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« Offseason Outlook: Florida Marlins | Main | Danks Hopes To Sign Extension »
Cardinals Release Brad Thompson
The Cardinals released righty Brad Thompson today, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The arbitration-eligible Thompson would've been a likely non-tender in mid-December anyway.
Thompson, 28 in January, posted a 4.84 ERA in 80 innings this year (eight starts, 24 relief appearances). He's typically shown strong control and home run prevention but a weak strikeout rate. His best asset is his ability to get groundballs - 52.7% of the time this year. If Thompson has a successful '10 season for his new club, that team could elect to retain him for '11 as an arbitration-eligible player.
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PSSSTTTT....Newsflash to Frank Wren, here is another project you could possibly take a chance on.
Posted by: bravesbeast | November 04, 2009 at 12:21 PM
This the guy that looks like he's 12 years old, correct? If Duncan doesn't want him anymore I'd say his chance's of being as good or better somewhere else are slim to none
Posted by: pb | November 04, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Strong control, low homer rates, strong groundball rates. Sounds like a perfect mop-up guy to me.
Posted by: BF91 | November 04, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Surprised but not annoyed, poor starter and not brilliant in an overcrowed STL Bullpen (Motte, Franklin, KMac, Boggs*, Walters*, Garcia*, Miller, Reyes, Hawksworth et al.) Hope he can find sucess, he has a great work ethic, just not great at his job.
Posted by: Aranathor | November 04, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Surprised but not annoyed, poor starter and not brilliant in an overcrowed STL Bullpen (Motte, Franklin, KMac, Boggs*, Walters*, Garcia*, Miller, Reyes, Hawksworth et al.) Hope he can find sucess, he has a great work ethic, just not great at his job.
Posted by: Aranathor | November 04, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I feel stupid, but what's with the * asterisks?
Posted by: soxfan93 | November 04, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Sorry, i meant to add that in, those guys with Hawksworth, could make it into the rotation in spring training. Oversight on my part.
Posted by: Aranathor | November 04, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Okay, that makes sense.
Posted by: soxfan93 | November 04, 2009 at 12:46 PM
His K/9 and BB/9 were better as a reliever and his WHIP and ERA fell into the 1.20 and 3.80 range. Combine that with low HR rate, high GB rate and good health, whoever signs him should get a quality MR 6/7 inning guy who handles L&R about the same.
I'd love the Braves to go get him. Building your pen with bunches of quality cheap arms is the way to go. Injury and ineffectiveness can tear appart a top-heavy pen very quickly.
Posted by: bbxxj | November 04, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Wonderboy Brad just couldn't recreate the succes he had in the minors. His streak of scoreless innings in the minors will probably stand for a while.
Posted by: RoyHobbs | November 04, 2009 at 01:21 PM
Sorry, but Thompson just doesn't overpower guys enough to really be that great.
You just can't succeed for that long with a 4.20 K/9, unless you have an insane ability to avoid walks or induce groundballs, and Thompson doesn't have either of those special skills.
Posted by: scribbletone | November 04, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Thompson is pretty good when his sinker is working but he's just too hot-and-cold. Once he became eligible for a raise above the minimum, it just wasn't worth keeping him around.
Hoping he can get a better role with a worse team but midling pitchers are relatively common.
Posted by: Seals | November 04, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Wouldn't mind seeing him in an Indians uniform... were not contending anyways in 2010... seems worth the risk
Posted by: Spheriad | November 04, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Aranathor,
Walters will not make it into the Cards rotation. He showed this year he doesn't have major league stuff. Hawksworth will likely stay in the bullpen, as is Duncan's preference (I concur you shouldn't mess with a guy who had 3 bad years in the minors and finally found success in the bullpen) so the #5 job will be between Garcia and Boggs. Likely the loser will be the guy to replace Thompson. I think Garcia is the favorite for the #5 job at this point. Just has better stuff than Boggs and Boggs has control problems
Posted by: JBCardsFan | November 04, 2009 at 03:11 PM
bye puppy kicker, the cardinal fans will miss the nickname but the pitching , thats another story.
Posted by: Cody | November 04, 2009 at 03:51 PM
JBCardsFan,
Hawks will probably be given a chance come spring training, but i agree that its a huge long shot to see him be anywhere but the 'pen. I'd like to have a good look at Garcia, it would be nice to have a lefty, but i haven't seen too much of him. I have, however heard much favorable talk about Walters, sure Boggs was given many starts over him this year but, from what other commenters have said, he's got some pretty good potential. It will be interesting, 3 candidates for 1 spot come spring training. Hopefully at least one of them can be productive in the rotation.
Posted by: Aranathor | November 04, 2009 at 04:22 PM
Philly should grab him in a heartbeat. Good back-of-the-rotation insurance, low cost, and a perfect fit for a home-run park and a good defensive team.
Posted by: ColonelTom | November 05, 2009 at 08:48 AM