The D-backs have claimed left-hander Caleb Baragar off waivers from the Giants, per a club announcement. Arizona also confirmed its previously reported signing of Oliver Perez to a minor league contract.
Baragar remains in the NL West, as he’d spent his entire career to date with San Francisco. That includes stints in the big leagues in each of the past two seasons, over which time he’s combined for 45 1/3 innings in 49 games. The former ninth-round pick has an impressive 2.78 ERA in that time, but his underlying numbers haven’t supported that kind of run prevention. Baragar’s 18.8% strikeout rate is about five points below that of the league average reliever. He excelled at avoiding walks during his rookie campaign (5.7%), but last year’s 12.2% walk rate was much more problematic.
Walks and home runs proved a major problem for Baragar in Triple-A as well. He handed out free passes at an untenable 17.6% clip with the Giants’ top affiliate in Sacramento, allowing seven homers in 22 1/3 innings. That led to an 8.46 ERA at the minors’ top level, and San Francisco designated him for assignment last week.
The D-Backs will take a shot on the 27-year-old (28 next month) returning to form. Until last season, Baragar generally had a decent track record in the minors. He still has a pair of option years remaining, so Arizona can keep him with their top affiliate in Reno as needed. He joins Joe Mantiply, Kyle Nelson and swingman Caleb Smith as lefty relief options on the Arizona 40-man roster.
Baragar looked great last year and the giants will miss him. But those 12 BBs are a red flag.
He became unreliable post sticky ban. Hence the Giants gave up on him quick once the sticky ban was ensues.
Even after the sticky ban he was still decent for a bit
Great spin rate, has a killer pitch up the zone. Loved watching him, good luck in AZ
But I think the talk at the water cooler is that the spin rate(among other things) got worse post-sticky ban.
Too bad, really. However, luckily SF’s organizational strength is relief pitching. There’s guys in A-AA with 12+ K/9 and 2 BB/9, which is fantastic
Yeah, he looked like a solid prospect for Giants. I think it’s a worthwhile get for AZ. I’m sure Giants would have liked to keep him.
Arizona Bottom Feeders
Nah, that would be Cleveland.
AAA pitching stats out of Sacramento are a joke. The guy pitched well in the majors, SF sorry to lose him and AZ happy to get him.
Bummer to lose a guy for no reason but roster crunches, but it is what it is. Good luck young man!
Too bad to lose Baragar to waivers, and to a division team at that. He’s pitched well at times and I think has productive major league level years ahead of him.