to chase at his stuff, as evidenced by a 31.7% chase rate.
#Padres in agreement with free-agent LHP Sammy Solis, sources tell me and @dennistlin.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) March 11, 2019
For now, Solis serves as a depth piece with a heightened chance of earning a roster spot due to the flexor strain that has sidelined Jose Castillo for six-to-eight weeks. With Aaron Loup and (presumably) Robbie Erlin set to earn bullpen spots, Solis has his work cut out for him with virtually all of the spots in the bullpen filled out. If Solis is unable to carve out a role for the Padres, he can either be sent down to Triple-A El Paso to maintain his status as a valuable depth piece or be released in the hopes of signing on with another Major League ballclub.
I am currently attending San Diego State University while working on achieving a major in journalism. At SDSU, I write for The Daily Aztec while also hosting the sports radio show “Picked Off”, for KCR Radio. A loyal fan of San Diego sports, I hope to bring content that you will enjoy reading.