The White Sox have added some low-cost, controllable upside to their bullpen, as they officially announced on Friday the signing of right-hander Mitchell Boggs to a one-year, $1.1MM contract. The former Cardinals setup man is represented by CSE. Because he only has four years, 34 days of Major League service time, Boggs will remain arbitration eligible following the 2014 season and is now controlled by the White Sox through 2015.
Boggs, who turns 30 next week, found himself in the closer's role in St. Louis last season after Jason Motte underwent Tommy John surgery. However, despite a strong track record as a setup man, Boggs struggled in his small sample as the Cardinals' closer. The former fifth-round pick allowed 18 earned runs on 21 hits and 15 walks in just 14 2/3 innings for the Redbirds before being designated for assignment and picked up by the Rockies.
He struggled greatly through the summer months in Colorado's minor league system, posting an 8.27 ERA in 16 1/3 Triple-A innings, but Boggs righted the ship (to an extent) upon a promotion to the Majors in September. In 8 2/3 big league innings to close the season, he allowed three runs on seven hits and five walks.
None of those struggles are characteristic of Boggs, who prior to 2013 had posted a combined 3.08 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 201 innings from 2010-12. Boggs had two large problems last season — a career-worst 7.7 BB/9 and an unnaturally high 26.3 percent homer-to-flyball ratio. The latter of those two marks seems to be particularly fluky, especially considering the fact that Boggs entered the season with a career mark of just 8.5 percent in that regard.
Boggs will join a White Sox bullpen that has said goodbye to closer Addison Reed this offseason and also parted with mainstays Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton in July trades. He'll add to a group that figures to consist of some combination of Nate Jones, Daniel Webb, Matt Lindstrom, Ronald Belisario, Scott Downs and Donnie Veal.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the agreement (on Twitter), and Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeted the $1.1MM guarantee.
You mention Veal but not Downs? Doubtful Veal makes the bullpen anyways. More like: Jones, Lindstrom, Belisario, Downs, Webb, Boggs, and Petricka/Surkamp/Leesman/Veal/Rienzo competing for one spot
The bullpen does not seem to bad. Is the plan for Jones or Webb to close? Seems like they have the most upside. Petricka I am to ignorant to speak towards. I could see the Sox thrusting Webb into it having him get 35 Saves and off he goes for C prospect next year much like Reed went for a nice prospect 🙂
I’d put my money on Jones to close, he throws the heat. i think Petricka is going to be good, a 2nd round pick who put up insane numbers in AA, AAA, and the majors last year
I think Surkamp will function as the 6th starter, and begin the year in AAA and come up upon an injury.
“In 8 2/3 big league innings to close the season, he allowed three runs on seven hits and five walks.”
not sure I’d consider that righting the ship…
Compared to 18 earned runs on 21 hits and 15 walks in just 14 2/3 innings it was…. everything is relative.
I was more happy with the pen looking like:
long reliever/emergency starter (Leesman or Surkamp)
Petricka
Webb
Belisario
Lindstrom
Downs
Jones
Boggs will make it, but I really like Petricka. Petricka started once so maybe he can play long relief, though that would leave us with only one lefty
what do you think of this deal? With Boggs now in the fold, Lindstrom could be afforded to be dealt. Lindstrom would supply the Yankees with a cheap back end of pen reliever with closing experiance. along with a solid UTL infielder who can platton with Kelly Johnson at 3B and still add depth at SS,1B and 2B. Austin Romine would only a few years ago was one of the top prospects in the Yankees organization. So far, the young catcher has not been able to put his game together in the Show. But the best case scenerio would be Romine becomes a solid catcher and starts long term behind the plate for Chicago. Worst case scenerio is he adds depth and creates more competition for Nieto
Here is the deal: Flowers and Phegley.. Lindstrom and Jeff Keppinger to NYY for Austin Romine and Dellin Betances?
Based on his experience with the Cardinals, it would be unwise to make another corresponding roster move based on acquiring Boggs. When he’s on, he’s great, but he seems to have trouble putting hitters away. He may be great, but there’s at least an equal chance that he won’t. I wouldn’t trade depth because you have Mitchell Boggs. He’s kind of like a scratch off ticket – you might have picked a winner, but I wouldn’t do anything until you know if he’s a winner.
This is a good low risk signing!
John Danks, Jeff Keppinger & cash for Josh Thole & Marcus Stroman? Jays get a starter to round up their rotation. Keppinger would start for them at 2B. Sox toss in some cash but at the same time would save money. Sox get a left hitting catcher that they are searching for to split time with Flowers. They would also get a young right handed pitcher they were interested in in past rumors for their rotation for 2014.
SP’s – Sale, Quintana, Johnson, Rienzo & Paulino/Stroman
Bullpen – Leesman, Webb, Belisario, Boggs, Downs, Lindstrom & Jones
Surkamp starts the year in the minors, so he can start. Later in the summer he could be called up if/when Leesman struggles as the “6th starter”. Paulino starts the year in the rotation (takes over Danks spot) but will give it away to Stroman by June/July and will be sent to the minors or released.