The Royals announced that they’ve designated right-hander Joe Blanton for assignment in order to clear a roster spot for the newly acquired Johnny Cueto.
Blanton made a nice comeback to the Majors this season after spending the 2014 season away from the game. He’s pitched quite well overall for the Royals, working to a 3.89 ERA with 8.6 K/9, 1.5 BB/9 and a 48.4 percent ground-ball rate in 41 2/3 innings split between the rotation and the bullpen. Blanton’s 90.8 mph average fastball is the fastest of his career, though one can imagine that’s partly attributable to the fact that 11 of his 15 appearances have come in a relief role.
Nonetheless, Blanton looks much improved over the form he showed in his first and only season with the Angels. After signing a two-year, $16MM contract with Anaheim, Blanton quickly declined, posting a 6.04 ERA in 132 2/3 innings, due largely to a colossal spike in his homer-to-flyball rate. Prior to that deal, Blanton had been a solid back-end starter with the Athletics and Phillies. From 2005-12, Blanton averaged 178 innings per season with a 4.37 ERA, 6.4 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9.
Big Joe will find another job, decent comeback season for him. Reunion in Philadelphia? Lol. Hamels on his way out, Billingsly, Pettibone and Lee out for the year, Corriea and O’Sullivan DFA’d. Phillies could use someone.
We should claim Blanton, not trade Hamels, convince Jaime Moyer and Brett Myers to come out of retirement and we’ll have the old band back together!
Anyone else surprised by this move? He’s posted excellent control and strong strikeout numbers since getting called up.
If not him than who? He’s been fine, but he was clearly the only logical choice.
Guthrie makes sense given his numbers, (5.35 ERA; 4.7 K/9; 2.6 BB/9;
1.2 HR/9; 4.72 FIP).
Makes less sense given his contract.
That probably wasn’t going to last. You need to ride players hot streaks for as long as you can.
You want to talk about players riding unsustainable hot streaks, look at Chris Young. His 3.32 ERA looks good, but his 4.61 FIP doesn’t look quite as good. Blanton’s 3.89 ERA looks good, and his 3.52 FIP makes it look even better. Because of that, some team in need of a long man will probably take a look at him.
Chris Young isn’t really on a hot streak. He’s doing what his skillset has afforded him, which is outperform what would be traditionally bad peripherals. He induces a lot of weak contact in the air, more than any other pitcher basically since he debuted.
Claim him Dave! He’s got to be better than Feliz! I don’t care if you buy or sell, just don’t do nothing.
His control has been ridiculously good this year. He might not clear waivers.
Could the Pirates go after him? Who would we have to knock off the 40 man roster?
I guess they had to but man, he and Madsen have been revelations. I’d rather have him than Guthrie at this point.
Wishing my distant cousin Joe luck on his search for his next stop. Been watching his season pretty close, and have been impressed with his overall stuff. His release was simply a numbers game in KC, and doubt he will unemployed for long.
Wishing my distant cousin Joe luck on his search for his next stop. Been watching his season pretty close, and have been impressed with his overall stuff this season, as compared to his run with the Angels. His release was simply a numbers game in KC, and doubt he will unemployed for long. Since he is on an affordable contract, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is just claimed or swapped while in limbo.