Doug Salinas

DOUG SALINAS
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: December 5, 1988
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 195
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l FA, 2005 (Mariners)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Country: Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Salinas signed with the Mariners out of Venezuela for somewhere between $400-500K.  At the time he threw 90 mph but didn’t have a good secondary pitch.  He’s now spent six seasons with four organizations and hasn’t reached AA.  For some reason, his peripherals have persistently been better than his ERA.  The Rangers released him in spring training in 2012 and the Pirates signed him in early June.  He’s an organizational pitcher at this point.

2006
R:  4-0-2, 2.84 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 50.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Salinas had a good debut with Seattle’s rookie level team.

2007
A-:  2-8-0, 5.91 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 70.0 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Salinas got hit hard in short season ball, but was only 18 years old.

2008
A-:  2-7-2, 5.53 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 57.0 IP, 4.6 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

Seattle sent Salinas back to short season ball and moved him primarily to the bullpen.  He got hit much less hard, but had more control problems.  Seattle released him after the season.

2009
A-:  5-0-0, 2.61 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 7.8 K/9

Tampa signed Salinas and sent him to short season ball for a third season, this time entirely in relief.  He pitched much more effectively, still only at age 20.

2010
R:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
A:  3-3-7, 2.38 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 41.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 10.8 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

The Reds took Salinas in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.  He missed part of the season due to injury, but finally got to full season ball.  He pitched very well in relief in low A, with impressive walk and K rates.

2011
A+:  5-2-14, 4.47 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 50.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 9.8 K/9

Salinas served as the closer for the Reds’ high A team, which had moved that season to the hitting-happy California League.  He had good peripherals, but not a good ERA.

2012
A+:  0-2-11, 5.29 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 17.0 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 5.3 K/9

Salinas became a free agent after the 2011 season and signed with Texas, but failed to make any of the Rangers’ minor league rosters.  The Pirates assigned him to Bradenton and he served as the closer in the second half of the season.  As usual, his peripherals, other than his K rate, were better than his ERA.

Salinas will be eligible for free agency after the season.  There’s no particular reason for the Pirates to bring him back.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $400,000 (approx)
MiLB Debut: 2006
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2012
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: 2012
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: N/A
TRANSACTIONS
July 11, 2005: Signed as an international free agent by the Seattle Mariners.
September 12, 2008: Released by the Seattle Mariners.
December 30, 2008: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Tampa Bay Rays.
December 10, 2009: Selected by the Cincinnati Reds from the Tampa Bay Rays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
November 2, 2011:  Became a minor league free agent.
December 15, 2011: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Texas Rangers.
April 1, 2012: Released by the Texas Rangers.
June 4, 2012: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.