The Padres have released left-handed reliever Sammy Solis from his minor league contract, according to Roster Roundup (Twitter link). He’d signed with the Friars on a minor league back in early March after being released by the Nationals.
Solis, 30, has enjoyed a solid season in Triple-A El Paso to date, putting up a 3.57 ERA through 22 2/3 innings in that hitter-friendly setting. Solis has punched out 28 hitters against eight walks in that time and, despite a tiny 21.4 percent ground-ball rate, has held opponents to three home runs.
The past couple of seasons in D.C. were ugly ones for Solis, who most recently turned in a dismal 6.41 ERA in 39 1/3 frames for the Nats in 2018. Even in that down year, though, Solis averaged 10.1 K/9 with a solid 12.9 percent swinging-strike rate, and a 31.7 percent chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone. He’s averaged 94 mph on his heater at the big league level, and his track record in Triple-A aligns closely with what he’s done this season. Solis has been a bit more effective against righties than lefties in his career at the big league level, and that has emphatically been the case thus far in a small sample of innings with El Paso. At his best in 2015-16, he found success against hitters from both sides of the dish.
He’s a long ways from earning a trip back through the arbitration process, but if Solis does return to the Majors and find enough success that a new team wants to keep him into the offseason, he’d be controllable for multiple seasons. At present, Solis would be controlled through 2021 via arbitration, but by mid June there wouldn’t be enough time left in the season for him to reach four full years of MLB service, which would push a team’s control over him back another year.
Too many terrible bullpens right now so someone could use him. Minor league deal in the making
So our bullpen is a dumpster fire except for Yates, and instead of giving this guy a shot again, they cut him loose? Same with Torres last week? I know they’re not superstars, but it beats knowing Wieck, Wisler, Perdomo and Maton are going to give up runs as soon as they enter the game.
Yeah I don’t understand.
Every time Wieck comes into a game I cringe.
Solis would have been a solid veteran option until Loup or Castillo returns.
You forgot Warren on your list.
I suppose they didn’t want to give up a 40 man spot but I can think of at least a few spots I’d be happy to give up.
Right?
A few easy casualties from the 40:
Pirela
Maton
Wieck
Perdomo
Stock
Oh and shhh… I don’t want to hurt Andy Green or AJ Preller’s feelings but
Ian Kinsler
Those are 6 easy candidates right there
I’m not willing to give up on Stock yet. He was so good last year and still looked good in spring training. I don’t know what happened. The rest can go. Especially Kinsler. And Perdomo. If I never had to watch him throw a pitch in a padres uniform again…
Dickerson
Erlin
It’s not like they don’t have a 40 man spot just hanging out there. They still haven’t put Espinoza on the 60 day
I actually like Erlin. He’s a great innings eater when we’re down, and can usually keep the game close. And I keep waiting for Maton to bring it again, but I’d rather see him figure it out in the minors. Agree with everything else though.
Twins could really use another lefty in the pen.
Wingenter been good
Looks like Washington just found themselves a new back end of the bullpen arm lol
Seriously. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve already re-signed him and just haven’t made the announcement yet. The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know some times.
Never was a fan of solis but he’s better than Matt Grace by a country mile
Maybe Dodgers sign him and replace Scott Alexander in bullpen!