Sox sign Aaron Cook to Minor League Deal
by magicbosox on Jan 8, 2012 10:55 PM EST
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Printhttps://twitter.com/#!/Ken_Rosenthal/statuses/156217881208700928
The 32-year-old had a 6.03 ERA in 97 IP with Colorado last year. He has only tossed 200 innings twice (2006, 2008) and 150 four times (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). Bob McClure was his pitching coach from 2002-2005 with the Rockies.
Rosenthal says he will compete for rotation spot in the spring. So if the Sox do nothing else and Bard doesn't make it as a starter, Aaron Cook and Carlos Silva are your back-end. C'mon Ben! Thoughts?
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LOL talk about scraping the bottom of the barrell.
The fact that we are even allowing these guys to compete for spots rather than signing real pictures just shows how cheap the Red Sox are being.
My Twitter @totheights
NO kidding
I’m fine if we grab three or four of these guys to save money, but c’mon, if you only have $2 mil to work with, spend $8 or $9 mil to get someone who will pitch effectively instead of shelling out 3-4 mil for a bunch of junk.
Like who, Oswalt or Kuroda?
I like that Ben isn’t pulling Theo’s massive overpays. Both are Career National Leaguers, ages 34 and 36. We’ve been down that road, see Penny and Smoltz. Honestly, I think that Silva and Cook don’t have as good of a chance of succeeding as Oswalt or Kuroda, but the difference is not great enough to justify shelling out- esp. because the Sox have a history of shelling out for bust pitchers. This way they can spend that money on several pitchers and something will hopefully work out. Otherwise they can figure something out at the deadline, but the options are just not great now.
If they were going for a proven AL East Commodity, like Matt Garza I would agree with you, but that’s not going to take money, but Minor League Talent which Ben is smart to hold on to. Esp. because at the current asking price, Theo would be fleecing us for Garza.
"We're not going to give up," It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world."-Manny Ramirez
If they are on 1yr deals, it's not that big of a risk
However, I would be totally against shelling out 2yrs on Kuroda, Saunders, or Maholm, and would only do so with Oswalt if he passes a strenuous physical.
John Lackey: Boston hates you
No, neither are better in terms of cost-ratio
But Maholm, Saunders, Harden, Livan and Garland should be better and only slightly more money. Throw in Brandon Webb and Chris Young even.
it's worth noting
that these are minor league deals, which do not affect the payroll unless the player is actually in the majors- so they’re pretty literally spending nothing unless they’re getting contributions from these guys.
Good signing.
Despite his high ERA, he had more reasonable peripherals, each in the mid-4s. Remember, it’s a minor league deal. I’m sure Ben isn’t done yet.
Regarding Cook, he is an excellent ground ball inducer, with a career GB rate of 57%. That is a very impressive stat right there. What scares me is his BB/9 rate. When it sits around 2 as it did in 05-08, he is a very competent back-end starter. But when it is well above 3, like in 10-11, he is not even better than Lackey.
Overall, it’s a good chance to take. If his control returns, he could be very important for the Sox. Now sign Maholm or Oswalt or Kuroda for the big club.
John Lackey: Boston hates you
Career 4.39/4.37/4.38 pitching triple slash away from Colorado.
6.75/4.55/4.38 last year. He’s not a world-beater, he may not even be better than Miller, but at least I like this more than Kevin Millwood.
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.
-Johnny Cash
Looks like his issue might be his fastball last year
it dropped from the 89-90 level of his career to 88.2 mph last year. If the Sox can get his fastball back up to 90 mph, he’d be more effective. He had a .345 BABIP and a 65% LOB last year.
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.
-Johnny Cash
I have no problem with this.
The more pitchers on minor league deals the better I say. Of course I hope they get one legit starter, and sign a few more guys like this and I’d be happy.
57% career ground ball rate
on a minor league deal im fine with that. hopefully he can regain that form. still waiting for other shoes to drop tho
The more minor league deals for starters the better
We didn’t have the depth we needed last year. If one or two of these guys magically convert from lead to gold we will be in the playoffs. This is exactly the low-risk gamble type of signing that we need to do.
I like what they are doing
In signing proven major league pitchers and putting them in the back of the minors for some depth. I’d take Cook and Silva over Miller and Duckworth any day.
Check out my blog at http://conor-soxrox.blogspot.com
Depth
much needed
The 2011 Over the Monster Gedman League Fantasy Baseball Champion
I hate free agency
Depth signing
Works I guess. A couple more of these and a one year deal for a guy like Garland or preferably Oswalt and I’ll be happy.
by The Name is Dalton on Jan 9, 2012 9:18 AM EST reply actions
If we end up with neither nor
Then I’ll begin to worry.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Jan 9, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
For some reason
I just don’t think we’ll get either.
by The Name is Dalton on Jan 9, 2012 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
That's a pretty huge risk to take.
Downright irresponsible with how much money is already being spent and after two years out of the playoffs.
Over the Monster -- SB Nation's Resident Red Sox Site
USG
And Saunders, Harden.
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.
-Johnny Cash
Is Theo deliberately sticking it to the Sox?
he seems to be aiming for whomever we need, starting with Svuem and probably ending with the compensation player.
Not a bad signing by any means
but only if it is indeed a depth signing. If we’re going into spring training with a Cook/Silva/Aceves battle for the 5th spot then I’m not too excited for 2012.
I know they’re hesitant to go over the luxury tax but if they really are only 2MIL away, why not just sign an Oswalt or Kuroda? It looks as if they’ll be going over anyway.
Interesting thing I had not seen
Was that if he isn’t on the Major League roster by May 1st he can request his release, and again on June 1st if he isn’t on the roster then.
Little confused by that…if he is brought up once does that mean he is now on the roster? So if they bring him up in April but send him back down in May then on June 1st he can request his release? Are they obligated to release him if he is able to request it?
I would guess that if he is brought up once than his salary will count towards the luxury cap…but if he is brought up can he even be sent back down without a DL stint?
by The Name is Dalton on Jan 10, 2012 8:09 PM EST reply actions
I think he could choose to decline his opt out on May 1st
With a promise that he’ll be up soon. And if that promise goes unfulfilled he’ll get another chance to leave at the end of the month.
I am Sandy's bitch.
Penn State Forever
yeah exactly
probably whether he opts out depends on what major league opportunities appear to be available at each point
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