THURSDAY: The Tigers have "serious" interest in Chamberlain, according to ESPN's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
WEDNESDAY, 1:46pm: The Tigers are a possible destination for Chamberlain as well, tweets Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports.
1:32am: The Astros are interested in Joba Chamberlain as a buy-low option, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter). Chamberlain is the latest free agent to be linked to the Astros, who also reportedly have some interest in Michael Morse, Jesse Crain, and Chad Gaudin, among others.
Chamberlain, 28, had arguably the worst year of his big league career in 2013, posting a 4.93 ERA in 45 appearances for the Yankees. However, his 3.54 ERA on the road was significantly better than his 6.23 mark at home, and his velocity and strikeout rates remained solid. Assuming he can reduce his control issues going forward, he looks like a solid bounceback candidate.
On Tuesday, we heard that Chamberlain had received a one-year, $3MM proposal from an interested team. It initially appeared as if the Diamondbacks had put that offer on the table, but at least one report suggested Arizona hadn't offered the right-hander a contract. The Cubs and Royals were also mentioned as potential suitors for Chamberlain over the weekend.
Someone is going to reap some benefits with Joba, he just needs to get out of that NY mess. He’s just not built for it and they didn’t exactly make it easy with the way they handled him. I expect he and Hughes to both be improved with a change of scenery.
Not to mention they won’t be pitching in a little league ballpark.
Well put. I have said it before — Yankee Stadium is a meat grinder for those not emotionally equipped to handle it. Stuff-wise, Chamberlain and Hughes still have live arms. They will do better elsewhere. My bet is that Chamberlain will end up Kansas City. He’s a Midwestern kid and KC seems to love flame throwing relievers.
Plus Dave Eiland is in KC and those were Joba’s best years in New York. Who has the more pitcher friendly ballpark KC or Houston? If I was his agent I would be finding which teams ballpark plays best with Joba’s style and sign a one year incentive driven deal to reestablish his value. As this offseason is showing, if you have one good year, you are in line for a nice pay day.
Like Josh Johnson to the Padres? I thought it was funny when initial reports were coming out on teams he looked to sign with and they were all teams with the most pitcher-friendly stadiums in the league.
Getting out of the NY hype will help anyone. Moving down 29 teams, as far as publicity is concerned, will hurt him.
I’m sure the only publicity he’s concerned about right now is re-establishing his value, which can be achieved wherever he ends up signing.
True. it has buried several careers!
Bleh, just look at Chamberlains increasing weight gain season upon season and it will tell you all you need to know about him and his work ethic.
I don’t see what the big deal is over him. He has never had a really good season.
yes, good, perfect. ship him off.
Well, I suppose he could eat up the left over food after each home game. Maybe we can work that into his contract as compensation.
Would be a solid low risk with potential for high reward. If he can ever recapture what he had a few years back, could easily slot into late inning relief
Hopefully not for $3M, unless that is loaded with incentives.
With the price tag some relievers are seeing… 3 Mil may not be a bad gamble
Not great mind you…
Joba is a much bigger gamble than most because he has never really consistently performed at a high level after his rookie season. A gamble worth 3 Mil is someone who had a good 2012 and a bad 2013 or was good before they got hurt, like Andrew Bailey or Kevin Gregg.
We already have a Chamberlain on the team, he is called Phil Coke
The two couldn’t be more different,
Both are hitable and both are not clutch both have 4.00+ era…. sounds same to me.
Ummmm…
We already have a Chamberlain on the team, he is called Phil Coke
Do they get Salacious Crumb in the deal with Jabba Chamberlain?
I seriously want no part of Joba in the Tiger bullpen.
100% agree. We needs sub .3.00 ERA arms in the Bullpen.