Former Indians reliever Bryan Shaw is returning to the team on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, Zack Meisel of The Athletic tweets. The Indians have also added fellow righty reliever Heath Hembree on a minors pact, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. Hembree will earn a $1.25MM salary and could also make incentives if he gets back to the majors.
Now 33 years old, Shaw enjoyed his best seasons as an Indian from 2013-17. He was good for 60-plus innings per season then, totaling 358 2/3 in 378 appearances, and logged a 3.11 ERA/3.41 SIERA with a 22.5 percent strikeout rate and an 8.0 percent walk rate. Shaw parlayed that success into a three-year, $27MM guarantee with the Rockies, but his career has gone off the rails since then. He struggled mightily with the Rox and Mariners from 2018-20 and had been on the open market since October.
Hembree did well to prevent runs with the Red Sox from 204-19, but they traded him to the Phillies last August amid what was a rough season for the 32-year-old. He ended the campaign with 19 innings and a horrid 9.00 ERA (albeit with a much better 4.47 SIERA), after which the Phillies let him go.
a good buy low bet. probably is cookee but you never know.
*cooked
ITS HAPPENING
Indians getting in on the FA RP craze
Cost them the World Series. Would rather not see his face again but we will see if his Colorado excuse holds up.
you’re going to hold one outing out of his entire career against him?
Yeah, pretty much. Maybe I’d think differently if he wasn’t awful these past few years. Would rather them go after other buy low candidates.
So how do you feel about Andrew Miller giving up a homer to Greg Bird in 2017 or David Ross in 2016? Do you let him off the hook or are you consistent?
Or Rajai being a hero for his late blast but his lame defense actually costing them the game earlier on…
I’ll always believe that the tribe would have won that World Series if there was no rain delay but Shaw is number two reason. I know it’s an excuse but makes me feel better haha.
Greg freaking Bird played so great in that series.
Don’t bring him up. I’m glad his career flamed out afterwards. Indians had the best team in baseball in 2020 but choked as usual.
*I meant 2017.
Is kinda sad to see that you are glad that somebody’s career flamed out !
I bet you blame Tony Fernandez for losing the game 7 years ago to the Marlins. Rather than hating him applaud the job Edgar Renteria did in his at bat, as a rookie nonetheless.
Jose Mesa might have a little something to do with it
Hembree can’t be any worse than he was for the Phils last year. 7 HR allowed in 9 ip is tough to do.
Sounds like he pitching during the home run derby
Oooph. That’s grisly.
He’s pretty much always been HR prone. Real issues are 2.. 1) needs to avoid LH hitters and that’s pretty much always been true of him 2) Lost some velo on his FB. Been cpl years since saw him touch 97-8. he used to come into a game and throw 94-6 all inning, now , or while with boston in 2020, there were some games he was 91-2. Not good for him where he gives hitters such a good look coming with the ball
NOOOO. PLEASE TELL ME MICHAEL MARTINEZ ISNT NEXT
Looking at those Hembree 2020 numbers and realizing he wasn’t even the worst reliever they had…
Truth. Workman should never see a major league mound ever again.
Agree – I’m ok with it if he’s sitting in the stands in street clothes
A lot of fringe major leaguers will have chances to prove themselves this spring training with most clubs cutting payroll and big item FAs still waiting.
Uuuuggghhh. Shaw has actually been toast since the middle of his last year with the Tribe. Maybe he can find some semblance of effectiveness this spring, but I’m not gonna hold my breath. Hembree may very well have something left in the tank, but Shaw’s had a dead battery for years.
As a RedSox fan, I for one am kind of glad Hembree is not coming back to Boston. Even when things were going good for him there was a lot of loud contact, and the higher pressure situations were most unkind to him. I wish him well with the Indians, but it’s time to see a younger guy on the other end of these dingers.
,
Despite the horrendous 2020 campaign I like getting Hembree,but not Shaw. Not only is he washed up,but he always brings back nightmares of game 7. I knew it was a bad omen the minute he came into the game. There’s a bunch of of other dumpster diving gems we could go after than Shaw.
The food is better in Major League spring training…..
First thought it was Brian Shaw and realized what I needed was to see that dude hit a baseball.
Minor league deals never hurt anyone.
that must’ve cost an ugly half-cent. maybe even a plugged nickle.
Shaw is toast. Was already confirmed. The man needs a new line of work. Hembree probably worth a look to see if last year was due to injury.
At this rate it’s not going to be an Indians summer……
Now bring back Cody Allen as closer and you got the 7-9th innings covered
Allen is already selling cars for your cousin in Wisconsin!
Jesus, Shaw is 33? Dude looks & walks like he’s 52
They also signed DJ Johnson.
Does that mean they’re trying to corner the market on AAA-quality ex-Rockies relievers? Maybe Rob Scahill or Rex Brothers or Yohan Flande or Mike Dunn is available.
Yohan Flande…blast from the past right there
They were too slow and lost Rex Brothers to the Cubs. And I forgot Mike Dunn retired. I think Justin Miller is still available, however.
lost in the shuffle is the DJ Johnson signing. late bloomer who did well in his NPB debut last year. great pickup.
So the Cleveland Canceledcultures signed a couple of Dolan’s discounts. Neither will make the team
Shaw – ugh – the pitcher that makes your stomach sick every time you see him warming up in the pen. He has nothing left.
Shaw is probably toast but I am glad they are giving him another shot. He was an absolute workhorse for the Tribe.
But he cost them the World Series in 16. He’s hated in Cleveland, why bring back the worst pitcher in franchise history.
Hoo-boy. He was actually one of the most durable and effective late inning set-up men in Cleveland Indian history. CLE fans are so myopic.