Florida Marlins Sign Pitcher Mark Hendrickson

01/16/2008, MIAMI -- The Florida Marlins today announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Mark Hendrickson. Hendrickson's signing brings the Marlins 40-man roster to 40 players. In addition, the team announced it has signed LHP Randy Williams to a minor league contract with an invitation to ML spring training, and invited infielder Gaby Sanchez to ML spring training. The announcements were made by Marlins President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest.

"Mark gives us another quality left-handed arm in our rotation and his experience and veteran leadership should benefit our clubhouse," said Marlins Manager Fredi Gonzalez.

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Mark Hendrickson, 33, spent the 2007 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 4-8, 5.21 in a career-high 39 games, including a 1-1, 3.69 record (46.1 IP, 19 ER) in 24 relief appearances. For his ML career, Hendrickson owns a 43-55, 5.01 record in 179 games, 135 starts, with Toronto (2002-03), Tampa Bay (2004-06) and Los Angeles-NL (2006-07). The 6-9 left-hander began his professional baseball career in 1998 in the Blue Jays organization. He also played parts of four seasons in the NBA, appearing with four different teams from 1996-2000 (Philadelphia, Sacramento, New Jersey, Cleveland). Born in Washington, Hendrickson attended Washington St. University and signed with Toronto as their 20th-round selection in the 1997 June Draft.

Williams, 32, split the 2007 season between Frisco (AA) and Oklahoma (AAA) in the Texas Rangers organization. He has appeared in 38 Major League games, all in relief, going 3-1, 6.68 with Seattle (2004), San Diego (2005) and Colorado (2005). A Texas native, Williams was drafted by the Cubs in the 12th-round of the 1997 June Draft out of Lamar College.

Sanchez, 24, spent the entire 2007 season at Jupiter (A) batting .279 (132x473) with 40 doubles, nine homers and 70 RBI in 133 games. He led the Marlins minor league system in doubles and was the FSL Player of the Week for June 25-July 1. A Miami native, Sanchez was the Marlins' fourth-round selection in the 2005 June Draft out of the University of Miami.

The Marlins now have 40 players on the 40-man roster and currently have 29 players invited to Major League spring training camp. Marlins pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout in Jupiter on Feb. 18 and the first full-squad workout will be on Feb. 21.

Additional information on the 2008 Marlins is available on the team's website, www.floridamarlins.com. Full statistics on the players in today's transactions are available on MLB.com and MiLB.com.

Source: MLB