January 7, 2010 – The Twins announced they signed relief pitcher Clay Condrey yesterday and put him on the 40 man roster replacing reliever Bobby Keppel who was given his release so he can sign with a team in Japan. Condrey is 34 years old, stands 6’3” and weighs 225. The right handed Condrey throws a sinker, cutter, curve ball, change up, and a four-seam fastball, that is a lot of pitches for a reliever. Condrey has pitched in the big leagues off and on since 2002 but he did spend all of 2004 and 2005 in the minors. 2008 is the only season that Condrey has spent the entire year in the majors.
When I look at his career stats, I see a journeyman pitcher who may or may not help the Twins. Condrey has appeared in 179 games and has an 18-12 record with an ERA of 4.10 and a WHIP of 1.470. He has struck out 143 in 250+ innings but what I don’t like is the 281 hits he has given up. The press talks about him filling a role in the pen while the team waits for Neshek to return from surgery but I see him more as a long guy, last man on the staff, filling the Keppel role. Time will tell I guess.