The Diamondbacks announced Monday that they’ve claimed right-hander Jordan Weems off waivers from the Athletics. Veteran lefty Ryan Buchter was designated for assignment in a corresponding roster move.
Weems, 28, was designated for assignment himself over the weekend. He’s allowed three runs in 4 1/3 frames for Oakland this season and, dating back to last summer’s debut, has yielded a total of eight runs on 12 hits and 10 walks with 22 strikeouts in 18 1/3 frames.
A third-round pick of the Red Sox back in 2011, Weems never made it to The Show in Boston before reaching minor league free agency and latching on with the A’s. He posted solid numbers with Oakland’s MLB club last summer, albeit in 14 1/3 innings, but has been hit hard in a trio of brief stints at the Triple-A level: 6.67 ERA in 29 2/3 innings.
Weems averages better than 95 mph with his heater, however, and turned in a solid 13.1 percent swinging-strike rate in 2020. The Diamondbacks, starved for bullpen help, are surely hoping he can rediscover some of that 2020 form in a change of setting. Weems also has all three minor league options remaining, so he’s a flexible piece both for now and in future seasons if he indeed sticks on the 40-man roster.
As for the 34-year-old Buchter, he’ll now either be traded, placed on outright waivers or released in the next week. He’s tossed 14 2/3 innings of relief out of the Arizona bullpen so far but hasn’t had anywhere near the level of success he’s had for the majority of his big league career.
Buchter entered the season with a 2.90 ERA, a 26.8 percent strikeout rate and an 11.2 percent walk rate but has served up nine earned runs in 14 2/3 innings (5.52 ERA) with as many walks as strikeouts (19.1 percent apiece). His fastball, which averaged 92.6 mph in each of the past three seasons, is down to an average of 90.9 mph in 2021. Buchter’s 7.9 percent swinging-strike rate is also the lowest of his career.
Ryan Buchter takes forever on the mound, walks too many and throws pitches right down the middle
Or walks a lot of guys, when you do that and then trow one right in the middle that’s trouble.
Sweet Weems are made of these, who are we to disagree?
cmon DD, bring the local guy home!
I hate to say it but man that dude is ugly!!! And that’s from a guy who self professes to be ugly haha
It’s whats on the inside that counts. Unless you look like Willie McGee.
Wouldn’t mind the Mets claiming Butcher for AAA depth.
Weems lives again!
D-Backs exchanged the butcher for the baker…
Is Jordan Weems related to Randall Weems?
Buchter will get a shot elsewhere. Not sure why the D-Backs gave up on him. If you don’t count that awful game against the Giants last month he has only given up 2 runs the whole year. He does walk too many but he has a knack foe stranding them. He has been very good at home with Arizona. Guess they figured they wouldn’t get anything for him and wanted to use his roster spot elsewhere. He will end up with a bullpen needy club like Toronto.