SEATTLE — Oft-injured reliever Chris Reitsma is getting another chance with the Seattle Mariners, agreeing to a minor league contract Thursday.
The right-hander went 0-2 with a 7.61 ERA in 26 games last year, his first with the Mariners. But his season was more noted by three stints on the disabled list and the second surgery on his right elbow in just more than a year. It was Reitsma’s fifth elbow surgery in his career.
The operation in early August left Reitsma optimistic that he could come back in 2008.
“I should hopefully be ready to go for spring training. I’ll keep rehabbing through the winter,” he said after the surgery.
The 30-year-old Reitsma, who had a career-high 15 saves in 2005 with Atlanta, earned $2.05 million last year. The Mariners declined an option on his contract in November, making him a free agent.
Notes
MLB: Roger Clemens’ accuser met for about three hours Thursday with federal prosecutors investigating performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
Brian McNamee, the pitcher’s former trainer, talked with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Parrella and IRS Special Agent Jeff Novitzky about the events that led up to his phone call last week with the seven-time Cy Young Award winner, a person familiar with the session said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose details.
The meeting took place at the office of Earl Ward, one of McNamee’s lawyers. Parrella and Novitzky, part of the BALCO prosecution team that has indicted Barry Bonds for perjury and obstruction of justice, were in the area for Friday’s sentencing of former track star Marion Jones.
Clemens and McNamee have been asked to testify Feb. 13 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
McNamee told prosecutors and baseball investigator George Mitchell last year that he injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone in 1998, 2000 and 2001, an accusation Clemens has denied. Clemens’ legal team recorded Friday’s 17-minute telephone conversation between the pitcher and McNamee, and they played the recording during their news conference Monday in Houston.
CARDINALS: First baseman Josh Phelps and St. Louis agreed to a minor league contract, adding depth to St. Louis’ bench. The 29-year-old Phelps will have a chance to make the major league club in spring training, Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said. Phelps has also appeared at catcher in 12 big league games.
ROYALS: Kansas City pitcher Jacob Rodriguez was suspended for 50 games under baseball’s minor league drug program for failing to take a test. A 19-year-old right-hander from Whittier, Calif., Rodriguez was signed last August and is on the roster of the Surprise Royals of the Arizona Rookie League. He will serve the penalty at the start of the season.
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