Here are a few quick notes on recent Indians roster decisions:
- The Indians have told veteran lefty Joe Thatcher that he will not make the team, as MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian writes. Thatcher was an Article XX(B) free agent, so he will get a $100K retention bonus and a June 1 opt-out date if he accepts a minor-league assignment. He has until Tuesday to decide if he’ll do so. Thatcher allowed just one run in 6 2/3 innings in Spring Training and also got fairly good results in a partial season with the Astros last year, but that apparently wasn’t enough to earn a spot.
- The Indians have also told one of Thatcher’s competitors for a bullpen job, Tom Gorzelanny, that he won’t make the team either, Bastian tweets. Gorzelanny, too, was an Article XX(B) free agent, but as the Akron Beacon Journal’s Ryan Lewis tweets, the Indians are hoping he winds up with them at Triple-A. The 33-year-old Gorzelanny was coming off a rough season in Detroit and struck out only three batters in 7 2/3 innings in Spring Training, during which he allowed three runs. If the Indians do carry a bullpen lefty, it appears it will be either Kyle Crockett or Ross Detwiler.
- One veteran reliever who has made the team is righty Joba Chamberlain, Bastian tweets. The Indians signed Chamberlain to a minor-league deal in December after a mediocre 2015 season in which he posted a 4.88 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 27 2/3 innings with the Tigers and Royals. Chamberlain also walked five batters in eight Spring Training innings this season. At 30, though, he’s fairly young, and he’s demonstrated mid-90s velocity.
- The team also optioned infielder Giovanny Urshela, pitcher Austin Adams, outfielder Joey Butler and infielder Erik Gonzalez. The most notable of those is Urshela, who played in 81 big-league games last season and hit well this Spring but didn’t figure to make the team thanks to the presence of Juan Uribe and Jose Ramirez.
Based on your write up with the stats listed and the Braves stated desire for another lefty, Thatcher could pry pass the minor league assignment in Cleveland and catch on in Atlanta. I am sure other teams have the same need as well so I am sure he has options
The Red Sox aren’t even real
Even tho the Red Sox have one of the worst bull pens in their division!!
1
I wouldn’t go that far. I’d say they have the 3rd, maybe even 2nd best bullpen in their division. The Blue Jays have loads of question marks after Osuna and Cecil and the Rays no longer have McGee, leaving the homer prone Boxberger as the best bullpen arm they have. The Yankees’ back end of the bullpen is probably the best in baseball but the rest of their bullpen is pretty sketchy. The Orioles obviously have the best bullpen in their division however, no questioning that.
joba would be a huge upgrade for the red sox bullpen.
I don’t understand the aversion to Thatcher. He was DFA’d in July by the Astros last year despite solid results (though he was re-signed to a minor league deal and promoted again in September). Now the Indians are telling him he won’t make the team despite striking out 8 batters in 6.2 IP with no walks or home runs allowed this spring. I just don’t get it.
Thatcher is a lefty exclusive pitcher and the Indians couldn’t keep a second lefty in the bullpen since Francona decided to go with an extra position player due to injury to Brantley and Chisenhall also could be out depending on what the doctor diagnoses his right arm with that has caused him to miss most of the spring.
joba would be a huge upgrade for the red sox
Indians had the second lowest bullpen ERA in the AL last year. Their pitching looks absolutely solid. You clearly don’t watch enough baseball. I can’t fault you though. Trolls live under bridges, so their eyesight tends to be rather poor.
I wouldn’t mind the Tigers picking up Thatcher. Also, as a Tiger fan, I do hope Joba makes the Indians, and that he pitches a lot against us. His being elsewhere, makes the Detroit bullpen better.
I had joba on the Indians for my franchise in the show 13 and he was a beast. Maybe it was a sign for things to come.
The Indians actually should have a very solid bullpen and the bullpen with the starting staff especially means they won’t be over worked as well. Joba has made the roster for now, but the Indians have guys like Tommy Hunter starting on the DL and they had enough competition to show who should be on the roster. Joba may up the long Reliever/guy who is first out of the pen, but he won’t have a long leash so he has to keep up his game or he is off the roster fairly quickly. I didn’t like the fact we signed Uribe, I actually wanted Urshela to play every day up here. That happens and now the Indians have to decide the final couple spots, aka battle between Crockett and Detweiler, and the last bench spots, Cowgill, Byrd, Grossman, Martinez