Indians bolster bullpen depth with Gorzelanny, Thatcher

The Cleveland Indians augmented their bullpen depth Monday morning, signing veteran left-handers Tom Gorzelanny and Joe Thatcher to minor-league contracts that include invitations to MLB spring training.

Gorzelanny fashioned a 5.95 ERA with a 1.73 WHIP over 48 appearances for the Detroit Tigers last season, posting his worst walk rate (12.7 percent) since 2008 while surrendering the ninth-highest batting average on balls in play (.353) among relievers with at least 30 innings pitched. Still, the 33-year-old limited left-handed hitters to a .222/.317/.347 line over 83 plate appearances in 2015, and managed a 3.13 ERA in 111 outings over the three seasons prior.

Thatcher, meanwhile, crafted his best ERA (3.18) since 2010 this season while managing a 26 percent strikeout rate for the Astros, but the 34-year-old was limited to just 22 2/3 innings due to control issues and was designated for assignment in July before returning to Houston in September. Over parts of nine seasons in the majors, Thatcher has held left-handers to a .645 OPS while surrendering just 0.66 home runs per nine innings.