This signing seems more Andriesean than Richardsesque. Wacha has pitched to an xERA of 5.09 or worse in three of the past four seasons, with the truncated COVID season of 2020 being the only exception. Pitching his home games in the cavernous confines of Tropicana Field last season did little to curb Wacha’s horrific home run tendencies and his fastball velocity remained down a mile-and-a-half per hour from its peak in 2017, Wacha’s lone three-win season in a nine-year major league career. I strongly suspect that there will be better pitchers non-tendered."Solid"? He had a 5.05 ERA. This is just another Perez/Richards type of signing. Wacha had a worse ERA but better FIP than either of those guys last year so I think that level of performance is about what we can expect.
True... hopefully we don’t face ourselves too many times when Wacha pitches.The strong finish doesn't include the bruising the Sox inflicted on him in Game 2 of the ALDS. That was a scary, 8-6 Sox lead when Wacha came in and 14-6 when he left.
I absolutely hate this deal if this is the salary
From 8/20 on his 4-seamer averaged 94.4. From 4/1 til that time it averaged 93.4.Anyone have easy access to his fastball velocity at the end of the season?
I’m hoping he’s a spot starter and multi inning guy.
Thanks! I think that velocity could bump up slightly as a reliever. I wish this was Collin McHugh, but in Chaim we trust.From 8/20 on his 4-seamer averaged 94.4. From 4/1 til that time it averaged 93.4.
Maybe it's Collin McHugh before he reinvented himself, which is what you really want.Thanks! I think that velocity could bump up slightly as a reliever. I wish this was Collin McHugh, but in Chaim we trust.
That’s where I think this signing came from. He had pretty good success after ditching that cutter. We’ll see if that is sustainable long term.This would be a little cherrypicked if it weren’t for Wacha ditching his cutter on 8/20, but his xFIP from that point on with his new repertoire was 3.02 in 39.1 innings. That ranked 19th in MLB in that span, just behind Gausman at 3.01 and Scherzer at 3.00.
This signing feels a bit like last year’s bet on Franchy Cordero, who appeared to have figured something out in limited action during the abbreviated 2020 season. It didn’t hurt much when Franchy didn’t work out, and it won’t hurt much if Wacha busts too.This would be a little cherrypicked if it weren’t for Wacha ditching his cutter on 8/20, but his xFIP from that point on with his new repertoire was 3.02 in 39.1 innings. That ranked 19th in MLB in that span, just behind Gausman at 3.01 and Scherzer at 3.00.
Or they liked what they saw in those 30 innings and with a full offseason to implement those changes full time that he could be better. Not saying this is an ace, but he can be better than a 5 ERA guy.So he was good in 30 innings in august but only if you don’t include the playoffs, and that’s why the Sox signed him? I mean, maybe, but it also seems possible that he was the first guy willing to sign a one year deal (after they were rejected by E-Rod, Heaney, and Matz).
They are not mutually exclusive. They'll always pursue deals like this no matter who else they pursue. The order in which you sign guys doesn't matter -- I'd guess they saw something in Wacha that makes then think he's a particularly good bet amongst FA pitchers?Hopefully, there’s some strategic reason they targeted this guy and it’s not just the first guy willing to sign a one-year deal. It’s hard to figure out what they are doing this off-season….is it another year of dumpster diving and looking for deals or are they actually going to loosen the purse strings a bit?
This is precisely right. $2 million is a rounding error and people are acting like it’s a make-or-break salary difference.I really don't get the people who care if it's $5M vs. $3M, there isn't a salary cap, the owners have tons of money and $2M over 1 year isn't going to have any effect on other signings. If he's the $3-5M 1 year take a shot guy they like best, get him. Baseball more than any other sport it's silly to worry about whether a 1 year deal is a good value or not, it has no real impact on the rest of the roster construction, and you don't get anything for having the most efficient payroll.
This is the new SoSH ... team makes move, posters hate ... team has rookie QB playing well and helping them win, posters say he's not doing much.$5 million for Wacha (if we assume that’s the number) is a low-risk, high-upside signing that will provide depth for the rotation. No idea why people are as grumpy as I’m seeing here.
Yes, exactly. And the extra $2 million or whatever is probably worth it as leverage in talks for other acquisitions.I really don't get the people who care if it's $5M vs. $3M, there isn't a salary cap, the owners have tons of money and $2M over 1 year isn't going to have any effect on other signings. If he's the $3-5M 1 year take a shot guy they like best, get him. Baseball more than any other sport it's silly to worry about whether a 1 year deal is a good value or not, it has no real impact on the rest of the roster construction, and you don't get anything for having the most efficient payroll.
I haven’t seen anyone besides you offering the theory that they’re uniformly offering 1-2 year deals, but yes I also hope we are disabused of it soon.Hopefully, there’s some strategic reason they targeted this guy and it’s not just the first guy willing to sign a one-year deal. It’s hard to figure out what they are doing this off-season….is it another year of dumpster diving and looking for deals or are they actually going to loosen the purse strings a bit?
If you aren't going to add content don't bother posting.This guy stinks. SMH.
I think people are grumpy because Wacha isn’t very good. Regardless of the money.This is precisely right. $2 million is a rounding error and people are acting like it’s a make-or-break salary difference.
$5 million for Wacha (if we assume that’s the number) is a low-risk, high-upside signing that will provide depth for the rotation. No idea why people are grumpy about this.