Twins claim LHP Matt Maloney, RHP Jeff Gray off waivers
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The offseason activity has officially begun for the Minnesota Twins, who on Monday claimed two pitchers off waivers -- 27-year-old left-hander Matt Maloney off wai from the Cincinnati Reds and 29-year-old right-hander Jeff Gray from the Seattle Mariners.
Gray pitched 48 1/3 innings between the White Sox and Mariners last season, posting a 4.28 ERA with 23 strikeouts, 21 walks and 52 hits allowed. His fastball sits in the low- to mid-90's with a slider that reaches the upper-80's
Maloney spent most of the last four seasons with Triple-A Louisville in the Cincinnati Reds' organization. A third-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, Maloney owns a 3.57 career Triple-A ERA with 435 strikeouts, 108 walks and 48 home runs allowed in 516 1/3 innings.
In 80 career major league innings Maloney owns a 5.40 ERA with 54 strikeouts, 17 walks and 18 home runs allowed. Over the last three seasons, Maloney's strikeout rate per nine innings at Triple-A has dipped from 8.47 to 5.64. Maloney's fastball tops out in the upper-80's with an upper-70's changeup and a low-70's curveball.
Both will likely compete for spots in the Twins' bullpen during spring training next year, although neither pitcher appears to be much of an upgrade.
