Pirates sign reliever Farnsworth to Minors deal

PITTSBURGH -- Making another move clearly in hopes of adding additional veteran presence for a September drive into the postseason, the Pirates on Friday signed right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth.

Farnsworth was assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he will join catcher Kelly Shoppach, another recently released Major League veteran signed to a Minor League deal on Monday.

Farnsworth, 37, was released on Aug. 9 by Tampa Bay. He had posted a 5.76 ERA in 39 appearances with the Rays, for whom he served as the closer in 2011 prior to the 2012 arrival of Fernando Rodney.

Farnsworth ranks third among active pitchers with his 849 appearances for six different teams. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder with the big arm has 936 strikeouts in 951 1/3 innings.

Interestingly, the Bucs may soon be able to call on a pair of righties who two years ago combined for 45 saves: Mark Melancon, installed as the Bucs' closer in the wake of Jason Grilli's forearm injury, had 20 saves for the 2011 Astros, and Farnsworth had 25 for the Rays.