The San Francisco Giants are searching for another Ryan Vogelsong before the start of Spring Training as they have inked two veteran pitchers to minor league contracts in Ramon Ortiz and Travis Blackley.
Blackley, 29, hasn't appeared in a major league game since 2007, though he posted a 4.61 ERA and 45/34 K/BB ratio in 23 minor league appearances last season. He was with the Giants back in 2007, but has been doing work in the Austrailian Baseball League (ABL) for a while now, where he has been pitching in the ABL Championship Series with the Melbourne Aces. He'll likely start in Fresno come opening day.
As for Ortiz, another former member of the Giants organization, turns 39 in March and posted a 4.86 ERA and 25/11 K/BB ratio over 33 1/3 innings with the Cubs in 2011. He will likely serve as rotational insurance due to injury or Zito-ness during the season, also likely down in Fresno depending on his showing in Spring Training.
Grant Brisbee over at McCovey Chronicles has a great take on both Ortiz and Blackley retuning to the Black and Orange, definitely worth checking out.