Rays Sign Pitcher

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed RHP Lance Pendleton pending a physical. The 28 year-old was in spring training with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League when he was seen by a scout in the Houston area and signed. Pendleton was scheduled to be the Skeeters opening day starter according to Skeeters Manager Gary Gaetti. More from the team release:

“This is what we play for,” Pendleton said about getting signed. “The arm is healthy, and I feel ready to contribute in whatever way they decide to use me. Whether I come out of the bullpen or start in the rotation, I will be full-strength.”

Pendleton, a Kingwood native and Rice University graduate, participated in two practices and one exhibition game during spring training with the Skeeters. Originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2005 MLB Draft, he spent the majority of his first six years within the New York Yankees organization.
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After spending the majority of 2011 with the Yankees, Pendleton was designated for assignment by the club and claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros in September 2011. At the start of spring training for the 2012 season, Pendleton signed a minor league contract with the Astros to join the club in Kissimmee, Florida. He was released by the Astros on March 30, 2012, as a free agent.

Here are his career minor league stats, all in the Yankees organization:

Year   Age         Team    Lev  W  L  ERA   G GS    IP HR  BB  SO  WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9
2005    21 StatenIsland     A-  1  0 2.33   9  6  27.0  1  13  23 1.481 9.0  0.3  4.3  7.7
2006    22 Did not play 
2007    23      Yankees     Rk  0  0 4.61   8  6  13.2  1   6  16 1.463 9.2  0.7  4.0 10.5
2008    24   Charleston      A  7  9 3.52  28 23 128.0  3  46 119 1.422 9.6  0.2  3.2  8.4
2009    25        Tampa     A+ 11  5 2.58  20 18 104.2  1  31  87 1.261 8.7  0.1  2.7  7.5
2009    25      Trenton     AA  1  3 4.47   8  8  44.1  4  15  43 1.241 8.1  0.8  3.0  8.7
2010    26      Trenton     AA 10  4 3.43  23 22 120.2  9  45 111 1.160 7.1  0.7  3.4  8.3
2010    26 Scranton/W-B    AAA  2  1 4.24   6  5  34.0  6  12  22 1.206 7.7  1.6  3.2  5.8
2011    27 Scranton/W-B    AAA  3  4 3.10  18 10  66.2  7  24  45 1.230 7.8  0.9  3.2  6.1
6 Seasons                      35 26 3.36 120 98 539.0 32 192 466 1.284 8.3  0.5  3.2  7.8

And here are his major league stats from last year:

Year   Age Team Lg W L   ERA  G GS   IP HR BB SO ERA+  WHIP  H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9
2011    27  NYY AL 0 0  3.21 11  0 14.0  2 10  8  141 1.429  6.4  1.3  6.4  5.1
2011    27  HOU NL 0 0 17.36  4  0  4.2  4  1  5   24 2.357 19.3  7.7  1.9  9.6
1 Yr               0 0  6.75 15  0 18.2  6 11 13   66 1.661  9.6  2.9  5.3  6.3

He has yet to be assigned to an affiliate, but I will guess he's headed to Durham to take the rotation spot vacated by Bryan Augenstein going on the DL. Jhonny Nunez has filled in twice through the rotation, but only lasted 3.0 innings each time, creating a burden on the bullpen.