Marlins Attempt to Turn Back the Clock, Sign Benitez to Minor League Deal

[Metes]

Marlins signed RHP Armando Benitez to a minor league contract.
The 39-year-old veteran reliever will get started at Triple-A New Orleans. He hasn't appeared in a major league game since 2008, when he pitched 6 1/3 innings for the Blue Jays, so it may be a tough road back to the bigs.

Roto
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...rt=MLB&id=1991

[geemoney]

It won't be a tough road with our bullpen.

[Ralph]

He gon be alright. Maybe

[Ramp]

well, here's to him blowing up AAA and regaining something cool

[Ralph]

They are rushing him. Coming out for the 9th inning tonight.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

In the aftermath of Saturday's vuvuzela promotion, team president David Samson said the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! aren't afraid to try new things. They're not afraid to try old things either.

Armando Benitez, 37, is back for his third stint in the Marlins' organization. The Marlins signed him out of the independent Atlantic League and will assign him to Triple-A New Orleans. Benitez was pitching for the Newark Bears and in 17 games (18 innings) had a 1.00 ERA and held opponents to a .136 batting average and .398 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Vice President of Player Personnel Dan Jennings said he got a tip about Benitez earlier this season and started following his numbers. The Marlins sent advisor Jack McKeon to see Benitez.

"Jack liked what he saw, really liked the body, said he had trimmed up, said the fastball was good," Jennings said. "The split needed a little more time. [McKeon] compared it to a mid- spring training outing."

About 10 days later, Jennings asked Andre Dawson to give former Expos teammate and Newark manager Tim Raines a call about Benitez.

"[Dawson] called me back within five minutes and told me Rock said he's ready," said Jennings, adding that Benitez's fastball is sitting in the 92-95 mph range. "You know what, why not? He's got some years, he knows how. We know the guy."

Benitez had one of the best years ever by a Marlins reliever in 2004. He saved 47 games and had a 1.29 ERA with 21 walks and 62 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings, earning an All-Star bid. Three years later the Marlins acquired Benitez in a trade with the Giants and he finished the season 2-5 with a 5.73 ERA in 33 innings.

The following season, Benitez appeared in eight games with the Blue Jays and hasn't pitched the majors since. Benitez spent much of last season with Newark before finishing out the campaign at Round Rock, the Astros' Triple-A affiliate.

Marlins sign Armando Benitez to minor league deal

[Ralph]

1ip 1bb
--------------------
2:1 groundout:flyout
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I expect him up tomorrow.

[FishFanInPA]

Get your Marlins Tickets Now!

[Ramp]

so Jennings says he got a "tip" about Benitez earlier in the season but waited till now to sign him?

[LocoMarlinFan]

Picked up a save today.

1 IP, 1 H, 1 K, 0 R, 0 BB (12 of 18 pitches for strikes)

[LocoMarlinFan]

**Armando Benitez came in to close the game for New Orleans. It didn't go well; he gave up a game winning homer to Brad Snider. His slider looked OK, but his fastball at 89-90 MPH had no life.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/

[LocoMarlinFan]

No #Marlins comeback for Armando Benitez, who was released at Triple A New Orleans.

http://twitter.com/clarkspencer/status/18637847725

[Metes]

GODDAMMIT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO O

[HUGG]

I'll always have this moment. Watching him sign all 15 cards some loser asked him to sign.

[Jay]

I'll always have this moment. Watching him sign all 15 cards some loser asked him to sign.

I respect players like this...although other things could be said for the person asking him to sign that many cards.