Dennys

Reyes

Reyes is no lefty specialist, but he is an adequate option in middle relief. The Padres may be focusing too much on adding lefties instead of bringing in quality pitchers, but if Reyes fails, it won’t be an expensive mistake.

Reyes was hit in the head by a line drive last week.

Reyes, who was let go by the Pirates last month, will be assigned to Triple-A Tucson.

Reyes said he tried to pitch through recent stiffness until suffering more pain on Wednesday.

Kansas City needs a starter to take Jimmy Gobble’s place Saturday, and with few other options, manager Tony Pena may have to turn to Reyes. An announcement as to who the lucky hurler will be will be made by Friday.

''I didn’t want to fool them,’' Reyes told El Imparcial after the newspaper reached him at his home in Sinaloa.

That makes a fair risk for the Twins. As well as Reyes had pitched this year, someone would have gambled more on him as a free agent. If he had finished with an ERA right around 1.00, a two-year deal worth $5 million-$6 million would have been a strong possibility.

Reyes has had four outstanding months, but those followed nine largely disappointing seasons. He posted a 5.15 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP as a Petco pitcher before the Padres cut him in 2005, and he didn’t even make the Twins out of spring training this season. However, the 29-year-old currently has a 0.96 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP in 37 1/3 innings while being used largely as a specialist. Lefties are hitting just .145 against him. Maybe he’s finally figured things out and is set for a lengthy run as a useful reliever. However, his long history of mediocrity makes this a risky signing, assuming that he’s getting a couple of million dollars per year.

Both were signed to minor league deals this offseason that included invites to spring training. Once they get to camp, Reyes has an outside chance to make the club as a left-handed specialist, while Paulino will have to have a huge spring to win the backup catcher job.

Reyes had yet to report to Orioles camp due to visa issues, and the team evidently didn’t want to wait for him any longer. The veteran left-hander will try to catch on with another organization once he makes it to the states.