The Indians announced Thursday that they’ve selected the contract of veteran right-hander Tyler Clippard. He’ll step into the vacant spot on the organization’s 40-man roster. In order to open a space on the active roster, right-hander Jefry Rodriguez was optioned back to Triple-A Columbus.
Clippard, 34, appeared poised to earn a spot with the Indians in Spring Training but sustained a pectoral strain that prevented him from being ready for Opening Day. The two sides agreed to a restructured minor league pact that kept Clippard in the organization, and he’s now worked back to health and shown the organization enough to deem him ready to contribute at the MLB level. In three innings at Columbus, Clippard allowed a run on two hits and no walks with four strikeouts.
The veteran Clippard spent the 2018 season with the Blue Jays, for whom he turned in a 3.67 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9. Home runs, however, have become an increasing problem for Clippard in recent seasons. Always an extreme fly-ball pitcher, the right-hander posted a league-low 19.2 percent ground-ball rate last season and allowed a whopping 1.70 home runs per nine innings pitched. Clippard’s penchant for strikeouts and inducing infield pop-ups (16.3 percent; 17 pop flies in total last season) have helped him to strand an above-average number of baserunners, but the heightened threat of a long ball when he’s pitching with men on base leaves him susceptible to big innings.
Clippard will join a Cleveland bullpen that includes closer Brad Hand; lefties Tyler Olson and Oliver Perez; and right-handers Adam Cimber, Nick Wittgren, Dan Otero and Neil Ramirez.
I hoped they would cut Neil Ramirez loose when they brought Clippard up. Somehow he remains
I also am surprised Ramirez hasn’t been jettisoned. Then again, since they have no need for a 5th starter right now, Chewy gets his extra bullpen guy, and we know how much he loves bullpen guys.
Neil Ramirez is absolutely terrible. I was hoping he’d get DFAed, but there’s no need to yet since they don’t need another starter for a little while.
He’s bad, and he hasn’t been good for awhile now either. There has to be someone better out there.
Oh there are quite a few bullpen pieces out there better than Neil Ramirez, but CLE is only taking on contracts in which the players are willing to work for food – ramen packs to be specific – and so they get what they pay for.
They’re 22nd in attendance and 19th in payroll, should they spend more than the $1mil+ to fill the last bullpen piece that Ramirez is filling? Nah!
Ramirez has a great arm and many teams take a shot at him hoping he can find control. Sadly it hasn’t happened yet. Lightning in a bottle signing. Dumpster diving hoping for a gem.
T-Clip still hanging around
Good for the Clip.
Opposing hitters need to sit on their back leg and look for the changeup. Then the home run comes.