ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays added another pitcher with big-league experience to their spring roster, signing right-hander Yacksel Rios to a minor-league deal with a camp invite, per a Twitter post from agent Gavin Hahn.
Rios, 27, pitched parts of the past four seasons in the majors with the Phillies and Pirates. He compiled a 5-2, 6.36 record in 66 games, striking out 68 and walking 34 in 69 1/3 innings, allowing 77 hits, including 14 homers.
Rios was a 2011 12th-round pick by the Phillies out of Puerto Rico, got to the majors in 2017 and was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in August 2019. He pitched in only three games during the abbreviated 2020 season.
He joins Chris Ellis and David Hess as free agent pitchers signed to minor-league deals. The Rays also re-signed Andrew Kittredge.