After struggling through the first four months of the season with the Pirates, lefty Francisco Liriano has enjoyed success since coming to the Blue Jays in a deadline trade, writes Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith. Nicholson-Smith notes that, since the trade, Liriano has gotten opposing batters to swing at pitches outside the strike zone 35.1% of the time, up from 27.8% with the Bucs. “He’s always had one of the better arms in baseball. He’s one of those guys that can always dominate teams and he really hasn’t lost a whole lot,” says manager John Gibbons. In seven starts with Toronto, Liriano has a 3.35 ERA, 8.8 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. If he can maintain similar numbers in 2017, he’ll be more than worth his $13.7MM salary, which means that the Blue Jays will likely come out significantly ahead in the trade that brought Liriano to Toronto, in which they also received prospects Reese McGuire and Harold Ramirez while giving up only righty Drew Hutchison, who hasn’t been impressive in the Pirates organization so far. Here’s more from the American League.
- In the coming offseason, the Royals will discuss how best to use righty Joakim Soria and lefty Matt Strahm, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan writes. Soria signed a three-year deal last winter and has had an uneven first season in his return to Kansas City, posting a 4.12 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9. It sounds like he’ll be back in the Royals’ bullpen next year, although the team isn’t sure in what capacity. “[W]e’re going to be very active trying to make sure our bullpen gets back to what it has been. Joakim can be a big part of it,” says GM Dayton Moore. “I know it hasn’t been the type of year that he expected.” Strahm, in contrast, has had an outstanding rookie season in the bullpen, allowing just two runs while striking out 26 batters in his first 19 big-league innings. Strahm spent part of the season as a starter at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, though, and the Royals say they’ll continue to consider him as a starter and that it isn’t guaranteed he’ll break camp with the team.
- The Mariners have announced that they’ve named Justin Hollander their director of baseball operations. The 37-year-old Hollander had previously worked with Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto with the Angels, and last year Hollander served as that organization’s director of player personnel.
Liriano just had to get back away from Searage to have success again.
Lieiano had his best years with the Pirates pitching to Russ Martin no? Can’t be a coincidence he’s pitching well to him again.
Great point! Surprised that hasn’t been brought up before. Makes perfect sense.
It has been brought up. At the time of the trade it was brought up quite a bit.
Could be coincidence. He pitched just as well to Cervelli last year (and had some good seasons pre-Martin as well).
I know we’ve had failures (storen, Chavez)*puke*, but I think Pete walker or somebody in the jays organization deserve credit for having a similar effect as searafe this year. Biagini turned from mediocre depth in San Francisco to good middle reliever in Toronto. Grilli and biagini almost instantly became good the moment they arrived, and now we got prospects as well as above average production out of liriano.
Up until the last year and a half, I was not a fan of Pete Walker but I have to admit, his work with the starters has been nothing short of spectacular. Another person in need of recognition is Dane Johnson, who’s been the BP coach since the start of 2015. Both have turned widely perceived weaknesses into what has kept the Jays in a playoff spot for most or all of 2016.
Benoit*
Huntington, shame on you
Frankie will spiral down next season. Hitters were not blighting on his out of the zone stuff any more in the NL. He was throwing a ton of pitches in games and flaming out in the 5th & 6th innings. A shame Frankie fell off the edge in Pittsburgh. I hope I am wrong, cause I liked Frankie, but I fear he will continue to fall next season.
Horrific deal by Neil Huntington and the Bucs. They are trying to sign Nova to a similar deal and had a similar player in Liriano which would not have cost the prospects. Drew Hutchison is a poor replacement for the prospects lost.
Ñova does not rely on batters chasing his pitches out of the zone. Litigant throws a ton of pitches even when he does not give up runs. Nova works in the zone and has been a ton more efficient with his pitches.
Agree! Plus one ! Thumbs up! (Don’t) like!
I had hopes that the Braves and Jays could work out some deal (not sure what additional pieces would be involved) swapping Markakis and Liriano as the main components. I’m not so sure now.