Nationals sign reliever Evan Meek, 1B/OF Kila Ka'aihue to Minor League deals

With much less fanfare than their last signing, the Washington Nationals announced this afternoon that they had inked veteran reliever Evan Meek and and first baseman/outfielder Kila Ka'aihue to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training.

MLB.com's Bill Ladson was first with the news of both signings, announcing each on Twitter within the last week:

The #Nats signed RHP Evan Meek to a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training. #Nationals #MLB

— William Ladson (@washingnats) January 22, 2015

The #Nats signed 1B Kila Ka'aihue to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. #Nationals #MLB

— William Ladson (@washingnats) January 19, 2015

Meek, 31, signed a free agent deal with the Baltimore Orioles last winter, and spent the majority of the season with the O's Triple-A affiliate, going (2-0) with 16 saves, a 1.94 ERA, a 2.49 FIP, four walks (0.86 BB/9) and 37 Ks (7.99 K/9) in 41 ⅔ IP.

In 23 games and 23 ⅓ IP for the Orioles, Meek put up a 5.79 ERA and a 5.10 FIP, with 11 walks (4.24 BB/9) and 16 Ks (6.17 K/9).

The one-time All-Star put together his strongest season in the majors in 2010 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, posting a 2.14 ERA, a 3.45 FIP, 31 walks (3.49 BB/9) and 70 Ks (7.88 K/9) in 80 IP.

Ka'aihue, 30, has played 126 games total in the majors, 87 with the Kansas City Royals who drafted him in 2002 and 39 with the Oakland A's who acquired the 1B/DH in 2011.

In twelve minor league seasons, Ka'aihue has put up a combined .268/.391/.468 line.

He spent the last two seasons with the Hiroshima Carp in Nippon Professional baseball, posting a combined .258 AVG with 20 doubles and 25 HRs in 600 PAs.

The #Nats have agreed to terms w 1B/OF Kila Ka’aihue & RHP Evan Meek on Minor League contracts w invitations to Major League Spring Training

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) January 22, 2015