Ex-closer Cordero joins AquaSox

Published 9:24 am Monday, August 16, 2010

The Everett AquaSox are adding an All-Star major league closer.

Chad Cordero, the former Washington Nationals closer who’s trying to come back from a shoulder injury with the Seattle Mariners, has been assigned to the organization’s short-season Class A team.

The Mariners signed Cordero to a minor league contract in March and he has spent most of the time since then throwing bullpens and pitching in games for the Mariners’ rookie-level team in Peoria, Ariz.

He had surgery in July, 2008, to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Cordero, 27, was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in six relief appearances for the Peoria Mariners, allowing 10 hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in 62/3 innings. Reports out of Peoria said his fastball had reached 88 mph.

Cordero had 128 saves and a 2.78 ERA with the Nationals/Montreal Expos and was named to the National League All-Star team in 2005, when he had a career-high 47 saves.