Padres sign RHP Keone Kela to one-year contract

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Keone Kela to a one-year contract for the 2021 season, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller announced today. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club placed right-hander Trey Wingenter on the 60-day Injured List.

Kela, 27, made just three appearances for the Pirates in 2020, allowing one run in 2.0 innings in a campaign that was shorted due to a forearm injury. The Los Angeles, Calif. native converted 24 of 25 save opportunities for Texas in 2018 before he was acquired by Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, and he was scored upon just twice in his 16 appearances as a member of the Pirates to finish the season. He went on to post a career-best 2.12 ERA (7 ER, 29.2 IP) with a .178 opponents AVG (19-for-107) for Pittsburgh in 2019.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Kela has made 231 career relief appearances between the Rangers (2015-18) and Pirates (2018-20), going 21-11 with 28 saves, a 3.24 ERA (78 ER, 216.2 IP), 266 strikeouts against 83 walks and a .202 opponents AVG. He was originally selected by the Rangers in the 12th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Everett Community College (Wash.).