The Indians announced Thursday that they’ve signed right-hander Justin Grimm to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. Grimm is represented by the Bledsoe Agency.
The 30-year-old Grimm split the 2018 season between the Royals and Mariners but struggled through the worst season of his career. The former Cubs reliever was clobbered for a combined 20 runs in 17 1/3 innings and walked more hitters (14) than he struck out (11).
Grimm did improve upon landing in Seattle, allowing just one run in 4 2/3 innings as a Mariner. It’s been awhile since Grimm enjoyed success at the MLB level, but he was excellent back in 2015 when he tossed 49 2/3 innings of 1.99 ERA ball with 12.1 K/9 against 4.7 BB/9. Control has long been an issue for the righty, but he’s also consistently demonstrated an ability to miss bats both in the upper minors and at the Major League level.
So Philly landed yet another reliever, Pazos, Nicasio, Alvarez and now Robertson, and Cleveland hasn’t signed any to major league deals and is freely going to let the Twins pass them.
lol
Yes…….
Like the Twins passed them last year with those sterling off-season moves.
The Twins have added greatly to their infield while Cleveland has no second baseman, no outfield, no backup infielders and basically no bullpen still.
Kipnis or Ramirez can play 2B, plenty of outfield depth, Yu Chang as infield depth, and several already in the pen, including Hand.
Know your $&#* before commenting.
Kipnis isn’t great, but saying they have no second baseman is wrong; he’s significantly overpriced, but he’s still a 1.5-2.0 WAR player. He’s not anything close to an All-Star anymore, but he’s serviceable.
Also, saying they have no backup infielders is nitpicking to the highest degree.
I agree strongly with the thrust of what you are saying, but if Kipnis really produces at 1.5 to 2.0 WAR, then he is being (at least) appropriately paid. Baseball is going through a surplus value phase, right now, so, a player who is being paid appropriatley ($9.0m/One unit of WAR) but isn’t being underpaid is less attractive.
Maybe I’m being too pedantic, but I think Kipnis in a sense is actually being UNDER valued at the moment because everyone is talking about how terrible he is without really thinking through the numbers.
He’s not that bad and has a non-zero chance of increasing his value by returning to a semblance of his former form.
Kipnis hit .230 last year, so its gonna get better
@NorCal Fair point. His value is technically reasonable at that point (1.5-2.0 WAR is about where he was last year anyway), but he wouldn’t get $17 million on the open market. In relation to the rest of their roster he’s overpriced too, but that’s more about how smart they’ve been with their money than it is an indictment on Kipnis.
@juicemane I agree with that too, although at his age it’s fair to wonder if it’s more of a decline than a blip on the radar. He’s had two straight underwhelming years, and he’s still serviceable, but he probably won’t return to the level he used to be at. His numbers were solid after his horrible start though, so he can still be a capable starter.
Tell me about the Twins starting rotation, Indians have 3 maybe 4 guys who would be the #1 for them.
Well, if baseball doesn’t work out, he can always write fairy tales.
:^ l
He’s always got that comic strip he does with Mother Goose, too.
I loved his tv show.
Grimy Grimmy rides again!
Dumpster diving Dolans. Pathetic ownership.
I knew the Tribe would eventually find that flaming trash heap.
I remember thinking the same thing when they signed Dan Otero a couple years back, he turned out ok. But I want one guy who had a decent 2018.
Why do people always complain about minor leagues signees? If they have something, they keep them. If they don’t do well, just cut him. No harm no foul.
Bingo! Oliver Perez was taken off the AAA scrap heap and saved the season and bullpen when it couldn’t get any worse.
They’re dumb and don’t understand a mlb roster is more than 25 guys.
Every year since Francona was hired, the Indians have had one reliever come out of nowhere to become an important member of the bullpen. Oliver Perez, Olson, Otero, Atchison, etc…
Their strategy is typically to throw a bunch of names at a wall and see who sticks, but I trust that one of them will. Even still, they need more than a few relief additions — but it’s at least a start.
I think fans genuinely don’t remember from year to year. It is frustrating to see the success the Indians have had with signings like this one (and trades of top stars who will inevitably leave via free agency) and see fans criticize them every year for just these kinds of moves. If the Indians don’t make this sort of deal, they don’t win the Central.
Yeah, I don’t get it. I’m still moderately worried about this offseason, but they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt by now. The vast majority of their roster was acquired in relatively under-the-radar moves, which a lot of people don’t think about.
I’m not a big fan of this off-season, either. It is ok to criticize the team, but if someone is critical, it should be for reasons that make sense. The “Dolan is cheap” stuff is just stupid.
For the past several years they have been quite active late in the offseason. Let’s give them a chance to finish their roster.
Agreed. I’ve been on edge a lot of this offseason, but there’s still plenty of time and there are still plenty of quality options available. They were able to wait out Swisher and Bourn, and even if those didn’t work out, they’ve at least shown the willingness to wait out someone’s market and jump if the price is right. They did that with Edwin too, just not as late in the offseason.
If they don’t make any additions or if they get swept out of the first round again then I’ll complain, but for now I’ll do my best to stay patient.
I have no idea what the fans in Cleveland could complain about with the run of success they’ve had. It’s as if the fans want them to rebuild and that’s what they want if they sign free agents to huge muti yr deals. They got lucky Edwin was as productive he was and he was still overpaid significantly given what’s available for 1st/DH types yearly.
Regardless of whatever the fans think the playoffs is a crapshoot. Getting to the playoffs enough times and you’ll eventually probably win see Braves from the 90s. This notion you’ve gotta go all in every season is a good way to never actually win.
Could it be Grimm this time?
Maybe; he kinda reminds me of Neil Ramirez, and I’m pretty sure they both went from Texas to Chicago together anyway.
I personally hope it’s Brooks Pounders because of how great his name is, but it could be Taylor, Lockett, Hu, or any of the handful of non-roster guys. I remember Francona saying good things about Jon Edwards too.
I’m hoping the guy from the Gomes trade works out for the bullpen.
I’m a fan of his too. But since he has options and he’s a lot younger, they can be more patient. He was a starter in the minors so they might try to develop him more there, but I think he could pitch out of the bullpen tomorrow.
I’m thinking Grimm will be better liked around the clubhouse if he leaves that 2016 World Series ring at home.