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Another day, another transaction. Mike Vassallo has today's news:
The #Brewers have signed RHP Jairo Asencio to a minor-league contract with an invitation to Major League camp.
— Mike Vassallo (@MikeVassallo13) November 5, 2012
Asencio is a 28-year-old right hander from the Dominican Republic and a three year major league veteran: He made his big league debut with the 2009 Braves, rejoined them in 2011 and split 2012 between the Indians and Cubs. He was actually originally signed by the Pirates, so the Brewers will be his fifth organization.
Asencio's big league numbers don't tell us much (he's made just 39 major league appearances, including 30 in 2012), but he has a career 2.52 ERA over 118 appearances in AAA, and all of them have come since Opening Day 2009. He has 10.2 strikeouts and just 2.9 walks per nine innings over that time. FanGraphs says he throws a low-to-mid 90's fastball but relies heavily on a changeup and slider.
Giving a guy like this a minor league contract really represents a pretty low risk. He'll come to camp with a solid shot to make the team as part of a rebuilt bullpen, but won't cost the Brewers much if things don't work out.