Boston Braves: Takashi Saito Signs with Atlanta

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2009 3:46 PM EST

Danny Knobler is reporting that Takashi Saito has signed with the Atlanta Braves.

It seems that the Braves liked the look of the Red Sox' late-season bullpen, signing first setup man Billy Wagner and now backup closer Takashi Saito.

The deal is reported to be worth $3 million, half of the cost of the option the Red Sox declined earlier in the offseason.

While Saito posted an impressive ERA of 2.43 with the Red Sox, more advanced stats suggest it was the product of good luck in a small sample size. While his strikeouts remained high--52 in 55.2 innings--he had a high FIP of 4.25 (the result of a higher walk and home run rate), and an even higher tRA of 4.40.

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Ugh

Another one slips through the fingers of Theo — although this one may hurt a little more than Wagner, as it seems Boston intended to bring Saito back. Too bad he wasn’t a Type B free agent or anything.

Now the Sox need to worry about bullpen arms this offseason. With Manny D’s inconsistencies in the second half, the Sox will have two grab an arm or two to try and sure up the bullpen with Saito out of the picture.

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by Randy Booth on Dec 3, 2009 3:56 PM EST reply actions

I wasn't counting on Saito to either be here or pitch well next year.

He’s only getting older, and he wasn’t actually too good last year. I think Bard and Papelbon will make a really good 1-2 punch, the hope has to be that Okajima can be a really good 7th inning guy. After that, we roll the dice with our 4 or 5 other guys (RamRam, MDC, Manuel, Richardson, Random signing) and hope 1 comes up aces to fill in on days when our top-3 guys need rest.

Again, we just have to dodge a “perfect storm” scenario.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

So we don't get any compensation? That blows.....

"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko

by sox-inda-south on Dec 3, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

C'mmmmooonnnn nice Rule 5 pick

You can usually find a nice surprising bullpen arm in that thing.

DFA Beckett

by South Coast Ghost on Dec 3, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

Kiko Calero please.

To zobrist; verb – to overlook the superiority of a person or object based on misleading sensory or conversational factors. e.g. "My teacher totally zobristed me on that paper – I’d included all the points he asked for but I didn’t drone on about Grover Cleveland enough. He’s totally biased towards Cleveland. What’s worse is that Danny Dukowski got an A, and his prose style is terrible. He’s a total Victorino." deadspy3 - Amazin' Avenue

by bloodysock04 on Dec 3, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions

I like his peripherals well enough.

Except the walks. The walks are scary.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Dec 3, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Any decent RPs

That we won’t lose draft picks signing? I’m not wholly trusting of MDC or RamRam (at least not in his second inning of work), I assume we’ll be signing SOMEONE with these two losses.

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on Dec 3, 2009 4:08 PM EST reply actions