The Arizona Diamondbacks signed veteran utility man Mark Teahen on Monday to a minor league contract. The deal contains an invitation to spring training.

Nick Piecoro, Diamondbacks Insider, broke the news on Twitter:

 

 

Teahen did not play a game in the majors in 2012. He spent the entire season with the Washington Nationals‘ Triple-A affiliate, playing in 124 games and producing a line of .260/.328/.360 with three home runs and 63 RBI.

Once considered an important piece of the young core of the Kansas City Royals, Teahen has since been on the downslide of his career.

At 30 years old, there is a chance that he can get back to form. That possibility remains unlikely, though.

With the Diamondbacks, he’ll be given a shot at making the team out of spring training. Willie Bloomquist and John McDonald are the team’s utility infielders, but first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is currently without a backup.

Teahen could be given that shot, but he could also be left in the minors as an injury fill-in.

Teahen’s best major league season came in 2006 with the Royals. In just 109 games, he hit a career-high 18 home runs and drove in a career-high 69. He also produced a line of .290/.357/.517.

There’s no risk involved in Arizona picking him up, but there is a small chance for a decent reward.

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