The Padres have released right-hander Eric Yardley, per the transactions log at MLB.com. He’d been designated for assignment earlier this week and was cut loose upon clearing waivers.
Yardley, 29, made his MLB debut with San Diego in 2019. The Seattle University grad went undrafted and pitched in the independent Pecos League out of college before signing on with the Padres as a minor league free agent. He’s been in their system since 2013 and long posted sharp numbers without getting a call to the big leagues.
That changed this past season, as Yardley parlayed a 2.83 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 0.42 HR/9 and 63.8 percent ground-ball rate in the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League into his first taste of the Major Leagues. The 6’0″, 165-pound sidearmer acquitted himself well, too, allowing just three earned runs on 12 hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.
As with many sidearm pitchers, Yardley isn’t going to blow anyone away with velocity. His sinker checked in at an average of just 86.2 mph in the Majors this season. But, as has been the case in Triple-A (both this season and in years past), Yardley was a ground-ball machine with the Padres, inducing grounders at a 64.1 percent clip in his limited sample of work.
Shrugs
I saw this yesterday
Why not take a chance on this guy for a team such as the Marlins or the Jays. You never know. He could be really solid middle inning guy. You just never know
Soft tossing side arm righty? Go for it
He would be a great Orioles pickup. Relatively cheap and has extreme ground ball tendencies, which would play well at Camden Yards
Ditto the Reds
Future angels dumpster dive project
Nope……John Mozeliak of the Cardinals will be all over this guy. He loves “Low Hanging Fruit!”
I’d be shocked if the Os, Marlins, or some other basement dwelling team doesn’t snag him up. I’d love to see the Nats take a stab at him. Sidearmer with a good sinker and pitched well in the PCL and limited ML action? Sign me the hell up. He’s a feel good story too. Wish him well.
Are the Padres nucking futs? This guy’s stats look awesome. Ok, so he throws like a girl, but he doesn’t walk too many and doesn’t give up HRs. And they gave him away for nothing? Did he pull a Felipe Vasquez or something?
Throws like a girl? Who are you, Ham Porter?
Does that “throws like a girl” comment strike too close to home? 86 mph “fastball?” Had to look up Ham Porter lol..
Am I missing something here. This guy has posted really decent numbers. Granted he’s not throwing that blazing fastball but he keeps in on the ground which beats the hell out of watching it go sailing out of the park.
Padres. Nuff said.
Little Fred—not enuff to get an AB.
A) He cleared waivers, so their judgment was not unique.
B) He had the right to declare MLFA if they outrighted him, so releasing him is really just a procedural move that saved a step so that he hits the market a day earlier.
Padres will stick with their merry go round of bullpen arms who can throw 95+ but only hit the strike zone every tenth pitch. WINNING!
weird they wouldnt keep him as depth. plenty of AAA pitchers are worse.
Giants, give this guy a call !!
Agree with the comments above. With the exception of 2018, this guy has done nothing but put up IMPRESSIVE stats no matter what level of the minors he pitched at. He finally gets his MLB chance in 2019 and acquits himself quite well (2.31 ERA & WHIP under 1.3) over 12 games only to be released. What else does this kid need to do in order to get a chance to stick? Hopefully he goes to a team who appreciates his results and are not concerned with velocity. Look what Uehara did for years, topping out at 88mph, but his splitter was unhittable! This is a case where a team (SD) is tied too much to metrics and not enough to actual results. Would love to see him sign with the Giants and watch him shut down the Padres 15+ times next year. They strung this kid along for years when he could have been a valuable member of the bullpen. He’ll be a great gamble as the 24th or 25th player for another organization.
Well said! Side note: don’t forget rosters get pumped up to 26 next year too
Have the Padres traded Wil Myers for Marcus Stroman or Trevor Bauer yet?
Nope, just Trey Turner. The guy who swings a bat like old-time movie starlettes smoke a cigarette—with one of the middle fingers in the air.
What are you on about bro? A conversation we had months ago? I never guaranteed that Myers would go but i did assure you that we were angling towards Stro or Bauer after Thor talks broke down. I thought our trade including Bauer was legit. The ask for Thor was too high, let’s see if both teams revisit that chatter this year though
Teams look at velocity as the above all tool for pitchers now days. Pitchers who don’t throw gas aren’t as “projectable,” and even if they have some success, clubs seem less likely to commit to them. Granted, of course you’d like guys who can throw 95+mph, but that doesn’t mean soft-tossers can’t get the job done.
Like you mentioned Uehara–the guy posted a career ERA of 2.66 AND didn’t even debut in the big-leagues until he was 34. Zack Greinke is still an all-star caliber pitcher whose averaged under 90mph two straight years.
Now, I’m not going to drool over Yardley’s small sample size at the ML level, but his minor league numbers indicate a guy who knows how to pitch–weird a team would release him. Maybe he was out of options.
Do you want marge as well? Soft tossing garbage
Al alvla come on
Well that clears a spot for Esteury Ruiz.
A) This is the fallout from him being DFA’d on Monday to get to 40 at that point. it does not create a roster spot.
B) You are as likely to stick on a major league roster for 2020 as Ruiz is.
Yikes. Strike that. He’d already been DFA’d. 40-man roster remains at 40.
Why released instead of outrighted?
Planning for the possibility of having to drop some trash soon.
If they outrighted him, he’d be eligible to declare MLFA. Assuming his agent told them he intended to do so (and his agent would have to be an idiot to say anything else) it’s purely procedural.
And in terms of roster minutia, if the Padres re-sign him as a MLFA, and he does work his way back to the 40-man, by releasing him rather than outrighting him now, should they outright him in the future, he wouldn’t have the option to refuse the assignment.
Jays need pitching, but there is one problem with Yardley. Jays have a pretty good infield so a ground ball pitcher would be ideal. The problem is Shapiro and Atkins would recognize a good opportunity if it walked up and bit them on the butt.
Padres relievers omg, jump on them fast.