The Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball have signed right-hander Pedro Avila, according to multiple reports out of Japan. Avila elected free agency in January rather than accept an outright assignment to the Guardians’ Triple-A team.
After posting a 2.70 ERA over the small sample size of 13 1/3 big league innings with the Padres from 2019-22, Avila received a larger role in the form of 50 1/3 frames in 2023. An excellent 58.8% grounder rate and a solid 24.5% strikeout rate helped Avila overcome a middling 11.4% walk rate, but a shaky start early in the 2024 season led the Padres to designate the righty for assignment in April.
The Guardians picked Avila up in a cash transaction a few days after, and Avila went on to become a workhorse within the elite Cleveland bullpen. Beyond logging 74 2/3 innings over 50 appearances, Avila also had a 3.25 ERA during his time with the Guards, though his K% slightly declined from 2023 and his grounder rate dropped to 45% (though he also cut back on the walks). He added to that solid performance with four shutout innings in the playoffs, and he was the winning pitcher in Cleveland’s only victory of the ALCS, a 7-5 walkoff over the Yankees in Game 3.
Such production would normally have given Avila a clear ticket to a roster spot on most teams, but he is out of minor league options, and the Guardians are so deep in relief pitching that Avila became expendable. As it turned out, the Guards designated Avila to create roster space when they signed another reliever, former Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald.
Avila’s out-of-options status might have left him in a crunch when trying to break camp with another MLB team this spring, so he’ll now head to Japan for more of a guaranteed role with the Swallows. This is the first time the 28-year-old Avila has pitched professionally outside of affiliated baseball, apart from five stints in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Spitters were never an option.
The funny thing is “Yakult” is a drink that looks very milky and you Swallow it.
This guy should be on a Major League team.
“Should be on a Major League team”…I’ve seen Pedro Avila pitch a couple of times, but not recently. Avila’s got some decent numbers in some respects and then some other worrisome numbers (like F.I.P).
It’s a distinct possibility the player preferred a guaranteed salary now over waiting by the phone for an injury, a 26 man roster opening or some other team issue to arise.
It’s also worth noting that at least a few teams feel he’s not better than their current last rated pitcher and being out of options makes it tougher for several teams.
Every team in baseball passed on him when Cleveland sent him through waivers. So it’s not like anyone was beating a path to his door.
I’m pleased he has gotten an opportunity in Japan. Undoubtedly, he’ll be paid better than what he can get as a free agent in the United States. I’m happy for him. He was nails for CLE in the ALCS and someone in Japan noticed.
Guy had a sub 3.50 era last year and he can’t get a major league contract anywhere!? The math ain’t mathing here.
You would think a rebuilding club would like him as a deadline trade chip at least.
Really it’s sort of an indictment on the continued problem of phantom IL and milb shuttle used for relievers on teams because starters just don’t go deep like they used to.
Now, granted, being sent to FA a couple weeks before pitchers report to camp didn’t help him either.
Still, you can’t blame a guy for wanting a dependable opportunity rather than potentially being called up, used a game or three, then DFA across country to another club to rinse and repeat all season.
They don’t because idiot fans have allowed scammy owners to get away with fielding a subpar product under the auspicious of “rebuilding”.
Rebuild just an excuse to CHEAT THE FANS.
I know. For 11 years in Detroit, they were rebuilding. Now.they talk about a “window of contention “.
Screw.that.
Field.a team
If Avila stays in the states, some team could offer him the major league min. pay and still control him for another year at league min. pay plus three more arb years. If he has a good season in Japan with presumably a higher guaranteed salary, he could earn a multi-year contract with a MLB club next season.
A Nick Martinez or Miles Milokas type comeback is the best outcome here too. NPB gives him a stable situation where he can work on improving his game.
Who cares?
Pedro Avila
The fact that he pitched 4 shutout innings in the playoffs THAT WERE RIGGED is impressive.
Did anyone else, maybe as a kid, think this team was called the Occult Swallows? LOL.
No only your uneducated self
You have your entire life to be an obnoxious shmuck. Why not take today off?
You’d think a bottom feeding MLB team would have claimed him on waivers, but sometimes players slip through waivers for unknown reasons.