The Orioles have inked right-hander Nate Webb to a two-year minor league contract, per Robert Murray of FanSided. The deal reportedly includes an invite to Spring Training.
A 34th-round pick by the Royals back in 2016, Webb last pitched competitively in 2022, struggling to a 9.99 ERA in 33 1/3 innings split primarily between the Double-A and Triple-A levels with a worrisome 15.2% walk rate against a strikeout rate of 21.9%. Webb fared better in the Arizona Fall League that offseason, striking out six across 5 2/3 scoreless innings of work.
Webb was non-tendered by the Royals in November but signed on with the Pirates on a minor league deal shortly thereafter. Unfortunately for Webb, his entire 2023 campaign was wiped out after he underwent Tommy John surgery during Spring Training. Prior to his difficult 2022 season and subsequent surgery, he made his full-season pro debut in 2021 and had a solid season with a 3.94 ERA in 59 1/3 innings of work between the Single-A and High-A levels. He sported strong peripherals that year, including a 37.7% strikeout rate and a walk rate of just 8.9%.
Looking ahead, Webb will have the chance to prove his health with the Orioles this spring and headed into the season. When he’s healthy, the 26-year-old figures give the Orioles a depth option for their bullpen at the Triple-A level next season. Righties Joey Krehbiel and Mike Baumann and lefty Nick Vespi make up the club’s relief depth currently on the 40-man roster.
Krehbiel won’t be on the 40 man for too long
“Webb last pitched competitively in 2022, struggling to a 9.99 ERA…”
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Non-competitively.
He was competing with sporting a double digit ERA.
The Orioles also signed a non- competitive pitcher a few off seasons ago. His name was Felix Bautista. That worked out pretty well for them. With the coaches they have in the minors and on the Major League staff, they have a proven track record turning around broken minor league pitching talent. We’ll see.
Wrong Nate Webb link
I found him by searching for Nathan Webb not Nate Webb.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=webb–000nat
High strikeouts. High walks. Meh… MiLB contract so nothing to lose here…
Career kwERA at 3.80. Not terrible and potential there
the Orioles have become a development machine the last number of years–which has extended to relief pitchers. relative nobodies like Cano, Bautista, and Coulombe are suddenly now amongst the most elite RPs in the league. they even made Fujinami look relatively competent, which sure as heck wasn’t happening in Oakland
they’re like the Rays now. if they trade or sign some seemingly ‘meh’ pitcher.. you better start paying closer attention to them, lol
Fuji was about the same in Baltimore as he was in Oakland as a reliever. His Oakland stats look so bad because he was obliterated as a starter.
Coulombe didn’t come out of nowhere. Had a good year with the Twins and analysts identified him as an ideal breaking ball specialist.
@ BAcanSMD
I don’t necessarily disagree there, although it’s important to note he’s barely been used in high leverage situations for the bulk of his 9-year career–aside from a short stretch in 2017.
He ended up as 15th in Holds this season despite missing the bulk of August, and probably has a good shot to be the primary CL in Baltimore next year. To go from 8 years of 4.19 ERA and middle relief to what he did this year and maybe the CL1 on a potential 100-win club next year…? I would generally consider that ‘coming out of nowhere’ lol
He and Tate set up guys to get to Cano in 24?
“He” meaning Coulombe not Webb. Dolt.
@C Yards Jeff
easy to forget Tate is still on the roster. he’s been on the side of the milk box for so long with no word about his recovery… I really hope he can be a vital high leverage RP next year for the Birds.
Tate’s a total wildcard. He looked so bad is it a lock he makes it through the off-season?
The 60 Day IL was available to hide him all year. I think he’s safe right now but if we make a couple additions—there’s not a ton of 40 man space available.
Strow, I feel ya! That said;
late in 22 season I’m standing behind Os bullpen watching Tate warm up. Couldn’t break a pane of glass. Hyde brings him in anyway. He goes 1,2,3. And did not throw one pitch above 86 mph. Veteran guy who can get it done even with stale arm. Fingers crossed he goes full recovery!
Not so good that they would designate him for assignment. If they thought he was going to be as effective as he was in Baltimore, they would have never done that. The Orioles coaching staff deserves some credit for turning some of these pitchers around.
I think this is the correct BR Nate Webb: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=webb–000nat
Exactly gonna B ‘misses’ on players all the time no matter how they’re acquired but running players who have shown sum plus ability through their mad pitching scientist lab has uncovered sum really nice gems that have anchored O’s staff. Tampa also has developed winning pitching from many other teams cast-offs. “Nobodys” who figured it out given smart coaching n right tools to flourish. Alota times it’s as simple as repertoire of pitch selection, leaning on your best pitch more, discarding pitch league is clobbereing, better sequencing of those pitches, n pounding different location than previously. Love seeing underdog Ps figure it out.
I always raise an eyebrow at multi-year minor league deals.
Why? They’re almost always for guys returning from TJS. Meaning, the Orioles don’t expect him to be ready in early (possibly mid) 2023.
Kinda hard to be ready in early to mid 2023 when that ship has already sailed……
But anyways it’s a decent deal. With the elbow renewed he might end up being a good middle relief man.
HOT STOVE COOKING UP RIGHT NOW.
That’s a valid point. But it still seems like quite a bit to give someone coming back from that and who, prior to that, had an ERA of almost 10 split between three minor league levels.
A 2-year minor league contract? $35K per year isn’t going to sink the ship.
A Webb of underperformance is the Birdland rotation- hopefully this dude helps the staff