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Rays Release Grant Balfour

By Steve Adams | April 28, 2015 at 4:50pm CDT

Right-hander Grant Balfour, who was designated for assignment by the Rays last week, has cleared release waivers and is a free agent, reports Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link). Wolfson adds that he checked to see if a reunion with the Twins was a possibility, but he’s been told that Balfour will be signing elsewhere.

The 37-year-old Balfour looked to be on his way to the Orioles in the 2013-14 offseason, but his two-year deal fell through after the O’s weren’t comfortable with the results of his physical. Balfour ultimately ended up returning to Tampa Bay — the team with which he revived his career in 2008.

Balfour’s second stint in St. Petersburg, however, did not go as smoothly as his first. In 66 2/3 innings over the past two seasons, Balfour worked to a 5.00 ERA with 57 strikeouts against 45 walks. His ~93mph average fastball velocity dipped to 91.6 mph in 2014, and in this season’s small sample, he averaged just 89.4 mph. However, part of that could be due to the fact that Balfour missed much of Spring Training as he traveled back to his native Australia to be with his dying father for his final days.

From 2008-13, Balfour was a highly effective relief weapon, working to a 2.74 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 380 1/3 innings. Balfour averaged 64 appearances and 63 innings per season in that stretch, and he served as Oakland’s closer for the final two years of that stretch. With the A’s, the fiery Balfour saved 64 games and earned the first All-Star nod of his 12-year Major League career.

The Rays owe Balfour $7MM in 2015 (though $2MM of that figure is deferred). Should he latch on with another team, as Wolfson indicated, that club would be on the hook for only the pro-rated portion of the league minimum for any time Balfour spends on the big league roster.

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View Comments (43)

Comments

  1. Zoidbergman

    8 years ago

    jays?

    Reply
    • Arch Stanton

      8 years ago

      D-backs?

      Reply
      • Steven Garrison

        8 years ago

        Angels

        Reply
      • James Attwood

        8 years ago

        Diamondbacks have too many young, developing options waiting in the wings for Balfour to make sense. Munson and Barrett are both MLB-ready now, but languishing in Reno while they wait for the team to demote someone or for an injury to clear them a path. Stites is still on the DL, but is expected back in the first half, and then there are three more arms pushing the envelope of MLB-read behind him.

        Reply
  2. Steven Garrison

    8 years ago

    Since the angels traded Jepsen, How about they take a risk on Balfour

    Reply
    • Rays_Fan_Engima

      8 years ago

      But Balfour isn’t a lefty

      Reply
      • Steven Garrison

        8 years ago

        they have ramos and alverez

        Reply
        • Rays_Fan_Engima

          8 years ago

          Fair point, but I really see them signing him to a minor league deal and calling him up later

        • Steven Garrison

          8 years ago

          It’s not on this topic but, I thought of something since hamilton is gone, the angles do not have a lefty power bat, should they take a look at Howard and make a trade? Or pass

        • Rays_Fan_Engima

          8 years ago

          I don’t think so, unless the Phillies take a chunk of his salary. The other problem is if the Angels have the prospects or player value to get him

        • Steven Garrison

          8 years ago

          The phillies said I think are willing to eat about 50 million of the contract, A couple prospects come to mind that they might like, Heaney , Tropeano and Perez. They could add cj cron in the deal but I don’t think they do that

        • Rays_Fan_Engima

          8 years ago

          But it depends if they are willing to get rid of them to get Howard

        • Steven Garrison

          8 years ago

          Yea since Hamilton is gone, the only lefty hitters the angels have is joyce and navarro

        • Rays_Fan_Engima

          8 years ago

          I think Joyce is enough. He’s a pretty good hitter

        • stl_cards16

          8 years ago

          Trade Heaney for Howard? And you’re an Angels fan?

        • Steven Garrison

          8 years ago

          I was just saying players that Amaro would be asking for and that is when dipoto will hang up

  3. Leon Barry

    8 years ago

    Will always be my favorite baseball name.

    That said the Ranger’s bullpen is a disaster. Actually can he play the outfield? Can’t hit any worse than Choo.

    Reply
  4. Vandals Took The Handles

    8 years ago

    So can we close the book on all the people that commented here about how the Orioles FO was so wrong in not following through with a contract for Balfour after the Orioles has seen the results of his physical?

    One thing I’ve learned about blogs – when people that do not have all the information attack and agree en masse on any issue, they’re almost always proved wrong.

    Reply
    • section 34

      8 years ago

      If the Orioles announced or leaked the results of Balfour’s physical, that was wrong, and in fact is illegal in the U.S.

      The O’s weren’t wrong to walk away but it should have happened without anyone knowing about it. I don’t know which side trumpeted the signing, Balfour’s or Baltimore’s. If Balfour’s agent leaked it, or another team leaked it that Balfour told, then it’s his own fault. But something a lot of baseball commenters, including professionals, don’t understand is that even professional athletes have a right to privacy about their health issues.

      Reply
      • GreggOlson

        8 years ago

        First off his agent and then is Dr. that open his big fat mouth wanting to know why and ran to the media saying there is nothing wrong with Balfour’s, whatever umm shoulder and it turns out that is was something else that the O’s were not happy about. They stated that only. That right there is a problem for a potential Free Agent when a team pursues you and walks away after the physical. his agent states they changed their minds and used it as an excused – no apologies were made from their camp on that and oh the O’s Dr’s were right too recommend staying clear of him

        Reply
  5. WhoKilledTheRallyMonkey

    8 years ago

    His rage reserves ran dry once he left the coliseum. Something about being unable to flush the toilet in the clubhouse really brought out the best in Balfour.

    Reply
  6. Rays_Fan_Engima

    8 years ago

    It’s a shame he struggled, especially with the lose of his dad. It all probably took a lot out of him and his performance. I really hope that he gets with another team and does really well.

    Reply
  7. Adrian Landeros

    8 years ago

    Come back to the A’s where you have bleacher creatures!!

    Reply
  8. Steve

    8 years ago

    Good luck Grant. You never quit, you never made excuses, and your only crime in Tampa Bay was that your best wasn’t good enough.

    Reply
    • Rays_Fan_Engima

      8 years ago

      That’s a big reason I give him props. Even with all the other stuff going on in his life, Balfour never made excuses for his performance

      Reply
      • Steve

        8 years ago

        It was kind of sickening watching “fans” turn on him like they did, and act like he was Charles Manson or something. Then dance around when he was released. As if that was something good.

        Reply
        • Rays_Fan_Engima

          8 years ago

          I never boo players because I feel that they had the skill to perform and play on a big league level. I always liked Balfour and prayed the whole time that he would get on track and get back into a good motion

        • chris

          8 years ago

          he played vey poorly with us he deserved to get booed

        • Steve

          8 years ago

          Yeah, you buy your ticket and have the right to boo. My comments about being sickened were referring to vicious comments I’d read in fan boards.

  9. cxz

    8 years ago

    I can’t imagine it will be long before he gets some team calling with some level of interest, should he choose to go that route.

    Reply
    • GreggOlson

      8 years ago

      sorry he was solid for a few years but he is done

      Reply
      • cxz

        8 years ago

        I understand he didn’t look good to Tampa, but there could be legitimate personal issues contributing to that. He’s got enough of a track record that should get him calls at least on minor league deal interest, considering he’s still getting paid after being released.

        Reply
        • GreggOlson

          8 years ago

          Oh I think he’ll get calls but too many really good relievers just completely fell off out of nowhere, it seems just another case

  10. Ryan Whittington

    8 years ago

    DODGER DEPTH PLS

    Reply
    • Rays_Fan_Engima

      8 years ago

      Friedman would probably want him. He was the one who signed him when he was with Tampa Bay

      Reply
  11. Lionel Bossman Craft

    8 years ago

    Guess Balfour threw too many ball fours.

    Reply
    • bobbleheadguru

      8 years ago

      Unfortunate name.

      Reply
  12. Anthony

    8 years ago

    I’ll just say it now, welcome to Philadelphia, Grant.

    Reply
  13. bobbleheadguru

    8 years ago

    Tigers… but there is some bad blood there with Detroit.

    Reply
  14. THE RING EMPIRE

    8 years ago

    Man, what a bad signing for Tampa. Hopefully Grant can turn it around with a new team.

    Reply
  15. GaryintheLoo

    8 years ago

    I guess my Orioles knew something after all the criticism. No sour grapes as Balfour is quite the competitor.

    Reply
  16. Seth

    8 years ago

    He has to be better than Kevin Gregg….

    Reply
  17. budman3

    8 years ago

    I could see the Blue Jays picking him up.

    Reply

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