Former big league reliever Burke Badenhop is joining the Diamondbacks in an interesting new baseball operations position, as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic tweets. In his new role, Piecoro writes, Badenhop will perform “acquisition-based pitching analysis/sports science work.” That sounds like a great way to start a new career path for the veteran hurler, though unfortunately it’ll mean sacrificing the fame and riches associated with his gig as an MLBTR contributor.
In all seriousness, MLBTR wishes Burke the very best in his new pursuit; be sure to check out his excellent work in the Player’s Perspective Series. Here’s the latest from the relief market:
- In his latest MLB Roundup column, ESPN’s Buster Olney writes that a game of musical chairs appears poised to begin in the next couple of days as the market for left-handed relievers begins to sort itself out (ESPN Insider subscription required). Per Olney, the Indians, Mets, Blue Jays, Phillies, Giants and Marlins are the teams most aggressively seeking left-handed bullpen help. FOX’s Ken Rosenthal also tweeted this morning that the Mets are still seeking bullpen help, though Olney notes that the team doesn’t have the payroll capacity to retain Jerry Blevins at his current asking price. There are a number of free-agent southpaws remaining on the market, including Blevins, Travis Wood, Boone Logan, J.P. Howell, Charlie Furbush (recovering from August shoulder surgery), Chris Capuano, Javier Lopez and Craig Breslow. Olney notes that Wood’s deteriorating swinging-strike rate has been a cause of concern for some teams.
- While the Indians are indeed most interested in a southpaw, the club is not limiting itself to left-handed relief options, Rosenthal notes (Twitter links). Among other possibilities, Cleveland is said to be “doing background work” on veteran righty Joe Blanton, though Rosenthal notes that it’s far from clear whether the organization will even give out any more MLB deals (which Blanton surely will require).
- Following a workout that was reportedly attended by about half the league, Breslow is drawing some level of interest from the Indians, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Rockies, Mets, Cubs, Twins and Reds, according to WEEI’s Rob Bradford (Twitter links). The 36-year-old’s altered arm angle has piqued the interest of teams to the point where some consider him a viable fallback to Jerry Blevins and Boone Logan.
- The Rays are still receiving trade interest in closer Alex Colome, tweets Rosenthal, but they’re not in any rush to move him. The 28-year-old Colome dominated opponents after taking over the ninth inning for the injured Brad Boxberger, tossing 56 2/3 innings of 1.91 ERA ball with 11.3 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 47.1 percent ground-ball rate. Colome, though, is controllable for another four years and won’t even be arbitration-eligible until next winter, so the asking price on him would presumably be exceptionally high. While the Rays may not feel compelled to shop Colome, the team typically is willing to listen on nearly any player. I’d imagine any offer would need to include MLB-ready lineup help in addition to some prospect capital.
- The Twins are interested in Joe Smith, reports 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson in his latest podcast (audio link, with bullpen talk beginning around 1:02:55). (Wolfson also noted interest in Greg Holland, but he’s now heading elsewhere.) Minnesota is “slow-playing” its search on the free-agent market as it attempts to wait out the market to secure a late value pickup or two, and with plenty of quality names left on the market, they’re probably not the only ones employing that approach. The Twins have previously been connected to both relievers, though that interest was first reported months ago, so it wasn’t exactly clear if they’d changed course at all. New Twins chief baseball office Derek Falvey knows Smith quite well, as the side-armer spent the 2009-13 seasons with the Indians, where Falvey was previously an assistant general manager.
I guess Burke has to return his company car now.
He’s still allowed MLBTR corporate jet access through the end of March. Just hope he isn’t hogging it when I decide to spin out to Aspen.
And I find out now that I had corporate jet access?!?
Good luck Burke! Hope the new job is interesting and enjoyable!
Congrats Burke on the job with the Diamondbacks! Take that Rover up them trails out there!
I thought you guys were all at Davos?
I never understood why he never got another solid look after 2015 jeff. His career was solid as a ground ball machine middle relief specialist. He did a superb job for Boston and after a poor start with Cincy the next year, turned it around next half, then that was pretty much it.
Seem to remember it took some time for him to sign the next winter and wanted Cherrington to get him back, then he he hardly pitched at all last year when ppl less talented go on forever.
He became an MLB contributor which is practically like going to the HOF in my book.
Furbush is still the best by far of that motley list. Lopez might have been lights out vs lefties for years, yet he is probably the worst pitcher in the game vs opponents vs opposite handed hitters and pretty much always has been. he hit paydirt when San Fran kept rolling over those 5m contracts to only pitch to lefties… Several others equally effective, just getting chump change, like Tommy Layne.
Furbush isn’t going to pitch this year and there’s a chance he never will pitch in the majors again.
Sounds like the mets could use that Jay Bruce salary
Cincinnati native Joe Smith should give the Reds more consideration.
Colome to the Reds for Adam Duvall.
apart from that being crazy from the rays perspective, what would colome do in Cinci? Duvall is one of the few players scoring the runs so without him Reds would never be in a game close enough to require a closer..
that is a ligitamite lose lose trade won’t help ethier side
i wanted kenley jansen and now im getting joe smith
Why is Furbush on that list he isn’t pitching in 2017
Crazy that Wood has fallen so far… does he even get an MLB offer at this point? Seems like his best bet is to sign a MiLB deal with an opt out and wait for a team to suffer some bullpen casualties.
Wood wants to be a starter again.
wood wants to be a starter that’s why he isn’t getting offers if he said he wanted to relieve tons of people would be interested
There are plenty of teams that would sign Wood as a starter, they are probably just seriously low-balling him, probably offering him a couple million rather than the ten he was hoping for. He could step into the Yankees rotation immediately for instance.
If the jays don’t walk away with one of Logan or Blevins and maybe one of breslow, capuono or Howell they’ll be in trouble relying on loup or girodo to fill in for Cecil.
Giants aren’t going to sign anyone to more than a minors deal with an invite to compete with Osich and Okert for the second lefty pen spot behind Smith.
Agreed. On paper the Giants are well set with LH relievers with Smith, Okert and Osich to choose from.
Would love if Joe Blanton signed with the Tribe. He’d be a very solid middle relief arm. Allen, Shaw, Miller, Otero, Blanton, Clevenger, McAllister. Pretty good pen if you ask me.
I’d only want to see Clevenger in the bullpen if the Indians brass thinks his future is as a reliever. Otherwise, he should be starting in Columbus, unless he’s out of options.
Nats fans, what would you give up to get 4 years of Colome? He’d be the finishing touch on a very good team and is easily affordable.