The San Diego Padres have announced they have signed infielder Yangervis Solarte to a contract through the 2018 season with club options for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Executive vice president/general manager A.J. Preller made the announcement. Solarte, 29, had a career season in 2016, hitting .286 (116-for-405) with 26 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 71 RBI and 55 runs scored in 109 games played. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound switch-hitting infielder had a career-best 14-game consecutive hit streak from Sept. 6-29, hitting .385 (20-for-52) over that stretch, the longest by a Padre in 2016. Overall on the season he hit .331 (58-for-175) with runs on base, .302 (32-for-106) with runners in scoring position and .271 (13-for-48) with runners in scoring position and two outs. He was selected as the 18th winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award on Dec. 15, given annually to the Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were the trademarks of Tony Conigliaro.
Since being acquired by the Padres during the 2014 season from the New York Yankees, the Valencia, Venezuela native has hit .275 (316-for-1148) with 64 doubles, six triples, 33 home runs, 151 RBI and 148 runs scored in 317 games played. Originally signed by the Minnesota Twins as a non-drafted free agent in 2005, Solarte has hit .271 (380-for-1400) with 78 doubles, six triples, 39 home runs, 182 RBI and 174 runs scored in 392 games played over parts of three Major League seasons with the Yankees (2014) and Padres (2014-16).