After spending three years in Philadelphia, Chad Durbin is headed back to the American League. The Indians announced that they signed the right-hander to a one-year, Major League contract.
The deal will pay the 33-year-old a base salary of $800K and could be worth another $1MM in incentives, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Earlier in the month, we heard that Durbin hoped to sign with a contender, but there didn't appear to be many Major League offers on the table from teams with playoff aspirations.
For Durbin, who had a 3.62 ERA in 194 appearances over the last three seasons with the Phillies, it will be his second stint with the Tribe. In 2003 and 2004, Cleveland was the first club to use the right-hander primarily out of the bullpen. As Crasnick notes (Twitter link), the Indians intend to deploy Durbin as a reliever again this time around.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports and Jon Heyman of SI.com both reported when the Indians and Durbin were close to a deal.
Wasn’t this already a story? I’ve never seen a guy with so little interest from contending teams get so much attention for this site.
He had to pass a physical before it was made official now the question becomes who is the player the Indians will cut loose from the 40 man roster to make room for Durbin.
Not for sure but I think they have 5 days after the signing to make that cut.
I was wondering the same thing. I have the iPhone app and have notifications on. When I got this today I said, “again with the Chad Durbin?”.
I think they report once when a rumored deal is confirmed and then again when the player actually does sign the papers.
“I coulda been a contendah!”
Damn there goes my phan group at Phillies games, Durbin’s Turbins!