San Inazio Bilbao made a splash on the transfer market. They have signed the Venezuelan national team shortstop Dirimo Enrique CHAVEZ and the former Mets minor leaguer Pedro BELMONTE, who had pitched for the Marlins Puerto Cruz last season. In addition they have extended the contract of their ace Joan LOPEZ.CHAVEZ is 24 years old and was the starting shortstop in all seven games for Venezuela at the Baseball World Cup in Taiwan. He hit .250 (OBP .379/SLG .417) with one homerun, seven runs scored and two RBI. He had signed with the Boston Red Sox organization in 2001. He appeared in 215 minor league games between 2003 and 2005 and reached Double A in his last year. He was traded to the New York Mets in 2005, playing in 23 games for their affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones. He hit a combined .249 (.327/.307) over the course of three seasons.
BELMONTE is 35 years old. He was in the New York Mets organization during the early 1990s. He posted a 5-7 record with an ERA of 3.96 in 25 games in two seasons on the Rookie level. He struck out 70 in 102.2 innings pitched. He later won a championship with the Lara Cardinals of the Venezuelan Winter League. In 2007 he pitched for the Spanish champion. He impressed with a 1.08 ERA in nine games. He won four games and had two saves. He struck out seven in 33.1 innings pitched, walking two.
Besides these two new members of the roster, San Inazio also welcomes back the Venezuelan LOPEZ. He had an 8-4 record with an ERA of 2.18 in 16 games for Bilbao last year. He struck out 84 (19 BB) in 90.2 innings pitched.
Statistics:
Dirimo CHAVEZ
Pedro BELMONTE