Perrotto: Chris Owings Hopes to Step Off Roller Coaster (+)

Chris Owings acknowledges that he needs to jumpstart his career. The Pittsburgh Pirates acknowledge they love players with positional versatility.

Thus, Owings being in spring training with the Pirates on a non-roster basis seems like an intriguing match.

The Pirates signed Owings to a minor-league contract Feb. 2 and he is competing for a bench job after spending four of the last five seasons bouncing between the major leagues and the minors.

“Just talking to the front office here and talking to my agents, it just felt like there was a good opportunity here,” Owing said recently at the Pirates’ camp in Bradenton, Fla. “Last year was a tough year and I need to get back to the player I know I can be. I’m just excited to have the opportunity honestly.”