Here are today’s minor moves from around the league…
- The Rays have signed left-hander Andy Oliver to a Minor League deal, tweets Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune. Oliver, 27, was in camp with the Phillies as a Rule 5 pick, and struck out 22 hitters in 12 2/3 innings, but the 11 walks he issued prompted the team to place him on waivers. Oliver was eventually outrighted and elected free agency. The former Tigers prospect also punched out 85 hitters in just 64 relief innings at Triple-A with the Pirates last year, albeit with a problematic 47 walks also coming in that time.
Wow, back to the Minor leagues for Oliver. I wonder why Phillies could not have signed him to MiL deal. Their only bullpen lefty is Diekman after they just optioned Jimenez.
Oliver isn’t really a LOOGY: he does better against lefties, but he hasn’t been dominant against them that I recall. His background is mostly as a starter. I’m not sure if that factored into the Phillies’ decision or not.
He was SP early in career, but strictly out of bullpen at Indy AAA in 2014. Not sure how he was used, exactly, but 64.0 IP in 48 G to a 2.53 ERA. The 4.9 H9 2014 stat just jumps out at you. But the scary 6.6 BB9 seems to make him a better (alternate) set-up or 7th inning guy than LOOGY anyways.
Lefties definitely get more opportunities! If only Andy could throw strikes.
Juuuuuuuust a little outside.