The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed former Met Scott Rice to a minor league deal according to Jeff Passan. Rice spent the entire 2015 season with the Mets AAA affiliate the Las Vegas 51’s going 2-1 with a 1.82 ERA and 1.361 WHIP in 56 games. Rice elected free agency on November 6th.

He did walk 28 batters compared to 43 strikeouts while allowing 26 hits in 39.2 innings of work. Rice actually was better against right handed batters this year with them hitting just .152 off him and lefties hitting .235. He allowed only one run in 14.1 innings after the all-star break for Las Vegas.

Rice made his Major League debut with the Mets in 2013 after 13 season playing in the minors. Terry Collins became very comfortable using him and he made a whopping 73 appearances during his rookie season earning him the nickname “Everyday Rice” from Mets fans. He went 4-5 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.353 WHIP over 51 innings in his debut season.

The 2014 season didn’t start off as well for Rice who struggled with his control walking 12 batters and allowing nine runs in 13 innings before being sent down to Las Vegas in June. Later that month he found out he needed to have surgery to remove a bone spur and have a nerve relocated in his pitching arm.

The Mets have plenty of options for a lefty out of the bullpen with Jerry Blevins, Josh Smoker, Dario Alvarez, and Josh Edgin all on the 40-man roster.