5 MLB Relievers Still Available to Help Bullpens

We are halfway through spring training. The pink slips are beginning to be handed out as some players just don't quite make the cut. With good relief pitchers always in demand, who is left out there when the current hurlers just aren't quite up to snuff?

Click on through to see who the best remaining free-agent options available are.

Arthur Rhodes

After celebrating his 2011 season well into October as a part of the World Series victors, Arthur Rhodes enters this spring without a job. After 20 years spent in the Major Leagues, the fact that the man is still considered a viable relief candidate speaks volumes to his durability.

The left-handed reliever boasts 1,152 strikeouts over the course of his long career — 21 of those coming from just 33 innings pitched in 2011. Those may not be the dazzling numbers that Rhodes once put up, but if a team is looking for a solid veteran left-hander, Rhodes is possibly the best of what's around.

Sergio Mitre

If your team is looking to sign Sergio Mitre, fear for your 2012 season. 

According to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, Mitre plans to throw for teams sometime this spring and expects to find himself on someone's roster during the 2012 season. 2011 saw Mitre post a career worst 11.81 ERA over only 5.1 innings pitched. His career numbers might be better than that, but aren't anything worth jumping up and down about. A career record of 13-30 and a 5.21 ERA is far from impressive. 

Most teams would be better off taking a gamble on an almost-ready prospect before giving Mitre a chance. Only twice in his eight-year stint as a major league player has his ERA sniffed under 4.00.

Being a right-handed reliever as well, it may take something catastrophic to get him into someone's bullpen. But the option is there — if someone really, really needs it.

Mike Gonzalez

As spring training chugs along, Mike Gonzalez finds himself ready to return from arthroscopic knee surgery, but without a place to return to. The seasoned vet possesses a career 2.94 ERA and a 10.3 strikeout per nine inning ratio. Barring an unforeseen complication with his knee recovery, Gonzalez could be a dependable arm in someone's bullpen this season.

According to T.R. Sullivan of mlb.com, the Rangers offered the veteran reliever a non-roster offer that was turned down by Gonzalez and his agent, Scott Boras, as they were intent on finding a guaranteed major league offer. As we edge closer to the season, these offers have yet to come to fruition.  All signs now point to the Rangers re-signing Gonzalez, though there are still teams that could be looking to enhance their left-handed bullpen options.

Damaso Marte

After undergoing shoulder surgery in 2010, Damaso Marte missed the entire 2011 season. The Yankees declined his 2012 option and now Marte sits at the top of the remaining reliever pile.  The hard-throwing southpaw has been a productive reliever for the better part of the last decade and still might have a little gas left in the engine if a team wants to roll the dice on him.

With precious few lefties available for the taking this late into spring training, Marte is a decent option if a team's bullpen finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place. With a low asking price, the return could prove to be highly favorable for a team in need.

Michael Wuertz

One of the few viable relief pitchers who remains unsigned is Michael Wuertz. Despite coming off the worst season of his eight-year career and being notoriously injury-prone, Wuertz's career ERA of 3.71 makes him an interesting candidate for a team still trying to plug holes in their bullpen. 

After putting up a 6.68 ERA during the 2011 season, Oakland declined Wuertz's $3.25 million option. Prior to last year however, he averaged 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings and had one of the best pitches in baseball with his slider. In 2009, it was regarded by the Wall Street Journal as the toughest pitch to connect with—causing batters to swing and miss 49.7 percent of the time.

According to 1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson, Wuertz will hold a tryout next week for a handful of teams looking for some relief assistance. About seven to 10 teams are expected to show up, but the early front-runner for Wuertz seems to be the Minnesota Twins. 

When the recently-signed Joel Zumaya decided to have season-ending Tommy John surgery, it left the Twins in need for a right-handed reliever. Wuertz, a Minnesota boy, might be a decent Mr. Right Now for the Minnesota 'pen.

David Pauley

Last Friday saw David Pauley's last outing as a Detroit Tiger. The reliever, who was acquired in the trade with Seattle for Doug Fister, gave up five hits and four runs in two thirds of an inning.  It was his third less than stellar appearance of the spring. Three days later, the Tigers handed him his walking papers in the form of an unconditional release.

Prior to Pauley's time in Detroit, he had a 2.15 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 54 1/3 innings. With the Tigers, he went 0-2 with a 5.95 ERA. As manager Jim Leyland stated, Detroit was not the right fit for Pauley. Despite a career record of 9-18 and a career 4.52 ERA, Pauley gave up only two hits in 27 innings at Safeco Field last year. His history says he still might be a decent fit for a team with a pitcher-friendly ballpark.