FanPost

"40 in 40" - Jenks, Bobby

Name: Jenks, Bobby

Position: Relief Pitcher

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

#: Jenks wore #45 with the ChiSox

Age: 30

Size: 6' 4" 275 lbs

Acquired: Signed as a FA, Dec. 21, 2010

Contract: $6,000,000 (6 mil also in 2012)

Comments: With respect to both Crawford and Gonzalez, the Jenks signing just might be the biggest upswing to the off-season. Plagued with an erratic bullpen in 2010, the Sox had to go to Bard too many times in hiogh-leverage situation because he was the only reliever that could be trusted and because he was the only reliever that could miss bats. Enter the soon to be 30 year-old Bobby Jenks. Jenks was a successful closer for the Chicago White Sox, closing 25+ games for them 5 years running, but he ran out of favor with Chicago for some reason (or they saw him as too expensive?). While he had what could be considered a "down-year" in 2010 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.367 WHIP, his peripherals (10.4 K/9, 0.368 BABIP, 2.59 FIP and 2.62 xFIP) show that he was pretty much the same pitcher just unlucky. Jenks throws a 95 mph fastball (70%) with movement on it and a very good slider that runs at 88-89 mph.

Career Stats:

IP: 341+

ERA: 3.40

FIP: 3.16

xFIP: 3.24

WHIP: 1.21

K/9: 8.80

BB/9: 2.90

K/BB: 3.04

BAA: 0.239

Unique Stat: Jenks had something in common with his fellow closer Jonathan Broxton, other than their size. Broxton was 3rd in the majors in BABIP Against with 0.369 while Jenks was 4th with 0.368.

Analysis: Jenks steps in and immediately gives Tito what he did not have last year which is two strong 7-8 inning options. What he also gives is the ability to close games in the case that Papelbon's problems persist and/or he is traded for other parts. Although Jenks has never been more than a 1-inning guy, expect a solid season in the 3.00-3.20 ERA range with about a strikeout per innings.

Tomorrow: Ryan Kalish