Cardinals invite Villone to camp
Villone, 38, spent the last two seasons pitching for the Yankees.
A veteran of 13 Major League seasons, Villone has pitched for 10 different teams. He's served primarily as a reliever, but has made 93 big league starts -- most recently starting 10 games for the Mariners in 2004. He will receive a salary of $600,000 if he is added to the Major League roster. If Villone is not on the 25-man roster by June 1, he can ask to be released.
"You can look at a numbers game, seeing how many lefties there are, but I'm not the average lefty," Villone said. "I don't think I'm a great lefty-lefty matchup guy. But that's what I've done in the past, and I can do it again. Being versatile helps. I can throw a lot of innings, whether it's being a spot starter or one hitter. Whatever the team needs, that's what I'm here to do."
Villone addressed reporters on his first day of camp. And while plenty of questions centered on his pitching and his choice of St. Louis, the bulk of his interview related to his being named in former Sen. George Mitchell's report on illegal performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.
"I have no thoughts about it anymore," he said. "It's something that I can't control. Sometimes people are inaccurate the way they perceive things. I can't control them. I can only control what I do and who I am and what I'm going to be."
More than once, Villone referred to "inaccuracies" in the Report, but did not specify what those inaccuracies might be. He has yet to state publicly whether he did or did not take IPEDs. According to the report, Villone made three separate purchases of human growth hormone from former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.
Villone said he does not intend to pursue legal action regarding any of the assertions that he considers incorrect.
"It's not for me to really sit there and pick and poke at," he said. "I'm trying to put it in the past. I did see some inaccuracies, but that's a 'he-said, she-said,' and I'm not going to get into that. I'm just going to move on."
For his career, Villone has a 55-57 record with a 4.76 ERA. He's pitched 1,069 1/3 innings in 580 games and has recorded six saves. In 2007, he put up a 4.25 ERA in 42 1/3 innings (37 appearances) for New York. He struck out 25 and walked 18. The Cardinals view Villone's likeliest role as a long reliever, rather than a specialist or a potential starting candidate.
"He gives us some flexibility," said general manager John Mozeliak. "He is willing to go to [Triple-A] Memphis if he doesn't make our club."
Over the past three seasons, Villone held left-handed hitters to a .210 batting average, a .304 on-base percentage and a .303 slugging percentage in 290 at-bats.
The Cardinals have two left-handed relievers already on their Major League roster: Randy Flores and Tyler Johnson. Flores' brother, Ron, is also in camp competing for a spot.
More new arrivals: In addition to welcoming Villone, the Cardinals added two prospects to Major League camp on non-roster invitations. Right-handers Stuart Pomeranz and Tyler Herron both joined camp on Tuesday.
The two provide an intriguing contrast. Pomeranz, a second-round Draft pick in 2003, has battled to turn his stuff and potential into consistent performance. Herron, meanwhile, is not known for exceptional stuff, but he's considered extremely polished and refined for a 21-year-old who has yet to pitch above Class A.
Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com.
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