Adding to a run on bounceback pitching candidates, the Diamondbacks have struck a minors deal with lefty Antonio Bastardo, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (Twitter links). He’ll earn at a $1.5MM rate if he can make the team out of camp and can also accrue up to $4MM in incentives, though that is seemingly tied to games finished — a stat mostly accrued by closers. The deal also includes a March 25th opt-out chance, per the report.
Bastardo, 32, has at times been a high-quality setup man. But he stumbled in 2016 and, in particular, 2017. Over his last 76 2/3 MLB innings, Bastardo has been tagged for 16 home runs and 49 earned runs. He received only nine frames at the game’s highest level last year, struggling on both sides of a lengthy DL stint for a quad injury and ultimately being designated for assignment.
Clearly, something was off for Bastardo in his most recent MLB showing. He exhibited a loss of about 1.5 mph of average fastball velocity, doled out a walk per inning, and only managed to induce swinging strikes at about half his usually excellent rate (13.3% career).
That said, Bastardo turned in more promising results at Triple-A, where he allowed just four earned runs on 11 hits and nine walks while picking up twenty strikeouts in 18 1/3 frames. And there’s a deeper history to be considered, too. Between 2011 and 2015, Bastardo ran a 3.28 ERA with 11.3 K/9 against 4.4 BB/9 in over three hundred major league appearances.
Very nice how much
Am I the only one who read this comment in Borat’s voice?
No I totally did as well lol
This singing actually took place weeks ago but the post was awaiting moderation due to antonio’s last name lol 😉
Don’t know if it still triggers the filter but it sure used too.
Haha well played. I always had issues talking about him too.
I can’t type his name without bypassing filter.
Free Antonio B(astardo)!
I’m so sorry…
and Ty Kelly signed a minor league deal with the mets
Did he?
yes, he’s announced it on twitter, and so has CBS sports and others
Wonder if Antonio found a cure for his homeritis? Wham!, a homerun, Wham!. another one, Wham!…. Wham!…. Wham!!!
Thank god. Sincerely, all pirates fans.
Ba(s)tardo was one of the better LHRP in MLB for a few seasons.
If he can regain his form it’s a nice signing.
No mention in the story or the comments (yet) of how Ba$tardo was a roidboy and served a 50 gamer not-so-long ago? Have we really gotten so accustomed to everyone juicing that it doesn’t warrant a mention?
Pretty much. Past is the past.
This actually is interesting, because wasn’t Ken Kendrick a few year back that stated emphatically in an interview that nobody that has been connected to PED use will be a member of the Diamondbacks going forward.
He was actually pretty good in Philly for a couple of seasons. He’s a player who the pitch clock will certainly affect. I remember watching games that Cole Hamels would start (He typically worked very quickly), which made Bastardo seem like he was taking 2 minutes between each pitch.