JAN. 25: MLB Network’s Peter Gammons reports that the Marlins, too, have interest in adding Arroyo as a veteran option in their rotation (Twitter link). Miami has been said to be seeking a veteran to add to the rotation even after signing Wei-Yin Chen to a five-year deal. To this point, they’ve been connected to names like Doug Fister, Cliff Lee, Tim Lincecum, Alfredo Simon and Kyle Lohse.
JAN. 24: The Nationals and Reds are interested in veteran starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. We heard rumors earlier today that Arroyo had recently visited Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. As Rosenthal reminds us (via Twitter), Arroyo bounced around three teams last season – the Diamondbacks, Braves, and Dodgers – while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The right-handed starter will turn 39 in one month. From 2004 through 2013, he was arguably the most durable pitcher in the game. Nobody made more starts than Arroyo over those 10 seasons (326 starts). Only CC Sabathia and Mark Buehrle threw more than his 2,074 innings. While never the most dominating pitcher in the league, Arroyo provided consistent value with a contact oriented, low-walk approach (career 5.81 K/9, 2.44 BB/9).
Cincinnati’s interest in Arroyo makes perfect sense. The club has a rotation chock full of unproven youngsters, giving Arroyo room to serve as a much needed veteran and inning-eater. The team also has plenty of experience with him – he pitched for the Reds from 2006 through 2013. In terms of opportunity for Arroyo and value to the Reds, there appears to be a strong fit.
Arroyo’s former manager Dusty Baker now manages the Nationals. The club would seemingly view Arroyo as depth. Tanner Roark and Joe Ross appear to have a claim on the final two rotation jobs, although neither pitcher is guaranteed to pitch well. Initially, Arroyo would likely have to compete with Yusmeiro Petit for a long relief role. In wooing Arroyo, the Nationals do have one major advantage over the Reds – they’re a contender.
Reds sign him to a 1 yr deal. If he performs he will be dealt to a contender in July.
I wouldn’t mind if the Yankees took a shot at Arroyo or Buehrle if the price were right. Depth, innings and veteran presence couldn’t hurt this season.
yanks won’t take arroyo, and won’t get buehrle cause he’ll retire or pitch for St Louis (so basically retire)
You’re probably right. But it’d work…ideally.
Arroyo seemingly wants an opportunity to reestablish himself as a starting pitcher, and to pitch in Cincinnati again. I’m skeptical that playing for a contender (like the Nationals) ranks as a high priority for him, as there he’ll only have less security and leeway.
A couple of the Reds’ top young pitchers – Robert Stephenson and Cody Reed – NEED to start the season in the minors for service clock/arbitration concerns… others like Brandon Finnegan, Mike Lorenzen, and Jon Moscot could stand to have some more innings in AAA. Bailey is still recovering from surgery. Only Iglesias, DeSclafani, and Lamb seemingly have rotation spots locked up.
Arroyo wouldn’t be anything more than a half-season stopgap, but the Reds still could use one of those, to avoid rushing more valuable assets.
One more player for the Nats to be turned down by.
Daniel Murphy, yusmeiro petit, Shawn Kelley and Oliver Perez didn’t. Just Heyward, cespedes, and Chen did and they all had their reasons. I’m sure every team in the league has been turned down by three players this offseason just maybe not such high profile ones.
Brandon Phillips blocked his trade to the Nats as well. That’s why they signed Murphy
Petit, Kelley, and Ollie Perez are “high profile?”
No they are not high profile. Heyward, Cespedes and Chen are high profile. LH just named all the players who were signed.
That’s great
It’s like that for O’s too
He go to reds cause no one wants to play for the Nationals. Rotflmao
He might not want to play for the Nationals because he spent the best years of his career with the Reds, and likes the Reds. The only thing that differentiates the Nationals from other teams is his former manager, Dusty Baker.
You got that right Stem. Austin Jackson needs a home. Lmao
Would love to see him play for us again. One of my favorite pitchers.
Reds should sign him. Great clubhouse guy and will be a leader for young pitchers
Cubs should take a chance on arroyo or lincicum
What I wouldn’t give to watch the nats not get another player.
Every time I’ve read ‘Bronson Arroyo’ in the last decade I’ve thought, “he hasn’t retired yet?’