The Red Sox have signed veteran reliever Casey Janssen to a minor league deal, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports on Twitter. He is expected to pitch at the Triple-A level after a preliminary trip through the low minors.
Janssen spent spring training with the Padres, but San Diego released him in late March when it became apparent he wouldn’t crack the roster. He had yet to sign with another organization since.
The 34-year-old pitched at the major league level most recently with the Nationals in 2015. He was unable to make up for a decline in fastball velocity that has worsened over the years. Despite minimizing baserunners (38 hits and eight walks in 40 frames), he was touched for five long balls and suffered from sequencing misfortune. The result was a 4.95 ERA.
Before that, Janssen had compiled an impressive eight-year run with the Blue Jays. Over 493 frames, he worked to a 3.52 ERA with 6.7 K/9 against 2.2 BB/9. At his best, though, from 2011 through 2013, Janssen struck out about one batter per inning with around two walks per nine while carrying a 2.46 ERA.
Good signing. If I remember correctly he was once in the discussion for one of the best relievers in the game. Maybe he finds a way to get a little bit of that magic back, if not no harm done.
Definitely a by low and hope he can help reduce innings on Koji and Taz! Also bridge till trade deadline
Decent signing here. Provides some depth in the bullpen. Depending on how he does in the AAA, he could be up in the Sox bullpen by mid-July I’d say
He was pretty good with the jays, good pick up for Sox, low risk and possible a big piece to that bullpen
That’s some quasi illiterate writing
Care to elaborate?
Hi Jeff. Don’t worry about geg42. I enjoy the way you pass on information and in my eyes you have much more credibility than geg42!
Like many others on this site I find baseball chat much more interesting than deciphering what the point of saying quasi illiterate might mean
All the best and keep up the fabulous work
^ this man actually is TROT NIXON
That would be really cool but sadly I am really Mark Bellhorn
Up vote
Good singing. Not great but good.
I heard him perform karaoke once. He’s alright.
So this as how bad it is?
What? There’s always room for improvement. The bullpen is taxed with innings as a result of poor start after poor start.
I know a lefty ( Burnett) and he’s been pretty much lights out he’s 100% healthy Sox give him a chance just give him a shot back in the Bigs just a thought
Good news for the Jays as they know him inside out.