{"id":8739,"date":"2011-11-17T20:17:45","date_gmt":"2011-11-18T01:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovathletics.com\/home\/?p=8739"},"modified":"2011-11-17T20:17:45","modified_gmt":"2011-11-18T01:17:45","slug":"pirates-sign-three-to-minor-league-deals-other-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovathletics.com\/home\/pirates-sign-three-to-minor-league-deals-other-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates sign three to minor league deals; other notes"},"content":{"rendered":"

PITTSBURGH — The Pirates today signed right-hander Jose R. Diaz to a minor league contract according to Baseball America<\/a>. They also re-signed catcher Rudy Pena and outfielder Gerlis Rodriguez and released left-hander Christopher Richardson.<\/p>\n

Diaz, 27, appeared in 34 games of relief for the Baltimore Orioles Double-A team in 2011. He posted a 1.21 ERA over 32.0 innings with 13 walks and 38 strikeouts. Diaz also appeared in 14 games with Triple-A where he posted a 5.68 ERA. Diaz is currently pitching in the Dominican for the Toros del Este where he\u2019s tossed 11.1 scoreless frames with one hit allowed, four walks and six strikeouts.<\/p>\n

Pena has spent the last three seasons as a coach for the Pirates Gulf Coast League.<\/p>\n

Rodriguez, 23, didn\u2019t play in 2011 and spent the 2010 season with the State College Spikes. He batted .201 over 48 games with eight runs, eight doubles, a homer and 24 RBI.<\/p>\n

Richardson, 19, signed as an international free agent in 2010 by Pittsburgh. Richardson posted a 3.24 ERA over 8.1 innings with the Dominican Summer League in 2011.<\/p>\n

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