The Mariners have announced the signing of right-hander Ryan Cook, as Jon Heyman first reported (Twitter links). It’s a split contract that will pay Cook a $1.1MM base salary in the majors and $300K in the minors, according to Heyman.
Cook, 28, was a promising setup man for the A’s from 2012-13 but saw his control and ERA begin to trend in the wrong direction in 2014. Shoulder troubles crept up and delayed his start to the 2015 season, though, and the entire season would up being a more or less lost year for him. Cook logged just 8 2/3 innings between the A’s and Red Sox, allowing an astounding 18 earned runs (19 total runs) on 20 hits — four of them homers — and seven walks. Cook fared better in the minors, where he recorded a 3.16 ERA with 7.6 K/9 against 3.4 BB/9 in 42 innings of relief. He was traded from Oakland to Boston on July 31 this season, then claimed off waivers by the Cubs in November, though he was ultimately non-tendered.
Cook will come to camp with the Mariners, presumably, and compete for a job in a new-look Seattle bullpen that saw a spot open up today when righty Anthony Bass was released to pursue an opportunity in Japan. If he can rediscover the form he showed with the A’s from 2012-14, Cook will be controllable through the 2018 season as an arbitration-eligible player.
Perfect, he’ll finally help the A’s win again..
ha ha
really ??
Marcus semien will balance things out
Could be a good pick up for the M’s
Seems like a Dipoto type of player, coming off terrible year hoping for a bounce back. IMHO we have signed or traded for too many of these type of players.
Not many guys are “sure-things” nowadays. The guys who are sure-things are everyday starters and either command too much money on the market or would cost too much to trade for. Based on the cap limitations the M’s have to play with and the fact that its not a WS or bust year, those signings/trades are fine. Plus relievers are probably the most volatile position, so I’d rather Dipoto take his chances on four or five guys hoping at least one of them pitches well (with the others being cut/DFA/sent to the minors if they struggle) rather than signing one guy who could have a terribly down year.
While I agree that relievers are the most likely to have production to swing year to year(M’s 2014 bullpen was one of the best and their 2015 was one of the worst). Even with the Cano albatross contract their other 3 large contracts of Felix($25+ over the next few years), Seager(2016 at $8million, 2017 $11million, then it jumps) and Cruz(2016-2018 at $14.25million) are fairly reasonable for their production and the M’s have more that enough money to spend. Attendance jumped nearly 400k the last few years and they have one of the top 5 TV deals in MLB with a potential of nearly $175 million next year alone with nearly a 3rd of that being excluded from revenue sharing. I call BS on anyone saying they are restricted financially, it is a self proposed cap.
*imposed.
If you ever need proof that relief pitchers are thr most volatile assets in baseball, look no further than Ryan Cook.
*the
Nice pick up. I like it.
excited for this !
Jerry D plucks another one from the Scratch and Dent bin! The 2016 Mariners will be fascinating, especially in the early season.