The Indians have claimed right-hander Jordan Humphreys off waivers from the Giants and, in a corresponding move, designated righty Adam Cimber for assignment, according to a club announcement. San Francisco had designated Humphreys for assignment back on Friday.
Cimber, 30, came to Cleveland alongside recently waived All-Star Brad Hand in the trade that sent catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the Padres. It proved to be a worthwhile swap for Cleveland, as Mejia hasn’t contributed much of anything to the Padres yet, but the hope at the time of the deal was surely that Hand and Cimber would hold down key bullpen roles into at least the 2021 season. This past season’s lost revenues prompted the Indians to decline Hand’s option, however, and Cimber was likely deemed expendable due to a looming arbitration raise and the fact that he never pitched as well in Cleveland as he did for the Padres.
Cimber was a 27-year-old rookie with San Diego in ’17 but carved out an important role in their bullpen by pitching to a 3.17 ERA with a 51-to-10 K/BB ratio in 48 1/3 innings prior to the trade. That performance and Cimber’s five-and-a-half remaining years of club control surely piqued the interest of the perennially low-budget Indians, but he’s looked more like a serviceable middle reliever than a potential high-leverage option in Cleveland. Over parts of three seasons with the Indians, Cimber has a 4.30 ERA with just 5.4 K/9 against 2.9 BB/9. He’d he been arbitration-eligible as a Super Two player this winter.
Humphreys, 24, has yet to make his big league debut but had a big 2017 season across two Class-A levels in the Mets organization before requiring Tommy John surgery. He allowed just two runs in 13 innings of Rookie ball in 2019 as he rehabbed from that surgery and likely would’ve been ticketed for a Double-A assignment in 2020 had their been a minor league season. The Giants acquired him in the trade that sent Billy Hamilton to Queens and likely hoped to sneak him through waivers, but he’ll instead give Cleveland an interesting depth piece. In 169 2/3 professional innings, Humphreys has a 2.60 ERA and a 177-to-30 K/BB ratio.
Stop…. waiver time.
Cimber would be a super 2 arb candidate, so if he goes unclaimed, how does that work as far as money next year? Does he go back to making minimum, or does he have to get some sort of arbitration-like raise on a split contract?
Depends on when he is picked up and if it’s a major league pact or a minor league pact
I’m saying if he goes unclaimed. He would be a first time outright, so I think the Indians would retain his rights, but what would they be paying him at that point?
Phillies should claim Cimber
Don’t you mean the braves should claim Cimber? 😉
Cimber’s done OK for himself since “The Lion King”.
That comment leaves a Scar.
He came prepared
I’m laughing
at Cimber
Cimber has a deceptive delivery, but other than that he’s really just a guy. He doesn’t throw hard, doesn’t strike anyone out, and is way too hittable.
Someone will probably claim him since he’s only in his first year of arbitration, but he’s more of a depth guy to shuttle back and forth or play matchups with than a definitive answer in your bullpen.
Agreed. I for one am glad he’s gone.
His delivery should be deceptive but it just isn’t. It’s like BP out there with him on the bump. I was very hopeful he’d be a good addition to the Tribe’s ‘pen but it just never worked out. Good luck to him.
Also find it weird they’re dumping him for a guy going n 25 and never pitched above A ball.
I wouldn’t look too much into that because he’s had Tommy John and obviously didn’t get a minor league years this year, so the last three seasons have more or less been out of his control. Before he needed surgery, he was moving pretty quickly for a high school draft pick.
You definitely can’t overlook the age, but he’s pitched well everywhere he’s been and was always younger than the competition he’s faced.
Bring him to SF to work with Tyler Rogers
Assuming Cimber is picked up by another club, it clears the way for one of Nick Sandlin or Robert Broom to get a look in the Tribe bullpen during 2021..
Intrigued by the pickup of Humphreys.. Perhaps its a short term placeholder on 40 man roster or someone to be depth replacement (as another move or 2 impacts the RHP depth)..
I would guess Sandlin comes before Broom, but they’d probably give Kyle Nelson a look first since he’s already on the 40-man
Nelson is a given for a look being LH..
Cimber/ Sandlin/ Broom are all RHP with unique arm slots for delivery..
Nelson is the only lefty reliever on the 40 unless they convert Hentges, Moss, or Logan Allen from starting.
Good point. I’m hoping Perez will be back too.
I’m also not convinced any of those guys are necessarily starters long term, so maybe they could be bullpen options. Hentges apparently looked great in the alternate site so I could be wrong there though. Moss could be a Robbie Ray-type if he clicks and he looked great once they got him in the system last year, but his control needs to improve. Allen is starting to look more like a swingman, but I’m hoping I’m wrong there too.
I remember watching Cimber when he was on the Padres. He was pretty good for us, and I think he would be a quality addition to our bullpen this year.
It’s a shame that Cimber didn’t work out. I had dillusionary visions of him being another Ted Abernathy,Kent Tekulve,or Dan Quisenberry. I guess that was not meant to be. I alway liked those underarm delivery guys.
Well now you will get to see 2 others of that ilk in Sandlin & Broom..
It is hard to throw like that too. I used to try, back in the day.
Joe Smith is an all time underrated sidearm RP
with a hot wife
She’s right up his Alley.
Tribe can’t cut payroll fast enough
Funny, but he was right at league minimum, so they’re not exactly cutting payroll.
Watch Humphries turn into the next dominant reliever for Cleveland. The Indians have a knack of finding pitching talent from other organizations.
They did it with Joe Smith (former Mets prospect) who had years of success with them.
Never threw a pitch in SF, so in the end, the Hamilton signing/trade was all for naught.
Idk how the Mets gave up Humphreys. Probably could have just sent cash or a less prized relief pitching prospect.
There is a God!
Cimber and his ulcer inducing ,knuckle scraping pitching style are DFA and hopefully gone for good.
I don’t imagine Cimber will stay on waivers long. I was kind of hoping the Mets would have put a claim to reacquire Humphreys.
As an Indians fan, I shuddered every time Cimber started warming up in the bullpen, let alone enter the game. He’s the main reason fast forwarding was invented. Thanks to whichever team claims him.
Be careful what you wish for if you want your team to pick him up……
I’m sure he’s a fine young man…..but he was instant heartburn for Tribe fans
last year!