The Phillies have agreed to sign free agent righty Ernesto Frieri to a minor league pact, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports on Twitter. He can earn a $850K salary if he makes the MLB roster.
Frieri, 30, threw 23 1/3 frames for the Rays last year as he looked to bounce back from an awful 2014 campaign. The results weren’t quite as bad, but he still managed only a 4.63 ERA with 7.3 K/9 against 4.2 BB/9 and looked nothing like the quality reliever he used to be with the Padres and Angels.
That strikeout rate, in particular, is a far cry from the double-digit K/9 numbers that Frieri ran up repeatedly in prior campaigns. His swinging strike numbers have unsurprisingly also plummeted, landing in the single digits for the first time ever last year. A drop-off in velocity may have played a role, as Frieri worked in the 91 to 92 mph after sitting at or over 94 mph in recent years.
LEFTIES KLENTAK LEFTIES NOT RIGHTIES COME KN
One of the good guys in baseball. Good to see he has another go at it
Someone is going to have to try and close out 58 wins. Mine as well be one of the good guys in the game. I’m actually excited for what these crazy fools are doing.
The Phillies are moving in the right direction for contending again, it will take them a few years but they will be competitive again.I have always liked the Phillies.Therefore, Frieri is a great acquisition for the bullpen if he makes the team.Good move Phillies.