San Diego Padres sign reliever Tony Sipp to a minor league contract

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego,CA- The San Diego Padres have signed free-agent left-handed reliever Tony Sipp to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Sipp is now the third left-handed reliever the Padres have acquired this off-season,as they acquired left-handed reliever Alex Torres from the Tampa Bay Rays last week for Logan Forsythe, reliever Brad Boxberger, pitching prospects Matt Andriese & Matt Lollis and infielder prospect Maxx Tissenbaum in a 7-player deal and Patrick Schuster in the Rule-5 draft.

Sipp, 30, spent last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and struggled posting a career-high 4.78 ERA in 37 2/3 innings. Despite his high ERA, Sipp did continue his career trend for striking out the opposing batter as he struck out 42 batters in 37 2/3 innings. Sipp averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings.

Sipp joined the Diamondbacks last season after coming over from the Indians in a three-team trade that sent Shin-Soo Choo to the Reds, Trevor Bauer to the Indians and Didi Gregorius to the Diamondbacks. Sipp was drafted by Cleveland Indians in the 45th round in 2004 MLB Draft and spent his first four seasons in the Majors with the Indians.

Sipp has a 3.84 career ERA in 258 innings and a career averages of 9.3 strikeouts and 4.6 walks per nine innings. Sipp has held right-handed batters to a .209 average in his career and .224 against left-handers.

Overall, Sipp is a solid lefty reliever who has been proven to get out both lefties and righties. He is probably best suited in a 7th inning or situational role.