Left-hander Eric Stults has chosen to become a free agent after the Padres outrighted him to Triple-A, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (Twitter link). Stults was designated for assignment by the Padres last week.
As Jeff Sanders of the Union-Tribune recently explained, the Padres’ decision to designate Stults was largely based on financial reasons (the $4.6MM he’d earn through the arbitration process, as projected by MLBTR’s Matt Swartz) rather than the southpaw’s performance as a Padre. Stults has been a reliable innings-eater since joining the team in May 2012, posting a 3.87 ERA and 2.71 K/BB rate over 472 IP. The advanced metrics, however, rank Stults as a below-average performer at pitcher-friendly Petco Park, so the Friars felt they could afford to let Stults go in lieu of their other pitching depth.
Stults, who turns 35 next month, has a career 4.12 ERA over 635 2/3 IP with the Padres, White Sox, Rockies and Dodgers over eight Major League seasons.
Not a big loss for the Padres. If they sign Kim they have just replaced Stults. Plus they have a half dozen back of the rotation type starters or better returning from injuries.
I’m sure Dipoto will be all over this.
Would be a decent pick up for the right price.
I hope Stults signs somewhere in the NL West except SF so that Posey can face him so many times because Posey owns Stults
FIP around 4.5, low strikeout numbers and he somehow allowed 1.3 HR/9 while playing at PETCO, no thanks!
Given that he pitches in the most pitcher-friendly park in the game, a 4.30 ERA (4.63 FIP) is pretty bad. Factor in his age and cost, this was a no-brainer.
Had a 3.40 ERA after the All Star break with an increased strikeout rate and a decrease in HRs. Still carries value.
Not at ~3.5 mil he doesn’t.
White Sox relief option?
he was great in “some kind of wonderful”
this has phillies written all over it
Could be a solid option to fill some innings for the phils, though I imagine he is looking for a Major League Deal at roughly 2mil, where as we would probably be looking for more minor league depth style deals at this point.