The Brewers have released veteran righties Joba Chamberlain and Ryan Webb, per a club announcement. Both had been signed to minor-league deals over the offseason.
Though he allowed only three runs in his eight spring frames, Chamberlain managed only two strikeouts to go with five walks and ten base knocks. That was much the same story as his 2016 campaign, when he worked to a 2.25 ERA over twenty innings with the Indians but coughed up 11 walks (against 18 punch-outs) in the process.
In 342 career relief appearances, Chamberlain carries a 3.56 ERA and has held opposing hitters to a .247/.318/.379 batting line. But he last turned in a full and productive campaign in 2014 with the Tigers. Still, it seems likely he’ll catch on with another organization in the coming days.
Webb, meanwhile, only received three innings of work in camp, allowing just a single hit and earned run but failing to record a strikeout while issuing two free passes. Like Chamberlain, he’s a 31-year-old reliever who has had a fair bit of MLB success, with a 3.43 lifetime ERA in nearly 400 frames at the game’s highest level. But he struggled to a 5.19 ERA last year in his 17 1/3 innings with the Rays, coughing up 27 hits in the process.
Joba Rules
Joba was broke trying to convert him back to a starter. he will catch on somewhere
Joba taking Japan has a certain ring to it.
That’s what he thought last season when Cleveland dumped him yet nobody would touch him. Must be a swell clubhouse guy.
It’s just too risky keeping a bullpen arm who can’t strike anyone out.
Yeah. Webb is trash. I’m glad the Brewers released him.
Agreed that k/9 is huge with relievers now but he’s been very effective, it seems odd that no one wants him. Regardless of what his advanced stats show, when it comes to on field performance he was effective last year
Official room for Tim Dillard?
I’d love to see him take over in some social media role instead of playing.
He will be, retired and tweeting from his couch.
I wonder if Joba lives on Tatooine.
Poor Ryan Webb – the quest for his first save continues.
(Webb holds the ML record for most games finished without a save – 105. Matt Albers is right behind him with 99.)
The curse of the Prospect on a baseball card box. Bowman 2012.