Another one of the 14 minor league free agents who last played for the San Diego organization has found a new home for 2014. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Houston signed infielder Gregorio Petit, who spent 2013 with the now-defunct AAA Tucson Padres, to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. The veteran of 10 minor league seasons appeared in 134 games and posted his best offensive stats since 2007, back when he was still in AA.
Petit signed with the Athletics as an amateur free agent in 2001 and worked his way up their ladder before finally arriving in Oakland in 2008. He raked to the tune of .348/ .400/ .435 in the small sample size of 23 at-bats over 14 games. He was much less impressive in 11 games in 2009, got sent back down, and has yet to resurface in the majors. Petit was traded to the Rangers before the 2010 season, and signed with the Padres after it. He was released toward the end of spring training and sat out the 2011 season before signing with the Indians. Petit had a solid comeback season in 2012, hitting a career-high 10 homers with AAA Columbus.
After his season in the land of the Buckeyes, Petit signed yet another minor league contract with the Padres. This time he made good on it, batting .292/ .344/ .380 in 503 at-bats while splitting his time in the field between shortstop and third base. Petit matched his career high with 26 doubles and drove in 61 runs, just shy of the career-high of 63 he posted in 2006 as a member of the Single-A Stockton Ports.
Best of luck to Petit this season in Oklahoma City and/or, if all goes well, Houston.
