Relievers On the Move

Several relievers have been signed or traded in the past few days. Relievers have become a very important part of the game. In the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings relievers are depended on to get outs especially in close games.

John Axford signed a one year $4.5 Million contract that contains about $2 Million in incentives with the Cleveland Indians. Axford made his name in Milwaukee, but after one and a half inefficient seasons he was traded to the Cardinals. Axford has a 3.50 ERA with 81 saves from 2011-2013 with all the saves coming in the first 2 years. If the Indians do not re-sign Chris Perez, John Axford, or 'Tom Sawyer,' will be closing games in Cleveland.

The Blunder From Down Under

Grant Balfour will be changing coasts after signing a 2 year $15 Million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Coincidentally the Orioles traded their previous closer, Jim Johnson, to the Oakland Athletics, Balfour's previous team.  Balfour will be 36 in 2014, but he has been showing strong in the past few years of his contract. He holds  a 2.47 ERA over the past 4 years of his career with 62 saves coming in 2012 and 2013. Balfour is a cheaper alternative to Jim Johnson and will get his job done just as well.

The Diamondbacks continued their special area of work, trades, and found Addison Reed in their bullpen. The White Sox receive third base prospect Matt Davidson who had a productive season in AAA. Reed will be just 25 in 2013 and has already accumulated 69 saves to the beat of a 4.17 ERA, but a 3.79 ERA. I think Reed will find more success as he ages, and with 4 years of team control, this was a good deal for the Dbacks.

Joba Chamberlain has not found much of any success out of the bullpen the past 2 seasons, and after having Tommy John surgery, I don't expect him to find anymore success. The Detroit Tigers did sign Joba to a 1 year $2.5 Million contract, but he will probably be no where near the 8th or 9th innings.

Boone Logan was an effective cog in the Yankees' bullpen from 2010-2013 facing lefties and getting out of jams. Logan's strength was he can get out lefties well, but he can also get out his share of right handed hitters. In his time in New York, the now 29 year old hard throwing lefty had a 3.38 ERA and a 10.3 K/9 rate. Logan will be pitching for the Colorado Rockies for the next 3 seasons and earning a total of $16.5 Million.

The Dodgers found their own left handed reliever in the form of JP Howell who has found success in the past two seasons. For 2 years and guaranteed $11.25 Million Howell will bring his 2.48 ERA over the past two seasons to Los Angeles. He will join a bullpen with Brian Wilson, Kenley Jenson, and Paco Rodriguez. I do not think LA is done adding to their bullpen.

In the wake of Boone Logan signing with the Rockies the Yankees signed basically the older version of Boone Logan, Matt Thornton. He will pitch in New York on a 2 year $7 Million. In the same time that Boone Logan was with the Yankees Thornton was with the Chicago White Sox before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2013. From 2010-2013 the hard throwing left pitched to a 3.27 ERA with his ERA gradually rising each year. He does not get as many strikeouts as Logan, but he will likely be a nice addition to the Yankees' thin bullpen.

The Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers won the National League central with 96 wins in 2011. In the 2011-2012 off season it looks like The Brewers aren't even going to win the wildcard. they lost Prince fielder to free agency and Ryan Braun has to face a 50 game suspension for a failed test for performing enhancing drugs. The Brewers haven't signed any sluggers besides Aramis Ramirez so there is no one to replace Fielder.

Braun and Fielder used to be the 3-4 bunch for the Brewers combining for 231 RBI's, 71 home runs, a .406 on base percentage, and an OPS+ of 165, which is phenomenal. Now The Brewers have to play 50 games without Braun, the 2011 NL MVP and 162 games without Fielder. The Brewers didn't sign Carlos Pena as a replacement and don't seem to be in the bidding for any of the other remaining possible free agents. A trade might be brewing, but it doesn't seem likely.

The rotation for The Brewers seems pretty stable with Zack Grienke anchoring it. Grienke won 16 games with a 3.86 ERA over 171 innings. The other notable starters are Yovani Gallardo, Shaun Marcum, and Randy Wolf. These three starters combined for 619 innings and a 3.58 ERA. The Brewers have four starters with decent ERA's and can provide a sufficient amount of innings. If they do fail to pitch a decent amount of innings The Brewers have good bullpen. With Axford and Rodriguez in the back end the 8th and 9th innings are almost a given. 


Although the middle of the lineup is significantly weaker, The Brew Crew still has Rickie Weeks and they signed Aramis Ramairez. Weeks hit 20 home runs, had a .350 on base percentage and an OPS+ of 121. Rmairez hit 26 home runs, had a 361 on base percentage, and 136 OPS+. Also Corey Hart hit 26 home runs for The Brewers, but any combination of  these three players will not make up for the combination of Braun and Fielder. 


When Braun returns after his 50 game suspension, The Brewers may be able to compete with The Reds, but they will already be in a hole. with The NL West looking stronger than ever, a wild card also looks out of the equation.