Guardians Agree To Two Minor League Deals With Spring Training Invites
The Cleveland Guardians continue to add to their player pool ahead of their 2024 Spring Training.
In terms of non-roster invitees, after most recently inviting Tyler Beede and reportedly inviting Carlos Carrasco, the team has extended another pair of spring training invitations.
On Tuesday, the Guardians announced that they have signed left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda and catcher Dom Nuñez to minor league contracts, each with a non-roster spring training invite.
The 30-year-old Banda has made 90 appearances (six starts) in seven MLB seasons with seven different teams, going 7-6 with a 5.69 ERA, 109 strikeouts, a 1.63 WHIP, and a .300 opposing batting average. He has also converted one of seven career save opportunities.
Banda most recently made 10 relief appearances for the Washington Nationals last season, tallying a 6.43 ERA and a .321 opposing batting average in seven total innings of work.
He was then designated for assignment before spending the rest of the season with Triple-A Rochester.
Banda went on to make 33 appearances (10 starts) in Triple-A last year. He went 2-5 with a 7.58 ERA, 62 strikeouts, 32 walks, and a .307 opposing batting average, while not converting any of his three save opportunities.
The 29-year-old Nuñez has played a combined 111 games in three MLB seasons with the Colorado Rockies, hitting .180 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI.
His most productive campaign was in 2021, when he hit .189 with 43 hits, 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 33 RBI, and a .692 OPS.
Nuñez most recently played 14 games for the Rockies in 2022. Last season, he played a combined 63 Triple-A games for Iowa and Indianapolis, hitting .187 with 36 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, and 22 RBI.