Dodgers continue to add non-roster invitees by signing reliever Oscar Villarreal

A little lazy, relaxing fishing. You throw a line in the water, and if something happens, great. If not, nothing much lost but a little effort.

Teams do this all the time in the offseason, sign guys who have a marginal -- or even a downright long-shot -- chance of actually making the club.

Spring rosters are dotted with non-roster invitees, some who actually make the club, if only for a short while. Think Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz. Or who take a ticket to the minors, à la John Lindsey.

The Dodgers added to their non-roster list for 2011 Tuesday, signing right-hander reliever Oscar Villarreal.

Villarreal has spent parts of six seasons in the National League but hasn’t pitched in the majors since part of 2008 with the Astros.

He has a career record of 24-15 with a 3.86 ERA, so it’s not like he was completely awful. Heck, last year in the Dodgers’ bullpen, that almost would have made him a star.

Villarreal, who turned 29 on Monday, was born in San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico, and still lives with his family in Monterrey. He spent last season with the Phillies’ triple-A Lehigh club, going 4-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 49 games.

On Monday, the Dodgers signed reliever Dana Eveland to a minor league split contract. Eveland, 27, was 3-5 with a 6.79 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) for Toronto and Pittsburgh last season.

These are the kinds of signings that are designed to get fans queuing up at the ticket booth, but one or two often break through to make a contribution of some sort. Expect more such signings to come, particularly for that bullpen.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[Dodger_Blue_2011]

Excel in the spring and cut by early summer, hopefully we can get one of these scrappers to stick around for a season and pitch half-way decently...

[N.P.Krohn]

Bring back PeeWee! D. Young was cut loose by the Bucs and should where blue again. Unless the Dodgers sign Magglio or trade for a solid RHof I could live with Gibbons, Paul, and Young pushing each other in the outfield. PeeWee could hit 20hr at a .270 clip if ever got the chance. Not that he will but in a year where we will need surprise contributions from unlikely sources just to get within sniffing distance of another division crown, I would like to see Paul and Young get a chance.

[HI Dodger Fan]

you get a diamond in the rough every once in a while, ala Wilson Alvarez, or Joe Beimel, or even Jeff Weaver the second time around. but more often than not, we get Scott Erickson, the Ortiz's, and others who just end up taking valuable roster time away from the rookies that actually could use the experience. I didn't get a chance to actually look at Villareal's stats, but Eveland has been consistently horrible for all of this career except for one year when he started and won 12 game with a low 4 ERA for Oakland. Other than that, horrible. Why would the Dodgers waste money on this guy?

[Steve Wimer]

It appears Dodger stadium features Taco Bell food at Five-Star Hotel prices, figuratively speaking, when it comes to the hot stove season, they're definitely playing it cool.

[realistic_dodger_fan]

May I remind you that every team does this. You need veterans to fill out your AAA roster and every now and then you get a decent servicable veteran to insert into your major league roster. As far as Pee Wee I like the kid but lets be honesthe is a number 4 or 5 OF. He would be a good PH but there is a reason he is a stater because he cant play defense. I dont know I like the kid but the dodgers seem to have another PH type in Gibbons

[Jack Grigsby]

If it is on the cheap the Dodgers are interested.

[Oscar Villarreal's Mom]

Oscar Villarreal!

[diane]

bring in Zach Duke, Andy LaRoche, Brandon Webb to compete for a roster spot if they don't make it then at least you'll have them in the minors as insurance.