The Red Sox are likely to sign free agent hurler Chris Capuano, with a deal potentially announced later today or tomorrow, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. GM Ben Cherington said today that the team "may be close to bringing another pitcher to camp," Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports on Twitter.
Reports of Boston's interest in the 35-year-old southpaw arose on Tuesday, after it was announced that Ryan Dempster would sit out the season. Capuano struggled with injuries late last year, and ultimately ended up finishing his tenure with the Dodgers spending time throwing from the pen. That probably suits the Sox just fine, however, as the team is said to be interested in adding a swingman who can contribute innings in either capacity.
Capuano has worked from the rotation over much of his career, making 209 starts out of 238 total appearances. Across the last two years with Los Angeles, he logged a cumulative 3.91 ERA in 304 innings, with 7.2 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9.
i wish the Mariners would actually have signed him. Instead of sitting on there hands and doing nothing, but that is how jack z is
I believe they were interested but it all comes down to what Capuano wants to go. The Red Sox are fresh off a World Series win and the Mariners, while there are reasons to be optimistic, a lot of things need to go right for them to compete and make the playoffs.
Hart and LoMo are both coming off knee surgeries. Ackley, Saunders, and Smoak need to be more consistent. Zunino, Franklin/Miller, and Walker/Paxton build upon their 2013 season. Almonte displayed some nice speed and power while Montero is a question mark.
Seager and Cano are really the only position players as of right now that have their spot locked down.
You never know. I believe they can compete but like I said a lot pieces have to fall in place for it to happen.
On January 31 Fangraphs ran a piece titled, “Explaining the Chris Capuano Bargain”
A fine 6th starter/long reliever option
Cant wait for the Yankees to light him up.
Interesting that he’d go with Boston, where he’s looking, at best, bullpen bound. Happy to have him as a serviceable middle reliever, though. I always say that 5th starter types make some of the best relief pitchers.
I’d be ok if it’s a minor league deal but with an invite to spring training. If he does well, he could be put in the bullpen as a long man and emergency spot starter.
This makes sense. The Sox have always liked to have a capable starter in the pen. I miss the days of Julian Tavarez, who delivered the finest quote about the Nationals before they made the playoffs.
To say that Julian Tavarez was a gentleman, would be an understatement.
Tavarez*
Thanks
Nice, bringing in a local kid (Springfield, MA). I’ve always liked him. Won’t walk many. Definitely a good swingman choice imo.
As a Yankees fan I hope he makes their starting rotation.
That’s extremely unlikely.
I know but I can dream!
So far he’s in the 8th or 9th slot, behind Webster, Workman, and maybe Barnes or Ranaudo depending on ST performances and whatnot.
If they use him out of the pen correctly he can be effective. But as a starter I think he’d get ripped and like I said, I’m a Yankees fan.
I’m happy for my fellow Springfield, MA native. Hope he fares well as a mid-long man / spot starter in his first american league action.
Workman’s spot in jeopardy again. Would rather have seen Seattle signed him where he could have gotten in more starts, rather than being at best a fill in SP, or just minor league depth.
He must be looking at play off chances with his choice. As someone who also likes Seattle and Baltimore? Both would have been better choices for work.
He is 35, so maybe he likes Boston’s chances the most for another championship before his time is up. He’s also a local kid (Springfield MA), so pitching close to home, possibily with family there, probably was a huge plus for him.
Yeah I agree the signing doesn’t make much sense for Cap. I’m hoping we leave camp with a pen comprised of Koji, Taz, Mujica, Breslow, Workman, Miller, and Badenhop personally. The depth being Britton, Wilson, Cap, De La Rosa, and Webster. That is unless one of our young pitchers like Webster or Rubby impress during the spring then some things could move around.
It’s not impossible to think Boston made this sign to send Workman back to Pawtucket with the intentions of just starting all along as well. Most of us want to see him as the swing man (or I did), but guess some in the FO just didn’t.
I am wary of how Capuano is going to do. LH guys, who are control only and have his assortment sometimes change the way they pitch with “the wall” behind them. Time will tell.
Hope also that some guys, like The Hopper are not victims of the BP over load. Sox fans may be surprised at this ground ball machine if he’s the same guy I watched a couple of years with the Marlins.
Yeah that could be what they intend to do. It would be aggravating though because I think Workman proved he can be a very special bullpen guy (Not to mention far and above earning a spot on the team) and with Koji and Taz taxed so much it just makes too much sense to leave him in the pen to take some pressure off those guys. I agree with you about Cap too. I could def see some LHB reaching out and walling it on him when he tries to paint to fine. Hopefully we just