The Indians and right-hander Nick Wittgren have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $2MM salary for the 2021 season, The Athletic’s Zack Meisel reports (Twitter link).
The 29-year-old Wittgren was making his second of three trips through the arbitration process this winter. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected Wittgren to earn between $1.4MM-$2.2MM after the righty earned $1.125MM last offseason in another arb-avoiding deal.
Acquired in something of a steal of a trade from the Marlins in February 2019, Wittgren built off the promise he showed in Miami to become a key part of the Cleveland bullpen. Over 80 games and 81 1/3 innings with the Tribe, Wittgren has a 2.99 ERA, 4.19 K/BB rate, and 9.7 K/9. ERA predictors haven’t been quite as impressed (4.24 FIP, 4.02 xFIP, 3.56 SIERA) since Wittgren has gotten some good luck in the form of an 84% strand rate and a .254 BABIP, and Statcast also doesn’t love many of his peripheral numbers. Wittgren is also a bit homer-prone, though he does do a good job of limiting walks.
The Tribe has been comfortable using Wittgren as a setup man, and it seems likely that he’ll continue in that role in 2021, albeit in front of a new closer now that Brad Hand was cut loose. James Karinchak or Emmanuel Clase could be tabbed as the top ninth-inning options, and it’s possible Wittgren might also pick up the stray save opportunity.
still cant believe the Marlins just dumped him for so little
Looks like a pirate.. or..a matador. Idk, Maybe a guy who can swallow knives.
Happy to have you in the fold Nick Big part of the bullpen
Nick Wittgren could be a solid trade piece at deadline if indians suck
I have no idea why Wittgren can’t close and allow Terry to use Clase and Karinchak whenever high leverage situations arise. You don’t have to have your best arm in the 9th protecting a two or three run lead and the veteran Wittgren has already proven he’s cool as a cucumber on the mound. Interesting that advanced stats don’t like Nick, but he’s been solid in the two years the Tribe has had him. Really pleased the Tribe didn’t go to arbitration to try and squeeze out a few more nickels. This mutual agreement–and really everything Cleveland has done so far in the offseason–demonstrates the Tribe hasn’t lost their minds like some would have you believe. Solid baseball decisions continue to be made by a very astute organization.
The hardest 3 outs to get are the final 3 outs. Many guys good in the 7th or 8th couldn’t handle the pressures of the 9th inning.
@Polishhammer
Frank Whychek fan? But yeah, the last three outs are always the worst. Some people can’t handle that pressure.
Hammer, this is overblown, and baseball people are starting to understand it. Having your best arm waiting around for a lead that never comes or, worse, wasting it on a two or three run lead when you might need it the next night is absolutely stupid. Besides, since the turn of the nineteenth century–yes, the 1890’s–the percentage of games won with various leads in the 9th has been remarkably stable, and may I remind you that “closers” weren’t exalted until late in the 20th century. So what changed? Nothing except over-emphasizing the closer role. The truth is, any halfway decent pitcher, if you give him a lead with no one on in the 9th, is going to be able to get three outs before two runs score, meaning, if you have a one run lead, the worst outcome you’ll get 95% of the time is a tie. The very fact that Sid Monge, Frank Borowski, and Ernie Camacho were fine closers should tell you that truth. What’s even MORE ridiculous is anointing the last three outs as the most difficult to get. Oh? So the 8th inning outs with two on and nobody out in a tie game with the middle of the order coming up are EASIER than no one on and a two-run lead in the 9th. Gimme a break. Also, why is it tougher on the PITCHER in the 9th leading by one or two than it is the HITTER who has to make something happen in the 9th? Why isn’t the 9th the “hardest three outs to AVOID MAKING” as a hitter? Good grief, it’s the hitters who have all the pressure trying to come from behind with ONLY three outs left, not the pitcher who has to get ONLY three outs to win? I’ve played baseball, coming up to the hit in the 9th to face a fresh pitcher and you’re down a run or two…don’t you dare tell me the pressure is on the pitcher. The hardest three outs? That’s nonsense made up by player agents who want their clients to get paid for empty saves.
Lay off the coffee Avory!
Have never had a cup of java in my life. But I have seen a lot of fans spout nonsensical “conventional wisdom” for an entire lifetime.
Preach Avory. The saving your best arm for the 9th inning is nonsense. That one run lead in the 7th with a man on and the heart of the order coming up is where you want your strongest arm. But nope can’t use him it’s not a “save situation”(I know it technically is but it’s not the 9th so to managers it’s not a save situation). It’s absolutely ridiculous. Ask Orioles fans how they feel about Britton. They should do away with the save altogether.
Similarly, remember when Craig Kimbrel was in the bullpen waiting to save a playoff game for the Braves as the Dodgers erased Atlanta’s lead and Kimbrel never made an appearance? I will never fault a manager for suspecting the game is on the line and going with the best guy he’s got. Now, I realize that there are issues related to getting guys warm and ready to go, that it’s not as easy as simply going to your best arm when it’s needed, but that’s part of managing and anticipating moments. When all you have to do is plug in your seventh, eighth, and ninth inning “guy,” you’re basically saying, “Hey, I do what I always do, it’s not my fault they failed.” It’s managers just covering their ass with fixed roles, not actually managing to situations where they might get second-guessed.
Thanks for the 5000 word essay, but he’s not their best arm in the bullpen, he’s slotted in right where he belongs. That, or Avery knows more than every career baseball guy as well as Tito Francona and the Tribe’s pitching coaches that continue to churn out results.
PS: congrats on that wiffle ball career, coming up in the ninth and all that pressure on you to drive one deep off Billy Thomas the 5th grader from down the block…ROTFLMAO
It’s weird because the case I hear Andre Knott always make on broadcasts is that team thinks of Wittgren as more of a righty-only specialist. Which would make sense if that keeps him out of the closing role – teams are more able to pinch hit in those situations so your closer should be a guy that can get either side out.
Wittgren’s career numbers don’t suggest a platoon guy, but his 2018 numbers did, and they stuck him in that role in 2019 when they got him (where his FIP was better against righties, but his xFIP was better against lefties). He had reversed platoon splits in 2020. I don’t see anything in his delivery or repertoire that would limit him to only righties.
Karinchak and Clase are more exciting I know, but I am with you that Wittgren would be a solid choice for closer next year. If he gets replaced mid year so be it, or maybe the team sucks and he gets traded to a contender as a closer (and fetches a higher price).
Excellent points, Colonel, as we look deeper into Wittgren’s suitability to be a closer. Notwithstanding the commenter above who lacks reading comprehension, the idea is finding someone who ISN’T your most talented reliever and allowing him to do the closing, someone who has composure on the mound, throws strikes, and has a good enough repertoire to keep hitters off-balance. That describes Nick perfectly, and your data on platoon splits only reinforces it. .
By the way, I’m arguing against fixed roles, so I have no problem with closer by committee, I just don’t want the best arms sitting around waiting to pitch with a three-run lead in the 9th. That’s a waste.
automatically one of the indians highest paid players for 2021