Bullpen Options Dwindling For The Red Sox
by Jared Stegall on Dec 15, 2010 11:35 PM EST
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The Red Sox have accomplished much more this offseason than anyone expected.
They finally acquired Adrian Gonzalez and surprisingly signed Carl Crawford, much more than we all expected from Theo Epstein and ownership. However, they have so far struck out on something they have stressed as their greatest need: getting the bullpen help they so desperately need.
The Red Sox appear to be very reluctant to offer any relief pitcher a three-year deal. They have said, however, that they may be willing to offer a three-year deal to "elite relievers" on the market. They have reportedly been looking at former Minnesota Twins relievers Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, and Brian Fuentes as their top targets. All of these options they thought they could sign without guaranteeing that third year in a contract
Today, it hit them that they need to step up their pursuit.
Guerrier, who yesterday appeared to be the Red Sox' number one target, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers today, inking a three-year deal. Crain, the Red Sox' second target, signed with the White Sox for--yes, you guessed it--a three-year deal.
In just one day, it appears the Red Sox' bullpen target list has shifted around quite a bit.
Good news did come today as the Sox are reportedly in "serious negotiations" with former Rays reliever Dan Wheeler. Wheeler posted a very impressive 3.35 ERA in 2010. Even with Wheeler possibly on board, they still have work to do.
While there are still prime bullpen targets on the market, there are still a lot of teams that seem willing to offer these guys a three-year deal, including the Yankees who have an extra 25 million dollars to spend now that Cliff Lee decided to sign with the Phillies.
Lets take a look at the remaining options the Sox could take a look at:
Brian Fuentes
Even with Crain and Guerrier signing today, the Red Sox are still very interested in their former teammate Brian Fuentes.
Fuentes is arguably the best left-handed reliever left on the market as he posted a solid 3.52 ERA and didn't give up an earned run the second half of the season splitting time with the Angels and Twins. Fuentes has closing experience with the Angels and Colorado Rockies as he is a former All-Star and recorded 48 saves in 2009 with the Angels.
However, after being acquired in a waiver-wire deal, the Twins decided to shift Fuentes into a setup role with Matt Capps serving as their primary closer. Fuentes had tremendous success with the Twins in a non-closer role as he put less pressure on himself than he would have closing out a game.
The Red Sox are in dire need of a left-handed relief pitcher who could handle the seventh inning duties with Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon handling the eighth and ninth innings for them. Fuentes would be a great addition and could certainly fill that need..
Following his worst season in his six-year career, the Chicago White Sox decided to non-tender closer Bobby Jenks.
Jenks posted a 4.44 ERA and recorded 27 saves with the White Sox in 2010, and ended up losing his closing job to left-hander Matt Thornton midseason.
Jenks would be an under-the-radar addition as you would add a solid seventh inning option who has closing experience and could be relatively cheap.
Major interest in the 29-year-old reliever is only just developing, so if the Red Sox play their cards right, they could get this guy coming off a bad year fairly cheap. Jenks has the potential to be a low risk-high reward addition much like Adrian Beltre was last year for the Sox
With the Red Sox already adding a former Tampa Bay Ray in Carl Crawford, why not look into another?
Soriano is coming off a career year with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010 as he recorded a MLB-leading 45 saves in 2010 posting an incredible 1.73 ERA. Despite his great success, teams have yet to express a ton of interest in the All-Star.
The Angels appeared to be the best fit for Soriano about a month ago, but having signed left handed relievers Scott Downs and Hisanori Takahashi to work the seventh and eigth innings behind Fernando Rodney, they appear to be out of the hunt.
The Red Sox would be a great fit for Soriano if (a big IF), they decided to trade Jonathan Papelbon away, freeing up the closers role. A deal that would allow Soriano to slide into the closers role on a three-year deal, giving Daniel Bard a few more seasons to get ready to be the full-time closer.
The Red Sox had a tough time closing out games (if you don't believe me, watch any close game when we played the Yankees). Soriano would almost be a sure thing for a save in the ninth and would allow the Red Sox to win the close games they couldn't win last season.
Boston still has $13 million to spend this offseason, and with the shrinking market for Soriano as a closer, they could certainly fit him into their budget, even if they decided to keep Papelbon as the setup man.
Probably the most overworked reliever in the game, the 33-year-old Pedro Feliciano was one of the bright spots on the 2010 New York Mets bullpen, and their roster for that matter.
Feliciano appeared in 92 games last season for the Mets as former manager Jerry Manuel displayed tremendous confidence in the 33-year-old. Feliciano did not disappoint, posting a 3.30 ERA as a "left-handed specialist" as Manuel put it.
Feliciano would fit in the Boston bullpen perfectly as he would assume a role he was been used to being in his entire career as a left-handed pitcher who held left-handed batters to a .215 batting average in 2010.
Feliciano could be a relatively cheap and effective option for Terry Francona as essentially a better and more consistent version of Hideki Okajima: a left-handed pitcher who is used to being brought in often to get left-handed hitters out.
Bring Back The Non-Tenders
The Red Sox acquired right-handed reliever Taylor Buchholz (no relation to Clay) from the Rockies and left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller from the Florida Marlins earlier in the offseason. However, they decided to non-tender them both just days before free agency started.
The Red Sox have expressed interest in bringing them back, but appear to be more focused on Miller. Miller has really never caught on in the majors as a starter, but could transition into a potential long reliever role for the Red Sox.
Current Red Sox Bullpen:
CP-Jonathan Papelbon
RP-Daniel Bard
RP- Empty (Manny Delcarmen last season)
RP- Empty (Ramon Ramirez last season)
RP-Scott Atchison
RP-Tim Wakefield
RP- Felix Doubront/Junichi Tazawa
Essentially, the Red Sox need to sign at least two relievers to fill the holes. Preferably a right-handed one (possibly Wheeler) and a left-handed one. The bullpen has been the main concern according to Theo since the end of the season. They have 13 million left to spend total, plenty to fill two bullpen slots.
Your move Theo--the market is getting thinner by the minute.
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Why Not Fuentes?
I mean if it’s due to contractual reasons, sure then I agree also. But if he’s willing to suck it up and not be the closer and not kill payroll, them I’m down.
"Common sense is quite rare." - Voltaire
The Artist Formerly Known as PacoL250
Resident Psychologist and Tech Support at Over the Monster: SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Web Site
Jenks, Fuentes, Feliciano
Force their hand and Theo & Co. should be able to get them on the cheap…or at least without committing too much money for too many years.
Soriano will get his closer’s job elsewhere, I feel. Now if he doesn’t, then that would be certainly awesome for Theo & Co.
What’s this I hear about Lenny DiNardo?
"Common sense is quite rare." - Voltaire
The Artist Formerly Known as PacoL250
Resident Psychologist and Tech Support at Over the Monster: SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Web Site
Nevermind About Lenny; Just Saw Ben's Article.
"Common sense is quite rare." - Voltaire
The Artist Formerly Known as PacoL250
Resident Psychologist and Tech Support at Over the Monster: SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Web Site
With the Yankees probably offering him good money and the Rays probably offering a closer's job...
…I don’t see Jenks coming here anymore. It sucks, but oh well.
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 8:48 AM EST up reply actions
Maddon
was very much a believer in lefty/righty splits and matchups. As a result, Wheeler was frequently brought in to face one or two batters. If memory serves he was about the fourth reliever (behind Soriano, Benoit, Balfour)
He is a more than competent, but he is hardly going to be the solution to the closer issue.
One More Thing
I understand Theo & Co don’t want to go too long term with relievers, but I think that tactic may hurt them. They’re too scared it seems to commit to a reliever for more than say 1-2 years, but these relievers want some semblance of stability instead of going year to year.
Yes I know it’s hard to find consistent relievers, but there are many out there if you really think about it. It’s just that everybody and their mother is too scared to keep guys around for a while…except maybe the Twins perhaps. How long were Crain and Guerrier with the Twins? 6 years.
The Red Sox have come close with Pap and Masterson (but he’s gone) so there’s only Pap now and he’s obviously the closer. Maybe it’s time to develop relievers (take a page from the Twins) consistently.
"Common sense is quite rare." - Voltaire
The Artist Formerly Known as PacoL250
Resident Psychologist and Tech Support at Over the Monster: SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Web Site
There is talk...
That the Sox want Masterson back… via trade but very unlikely at this point
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by Jared Stegall on Dec 16, 2010 12:02 AM EST up reply actions
It killed me to watch him shut us out earlier this year (I think in June or July)
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
I'm back, that's all, formerly known as Sox-Inda-South!
Agree, there are relievers that can perform for years
Fuentes, Wheeler and others have been solid relievers for years. There is no reason to think they will instantly implode over the next two/three years. Theo and the Sox PR machine are trying to convince us the bullpen is a total crapshoot, but that is only becasue they like to bring in all these projects and no-names to fill out the pen.
They don't need too convince us: It is a crapshoot!
Would’ve you expected Joaquin Benoit to put an ERA of 1.34 and striking out 11.19 batters per 9 after putting an ERA of 5 in 2008 (he spent all 2009 injured)?
If I told last off season, that Chad Qualls will have an ERA of 7.32 in 2010, you wouldn’t believe me because he was showing consistent results over the years:
Chad Qualls ERA
2004 3.55
2005 3.28
2006 3.76
2007 3.05
2008 2.81
2009 3.63
He pitched 409.2 innings: That’s pretty consistent right? And you saw the results: Relief pitching is volatile I don’t need someone to convince me of that!
Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005
Agreed, but
which is more of a crapshoot, Lenny DiNardo or Brian Fuentes? Sure, Lenny comes on the cheap and with no expectations, but the Sox need to take the financial risk with Fuentes or another more consistent-looking pitcher because he has a better chance of delivering.
Anyone see the Nationals non-tender Joel Peralta?
His surface stats are fantastic for 2010, not sure what the sabermetric stats show. I think he’d be a great addition at first glance
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
I'm back, that's all, formerly known as Sox-Inda-South!
His saber stats say "Gimme dat"
for this year.
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 16, 2010 12:39 AM EST up reply actions
Oh yeah, 2008, 2009 are ugly but man did he light up the NL or what?
Why the hell would the NATINALS! non-tender him? Between him and Storen thats an awesome start to the bullpen….
"Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax"
I'm back, that's all, formerly known as Sox-Inda-South!
Not sure how much the NL reasonably effects a RP's stats.
Since he’s unlikely to be facing pitchers by that point. Makes me wonder.
Sure someone has looked into it. It might even be a little more difficult since NL teams tend to have better benches and can go left-right matchups with some decent regularity.
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 16, 2010 9:01 AM EST up reply actions
Sign me up for Fuentes and Wheeler
I checked out Fuentes splits and his stats surprised me. He held batters to a .181 average in 2010 and held lefthanded batters to a .128 average. Some may not like him becasue they see a closer without a dominating fastball, more of a Foulke type. He appears to have taken to the setup role well, although I’m sure he would obviously like to be a closer and get closer money, but I don’t think there will be enough closer jobs available. He is 35 and unlikely to get a 3 year deal from anybody unless the Yankees decide to overpay and keep him away from the Red Sox.
Wheeler is alos an excellent choice and obviously an AL East battle tested pitcher the Sox have had plenty of time to evalulate. If the Sox can land both of these guys for a couple of years, that may also solve the 2012 bullpen needs.
He'd be a really good lefty guy
But man, that’s a lot to spend on a lefty guy…
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 16, 2010 9:01 AM EST up reply actions
do you know how much he's looking for?
I just haven’t seen anywhere. I can’t imagine he’ll get a closer’s job or the money that goes along with one. Of course, god only knows in this market.
I remember reading somewhere that he was asking for around 2 years/$20m total
That was around the start of the Winter Meetings though.
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
but that is closer money, and what team with money needs a closer? No team, with the exception of the Yankees, is giving any pitcher $10 mil. to be a set up man. If I’m Theo I wait him out and see if someone jumps on him to be a closer. If not I come in with a two year deal at something like $5-7 mil per.
You would give Fuentes $7m a year?
Yikes, that is really high salary, not sure I’d go that high for him
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
7M
for a lefty specialist sounds excessive
by German Red Sox Fan on Dec 16, 2010 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
I don't characterize Fuentes as a lefty specialist
he has had sucess closing and setting up and is good against both, dominating against lefties. He is my 7th inning guy
He hasn't been as good against righthanders lately though
Look at that FB% against righties. It’s scary
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
Fuentes is more than just a "lefty guy"
His splits are excellent on both sides. If you have a couple of lefties coming up in the 7th inning he can stay in to face the righthanders also. That is what made Oki so valuable when he was on his game, he could pitch a whole inning and he may have actually been more effective with righthanders.
The problem is
He’s grown increasingly Fly Ball happy with righthanders, and in Fenway, the seems very dangerous to me.
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
His career numbers against righties are solid
but in the last 2 years he’s been pretty bad against them.
by German Red Sox Fan on Dec 16, 2010 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
Give me some wheeler
I like Wheeler as well. I would say the only thing that scares me is the Yanks have hit him in the past, but he has been pretty good against the other AL East teams (excluding the Rays of course, seeing as he never faced them when he was in Houston). He also pitched well against the Sox I believe so it’ll be nice keeping him off an opposing team.
He also hasn’t faired well over his career against the Twins, White Sox or Rangers but I think his success against the AL East and familiarity of Tampa’s ballpark will prove his worth. Maybe a better defense helps him out and some of his numbers get better against the other teams but he’s a veteran guy who is good for 60+ appearances out of the pen.
by The Name is Dalton on Dec 16, 2010 9:14 AM EST up reply actions
Not a fan of Wheeler
He is a heavy fly ball pitcher.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Dec 16, 2010 9:48 AM EST up reply actions
and a ROOGY
Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005
Dwindling? Maybe
but there are plenty of options still available. I was surprised to see the wealth of good relievers still on the market. I really wanted Downs, but now I would prefer to have Fuentes.
Knowing how Theo and the Sox don’t like to spend on the bullpen, my realistic hope is they sign just one, one solid veteran bullpen stud before the season and for me that is Fuentes now.
Dont really like that the article only mentions ERA
xFIP over the last 2 Years:
Jenks 3.13
Soriano 3.36
Qualls 3.41
(Daniel Bard 3.46) as comparison
Feliciano 3.47
(Jonathan Papelbon 3.85)
Saito 3.86
Wheeler 4.03
Aardsma 4.15
Wood 4.31
Rauch 4.43
Fuentes 4.76
Lets compare that to the relievers allready signed:
Scott Downs 3.37 (In the AL East!)
Guerrier 4.42
Crain 4.44
I’m pretty happy we didn’t get Guerrier for 3/12 and Crain for 3/13. I would have taken Downs for 3/15 any day though. That said i want Jenks to compete with Paps for closer in spring training. Feliciano as lefty specialist and Qualls as a buy low candidate with huge upside.
by German Red Sox Fan on Dec 16, 2010 8:07 AM EST reply actions
I said it a few days ago and I'll say it again
Offer him a minor league deal with a large bonus for making the roster.
Screw the Rays out of a draft pick.
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 9:36 AM EST up reply actions
They didn't offer him arbitration IIRC
Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005
They did, and he declined
Only a Type B, but still, that’s a psuedo-1st rounder to the Rays if we give him a major league deal
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 9:57 AM EST up reply actions
Yep
You’re right. I would like a Mi deal too.
Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005
So would I
Problem is, I think the market is still robust enough that he’ll get a major league deal. Probably for low money, maybe with incentives, but still.
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 16, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
In that case you still sign him
Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005
at least offer a decent non-guaranteed contract
so if he doesn’t make the team, instead of being committed to Pawtucket, he can look elsewhere for a MLB job.
Wood and Jenks may be off the table soon
Conflicting reports about Jenks, I’ve seen the Rays have serious interest and could get him signed this week, and I’ve seen some that say they aren’t close to a deal but still negotiating. Yanks appear to have interest in him as well, but I assume he would go to the Rays since he would have a more realistic shot at the closer role.
Wood appears to be moving towards a deal taking him back to the Cubs. Haven’t seen anything final but I could see him going there and being a set-up guy, he played there for several years and Dusty isn’t there anymore to destroy his arm.
by The Name is Dalton on Dec 16, 2010 8:33 AM EST reply actions
Rays To Sign Joel Peralta
Damn, those guys are smart!
Twitter | "Almost every organization has a guy like Papelbon or Lester" - Dave Cameron 12/29/2005
Welp
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by Ben Buchanan on Dec 16, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
The reliever market is plenty deep this season
There will still be some very solid pitchers available when the music stops and most other teams have run out of money. No reason to commit long-term to the most volatile talent market in all of baseball — middle relief.
Patience is definitely a virtue in this situation.
by UltimateCranston on Dec 16, 2010 10:34 AM EST reply actions
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