The Cubs signing lefty Brett Anderson for $3.5 million with incentives to make a $10 million pitcher is another exhibit on how desperate the team is to get starting pitching depth.
In 8 big league seasons, Anderson has only started 30 games twice. And in his 8 big league seasons, he has only had one good year, in 2015, when he went 10-9 3.69 ERA. He has a career 7.3 WAR (0.9125 career average WAR). He is a career 38-43, 3.86 ERA, 1.318 WHIP.
He is injury prone. He only was in a few games last season. Anderson, who’ll turn 29 on February 1st, made just four major league
starts last year after missing the bulk of the season due to back
surgery.
Reports indicate that Anderson, if he is healthy, will compete with Mike Montgomery for the 5th starter spot. Montgomery looks to be the clubhouse leader by a wide margin due to his end of season and post-season record. Back injuries are tricky conditions as they tend to flare up over time. Anderson is just 28 but is coming off his second back surgery in three years,
having undergone an arthroscopic procedure during spring training last
year.
The Cubs need to have eight quality starters in camp. They only will have six actively seeking a 25 man roster spot. With the pitching market must be so thin, it is still strange that Jason Hammel has not received any offers. Hammel went 15-10 in 30 starts, with an 3.83 ERA and 1.1 WAR for the Cubs. He was bought out of his option in November. Hammel struggled at the end of last season (which was his habit) so he was not on the post-season roster. But considering the lack of experienced starters on the market, the Cubs selecting an injured pitcher over Hammel puts a label "damaged" goods on his back (is it a clubhouse attitude issue? a mechanical breakdown issue? a financial issue?) From an objective analysis, Hammel appears to be a more reliable pitcher than Anderson.
Showing posts with label pitcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pitcher. Show all posts
January 24, 2017
January 21, 2014
LOST IN TRANSLATION
This morning there are various tweets on Mashiro Tanaka's twitter feed which can either be poorly translated as "I cannot decide" or "I have decided." So no one knows what really is going on.
There is also a whirlwind of speculative gossip about what the five teams bid for Tanaka's services. Anywhere from 6 years $120 million to 8 years $180 million.
Tanaka needs to have a signed contract in the hands of MLB by Friday. It seems that this negotiation is dragging on. Maybe it is language barrier. Maybe it is personal, since Tanaka is moving his family to the States and his wife wants to continue her singing career. Maybe it is because Tanaka wants the team he would like to go to to up their last bid. Maybe there is a new last minute bidder gumming up the process (like the Mariners or Giants).
What is lost in translation so far is any real indication of where Tanaka would prefer to play. Does he want to play in the American League and face a DH? Or does he want to take his swings in the National League?
I suspect that will take a minor role to the major factors of a) guaranteed money and b) a competitive team.
If Tanaka was confident in his skills, he would actually want to sign a short term, high annual salary ($20 million/year) then hit the free agent market again at age 28 to get Kershaw-type deal in the $30 million/year range for more seasons. But he will probably sign a Darvish-like deal in terms of money and years.
There is also a whirlwind of speculative gossip about what the five teams bid for Tanaka's services. Anywhere from 6 years $120 million to 8 years $180 million.
Tanaka needs to have a signed contract in the hands of MLB by Friday. It seems that this negotiation is dragging on. Maybe it is language barrier. Maybe it is personal, since Tanaka is moving his family to the States and his wife wants to continue her singing career. Maybe it is because Tanaka wants the team he would like to go to to up their last bid. Maybe there is a new last minute bidder gumming up the process (like the Mariners or Giants).
What is lost in translation so far is any real indication of where Tanaka would prefer to play. Does he want to play in the American League and face a DH? Or does he want to take his swings in the National League?
I suspect that will take a minor role to the major factors of a) guaranteed money and b) a competitive team.
If Tanaka was confident in his skills, he would actually want to sign a short term, high annual salary ($20 million/year) then hit the free agent market again at age 28 to get Kershaw-type deal in the $30 million/year range for more seasons. But he will probably sign a Darvish-like deal in terms of money and years.
January 2, 2014
MARK UP THE MARK DOWN
I have heard of former players coming down from the broadcast booth to coach a team,
but it is very rare for a former player turned TV analyst to return to the field of play,
especially after a long lay-off.
ESPN's Mark Mulder has agreed to a minor league deal with a big league invite with the Angels. Fox Sports reports Mulder can earn more than $6MM if all incentives are met,The deal comes with a guaranteed $1MM base salary.
Mulder, 36, hasn't pitched since 2008 because of shoulder issues, and has been working as an analyst with ESPN since 2011. Mulder began his comeback in Arizona in November and auditioned for the Giants, Diamondbacks, and numerous other clubs before reaching agreement with the Halos. In nine seasons with the Athletics and Cardinals, Mulder owns a 4.18 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9.
The Angels have been acquiring young starting pitching this off-season, so this move (a major roll of the dice) is uncharacteristic. Some may say it is a low risk move since it is only a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, and most likely if Mulder doesn't make the 25 man roster he will go back into retirement. But still, his presence will take away innings from someone already in the Angels system who is trying to make the majors for the first time.
Five years without pitching is also going to be hard to overcome. Players are creatures of habit. With the salaries they have now, they train all year round to keep in the best shape possible. Spring training is not to get players "into shape," but to refine skills. Mulder has not had any competitive action for more than 5 years. That is a major hurdle on the come back trail.
It also signals to some that the quantity of starting pitching is thin. There are several starting pitchers who are still in the free agent pool. But teams are now more weary of losing a first round draft pick to sign one of them, unless they are truly ready to win right now. The Angels must question whether they can win the AL West after a disappointing 2013 campaign.
but it is very rare for a former player turned TV analyst to return to the field of play,
especially after a long lay-off.
ESPN's Mark Mulder has agreed to a minor league deal with a big league invite with the Angels. Fox Sports reports Mulder can earn more than $6MM if all incentives are met,The deal comes with a guaranteed $1MM base salary.
Mulder, 36, hasn't pitched since 2008 because of shoulder issues, and has been working as an analyst with ESPN since 2011. Mulder began his comeback in Arizona in November and auditioned for the Giants, Diamondbacks, and numerous other clubs before reaching agreement with the Halos. In nine seasons with the Athletics and Cardinals, Mulder owns a 4.18 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9.
The Angels have been acquiring young starting pitching this off-season, so this move (a major roll of the dice) is uncharacteristic. Some may say it is a low risk move since it is only a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, and most likely if Mulder doesn't make the 25 man roster he will go back into retirement. But still, his presence will take away innings from someone already in the Angels system who is trying to make the majors for the first time.
Five years without pitching is also going to be hard to overcome. Players are creatures of habit. With the salaries they have now, they train all year round to keep in the best shape possible. Spring training is not to get players "into shape," but to refine skills. Mulder has not had any competitive action for more than 5 years. That is a major hurdle on the come back trail.
It also signals to some that the quantity of starting pitching is thin. There are several starting pitchers who are still in the free agent pool. But teams are now more weary of losing a first round draft pick to sign one of them, unless they are truly ready to win right now. The Angels must question whether they can win the AL West after a disappointing 2013 campaign.
December 13, 2012
CAN'T FIGURE THIS ONE OUT
MLBTR reports that the Cubs have agreed to sign South Korean right-handed reliever Chang-Yong Lim. The split contract is worth up to $5MM at the big league level, and it includes an interpreter and a personal trainer.
"I am happy that my dream has finally come true," said Lim to reporters. "I am not getting any younger, and it's great to have the chance to experience something I never have before. I am going to tackle this challenge head on."
Lim, 36, is currently rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery, and the Cubs don't expect him back until 2014. Roughly a half-dozen clubs made contract offers, including the Red Sox and Rangers. Lim had been with the Yakult Swallows in Japan since 2008 after spending several years with the Samsung Lions in South Korea. He pitched to a 2.09 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 128 saves during his time with Yakult.
This makes so little sense it brings fans into the speechless sector. Again, the Cubs have sought out a pitcher coming off a SECOND Tommy John surgery. Again, the Cubs are signing a pitcher who is not even throwing the ball - - - pure guess work if he will recover or not. Again, the Cubs are looking at "past" performance as a guide to future potential, which is a real stretch in regard to equating foreign players to MLB talent. And finally, Lim is 36 years old. And he will not pitch until he is 38 years old!
Old. Injured. Can't pitch for almost two years. Cubs.
Unbelievable.
"I am happy that my dream has finally come true," said Lim to reporters. "I am not getting any younger, and it's great to have the chance to experience something I never have before. I am going to tackle this challenge head on."
Lim, 36, is currently rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery, and the Cubs don't expect him back until 2014. Roughly a half-dozen clubs made contract offers, including the Red Sox and Rangers. Lim had been with the Yakult Swallows in Japan since 2008 after spending several years with the Samsung Lions in South Korea. He pitched to a 2.09 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 128 saves during his time with Yakult.
This makes so little sense it brings fans into the speechless sector. Again, the Cubs have sought out a pitcher coming off a SECOND Tommy John surgery. Again, the Cubs are signing a pitcher who is not even throwing the ball - - - pure guess work if he will recover or not. Again, the Cubs are looking at "past" performance as a guide to future potential, which is a real stretch in regard to equating foreign players to MLB talent. And finally, Lim is 36 years old. And he will not pitch until he is 38 years old!
Old. Injured. Can't pitch for almost two years. Cubs.
Unbelievable.
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