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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Sign Two Former Major Leaguers, Former First Rounder Cordero and Outfielder Thompson

June 3, 2011 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (June 3, 2011) - Signing one former Major Leaguer is news enough, but when you sign two in one day it makes everyone take notice. The St. Paul Saints jumped at that chance and signed former National League All-Star closer Chad Cordero and former New York Yankee outfielder Kevin Thompson.

The 29-year-old right-hander spent seven seasons in the Major Leagues with the Montreal Expos, Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners. He was a 2005 All-Star with the Nationals when he led the league in saves with 47. He finished fifth in the Cy Young Award voting and 14th in N.L. MVP balloting that year. During that career season he was 2-4 with a 1.82 ERA and 47 saves in 74 appearances. In 74.1 innings pitched he walked 17 and struck out 61.

Cordero was originally drafted in the 26th round of the 2000 June Amateur Draft out of high school by the San Diego Padres, but elected to go to Cal State Fullerton. The move paid off because in 2003 he was drafted in the first round (20th overall) by the Montreal Expos. It didn't take him long to reach the Major Leagues making his debut on August 30 of that same season. He proved he belonged immediately going 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA and one save in 12 appearances. In 11.0 innings pitched he walked three and struck out 12.

The numbers continued to dazzle for Cordero in the Major Leagues until he injured his shoulder in 2008 and underwent major surgery to repair a torn labrum on July 8.

In 2009 he signed with the Mariners and began his comeback pitching a total of 14 games between the Rookie League in Arizona and Low-A Northwest League. In 2010 he pitched at Triple-A Tacoma and in the Major Leagues with the Mariners, going 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in nine games. The Mets signed him to a free agent contract that season and he pitched in 17 games at Triple-A going 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 17 games.

Cordero began this season with the Toronto Blue Jays organization and pitched at Triple-A Las Vegas where he went 0-2 with an 8.66 ERA in nine games.

The 31-year-old Thompson was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 18th round of the 1998 June Amateur Draft, but elected not to sign and was then drafted by the New York Yankees in the 31st round of the 1999 June Amateur Draft.

Thompson spent seven years in the minor leagues before being called up to the Yankees and playing in his first game on June 3 at the Baltimore Orioles. His first Major League hit came in his third at bat, an infield single to third off of Orioles reliever Chris Britton. That season he hit .300 (9-30) with one homer and six RBI in 19 games. Thompson's first Major League homer came off of the Oakland A's starter Kirk Sarloos on June 10 of that season.

In 2008 Thompson played in 13 games for the Yankees before being selected off of waivers by the A's on September 7. He played nine games and was 1-14 with an RBI. In his Major League career he hit .215 with one homer and nine RBI in 41 games.

The Fort Worth, TX native is no stranger to the American Association having played for the Fort Worth Cats in 2009 and 2010. Last season he hit .389 with four homers and 27 RBI in 28 games. In 108 at bats he scored 29 runs he ripped 12 doubles, stole 13 doubles, stole 13 bases, had an on base percentage of .477 and a .611 slugging percentage.

In order to make room for Cordero and Thompson the Saints released right-handed pitcher Kyle Zaleski. He was 1-1 with a 1.88 ERA in three starts, but injured his right elbow on Tuesday. The Saints also placed infielder Ole Sheldon on the disabled list retroactive to May 31. He re-injured his oblique during the game.

The Saints roster stands at 22 players, the league maximum, with two on the disabled list, 11 pitchers and 11 position players.

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