Philly Sports Jabronis
By Todd Zolecki, Phillies.com
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are looking for as many young players and pitchers as possible this offseason.
They signed a young reliever to a Major League contract on Thursday.
The club announced it signed left-hander Elvis Araujo. He has never pitched in the big leagues, but Araujo had several teams pursuing him after he become a free agent. The 23-year-old split last season with Double-A Akron and Class A Carolina, where he went a combined 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA and 11 saves in 43 games. Araujo struck out 50 in 50 innings.
“He adds depth and gives us another quality arm in the system,” Phillies pro scouting director Mike Ondo said. “With [Antonio] Bastardo, [Jake] Diekman and [Mario] Hollands, he’s just another guy in competition.”
Araujo, who is 6-foot-6, is pitching for Zulian in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he has struck out eight in seven scoreless innings.
“We’ve seen him at 92-97 mph this year with a slider,” Ondo said.
Araujo originally signed with the Indians as an amateur free agent in 2007.
