The Guardians are in agreement with reliever Daniel Norris on a minor league contract, tweets Mandy Bell of MLB.com. He’ll report to minor league camp and likely open the season with Triple-A Columbus.
Norris had been in camp with the Reds but was released on Monday. That came on the heels of a tough Spring Training, as he’d allowed six runs (five earned) over 6 2/3 innings with seven walks and five strikeouts. That predictably wasn’t enough to earn a season-opening roster spot in spite of a Cincinnati bullpen that only has one lock for left-handed relief (Reiver Sanmartin).
A veteran of parts of nine big league campaigns, the 29-year-old Norris split last season between the Cubs and Tigers. He threw 58 2/3 innings over 41 outings, pitching to a 5.22 ERA with an above-average 26.4% strikeout rate and a lofty 11.6% walk percentage. It was a tail of two seasons, as Norris had plenty of punchouts and walks in Chicago before trimming both numbers later in the year with Detroit.
The Guardians will be without top southpaw Sam Hentges to start the season, as he’s battling shoulder inflammation. That thinned the left-handed bullpen depth. Cleveland informed reporters this afternoon that 26-year-old Tim Herrin will break camp in the MLB bullpen (relayed by Zack Meisel of the Athletic). He’ll be the only southpaw in Terry Francona’s Opening Day relief corps.
Herrin, a 29th-round draftee out of Indiana in 2018, split the 2022 campaign between Double-A Akron and Columbus. He worked 69 1/3 frames, allowing a 4.02 ERA. Herrin’s strikeout and walk numbers were much more eye-catching than the run prevention. He fanned 34.1% of opponents against a 7.8% walk percentage. Cleveland added him to the 40-man roster over the offseason to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. He’s now going to get a chance to make his big league debut after striking out 11 with two walks in 9 2/3 frames of five-run ball in camp.
Good for him, stay at it.
Vanlife will be there forever, that left arm has a shelf life….
Two hyped bums
You have to assume that the CBT pitching factory saw something it thinks can be fixed. So why not? Lightening could strike.
ROTFLMAO. The last 5 teams he’s been with swore they could fix him. What makes you think they can? C’mon man.
Unclemike1526;
Cleveland has taken flyers on veterans to pitch in their bullpen for years. While they don’t hit on the majority they do hit on some, and the hits are all that matter.
They’re in the top 5 of organizations that work well with pitchers. Not just my opinion. A recent survey of FO’s showed that other
MLB FO’s see the Guardians work with pitchers as being elite.
Nobody has had more success the last few years than the Cubs at turning relievers that have stunk into viable pitchers again. Do I really need to name them? And what have they done after they left? Not much. Blow that smoke somewhere else please. It’s gagging me.
I would suggest the Guardians’ success has far more to do with their work with young pitchers in their minor league system than reclamation projects. Their bullpen was formidable last year but none of them were that kind of veteran as they made a conscious decision to go younger because of their unique 40 man situation.
I guess you could try to stretch and suggest Enyel De Los Santos is one such example (i would say he’s too young to fit the term “veteran”) , but aside from him I’m not aware of one in the last few years that really fits that description. Bryan Shaw was a flier who didn’t really do that well. Anthony Gose still hasn’t actually shown he’s going to stick as a bullpen arm.
Good point, Col. But perhaps Cleveland could work some magic on a veteran reclamation like they have had with developing prospects. Whatever the case, it’s a great opportunity for Norris to get some quality coaching and perhaps eventually play for a contender.
Just a guy.
If Cleveland can’t do it, he’s probably toast.
Does Norris still live in a van?
I hear he’s going to be living in a van down by the………….Lake Erie
The new Mistake on the Lake.
Just saw Daniel at an Arby’s drive thru. We chatted for a few minutes and he said the whitesox are interested in him. Stay tuned