Earlier today, the Phillies finalized minor league deals with eight players that will be non-roster invites to spring training. They made a move to add some bullpen depth by signing 23-year-old left-hander Elvis Araujo to a Major League contract.
The catch to his Major League contract? Well, he has never pitched in the major leagues. Last season with the High-A Carolina Mudcats and Double-A Akron Rubberducks, Araujo went 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA to go along with 11 saves over 43 games. He also struck out 50 batters in his 50 innings of work. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Indians in 2007, Araujo comes in at 6-foot-6, with a potential to throw a really fast, nasty slider.
"He adds depth and gives us another quality arm in the system," Phillies pro scouting director Mike Ondo said. "With [Antonio] Bastardo, [Jake] Diekman and [Mario] Hollands, he's just another guy in competition."
"We've seen him at 92-97 mph this year with a slider," Ondo said. [Phillies.com]
So far this offseason in the Venezuelan Winter League, Araujo has struck out eight batters in seven innings of shutout baseball.
Though he tossed a combined ERA of 3.42 across two levels this past season, Araujo exceled in Double-A. In 21 innings with Akron, his ERA was 2.57 despite the opposition hitting .270 against him.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
