57 replies to this topic

[Corsi]

Free agent right-hander Koji Uehara spurned the Texas Rangers on Thursday and agreed to a one-year deal with Boston on Thursday. The contract is contingent on a Uehara passing a physical.

http://rangersblog.d...h-red-sox.html/

[Corsi]

Uehara - Japan and MLB:

1621.3 IP
1499 SO
207 BB

[pokey_reese]

In MLB he has actually had an even better K/9, with 231 SO in 211 IP. His WHIP and K/9 numbers have actually been getting better year over year, which is nice to see when you are signing a 37-year old pitcher.

I don't know that the bullpen was the biggest need at this point, but adding a consistently great arm to the back end can't hurt, especially if Ben is looking to move one of our current relievers.

I will have to see the money, but if it is true that it's a one-year deal I don't think that there is anything not to like.

[JimBoSox9]

Over the past 3 years in MLB, Uehara has 145 IP, 0.772 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9. On a one-year deal? Cocaine heartbeat, don't look back, etc.

Feels like either Bard setup insurance or a 6th/7th ROOGY to pair with Miller. Lefties have usually, although not universally, put up better numbers against him than righties. Ever since the halcyon days of Bradford and Myers, I've always liked the idea of pairing a ROOGY and LOOGY into basically a 1-inning setup man to put in front of your 8th Relief Ace and 9th Closer.

[sackamano]

Among pitchers with at least 200 career innings, Uehara's 7.97 career K/BB ratio is the best in baseball history.

[glennhoffmania]

Over the past 3 years in MLB, Uehara has 145 IP, 0.772 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9. On a one-year deal? Cocaine heartbeat, don't look back, etc.

Feels like either Bard setup insurance or a 6th/7th ROOGY to pair with Miller. Lefties have usually, although not universally, put up better numbers against him than righties. Ever since the halcyon days of Bradford and Myers, I've always liked the idea of pairing a ROOGY and LOOGY into basically a 1-inning setup man to put in front of your 8th Relief Ace and 9th Closer.

Where are you getting the idea that he's a ROOGY?

[Darnell's Son]

I think he means making Bard a ROOGY to pair with Miller and using Uehara as the set up man.

Edit: Forgot a pronoun.

Edited by Darnell's Son, 06 December 2012 - 01:32 PM.

[smastroyin]

So the last three signings the Red Sox have made were all guys on my 2011 Fantasy team. If they make a trade for Vance Worley I'm gonna start getting weirded out.

[glennhoffmania]

I think he means making Bard a ROOGY to pair with Miller and using Uehara as the set up man.

Edit: Forgot a pronoun.

Oh, my bad. But Bard's splits aren't very pronounced either so I don't think he needs to be a ROOGY. More importantly, I hope that they don't pigeon hole guys into certain inning assignments. Guys should be used based on the situation, not on the inning.

[Corsi]

So the last three signings the Red Sox have made were all guys on my 2011 Fantasy team. If they make a trade for Vance Worley I'm gonna start getting weirded out.

Worley just went to the Twins for Ben Revere, so you're safe.

[Savin Hillbilly]

Where are you getting the idea that he's a ROOGY?

Well, his OPS allowed to LHH was almost .200 higher than to RHH in 2012.

OTOH, his OPS allowed to RHH was .369.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I am literally vomiting bile at this trade. Huge overpay. Signed for far too long. On the wrong side of 37. Specialized at this point in his career. This is being done to ramp up ticket sales. The front office has learned nothing and all the good will from the Punto deal is out the window. I miss Theo. Lucchino is the devil incarnate.

Did I cover everything?


What is fascinating about Uehara is that he had .42 ERA at Arlington last season. To be fair, it was only across 21.2 IP but he only gave up one earned run. He also only walked one guy while racking up 27 Ks there. The guy walked three guys all year in 36 IP.

Worst.signing.yet!!!

[JimBoSox9]

That could have been a better-art

Well, his OPS allowed to LHH was almost .200 higher than to RHH in 2012.

OTOH, his OPS allowed to RHH was .369.

Clearly a matchup specialist!

My thought could have been better articulated. I was trying to say that he helps gives the Sox flexibility to have defined late-inning shutdown full-innings guys and also effectively mix-and-matchup R/L in the mid/mid-late innings. Even if Bard is done. Which is nice.

[danny partridge]

This.

Pass.

Get it done, Ben.

[JimBoSox9]

I am literally vomiting bile at this trade. Huge overpay. Signed for far too long. On the wrong side of 37. Specialized at this point in his career. This is being done to ramp up ticket sales. The front office has learned nothing and all the good will from the Punto deal is out the window. I miss Theo. Lucchino is the devil incarnate.

Did I cover everything?

Didn't say the name "Ben" once. Preferably linked to a derogatory nickname that likens him to a child wearing his father's suit. Thanks in advance.

[doc]

I am literally vomiting bile at this trade. Huge overpay. Signed for far too long. On the wrong side of 37. Specialized at this point in his career. This is being done to ramp up ticket sales. The front office has learned nothing and all the good will from the Punto deal is out the window. I miss Theo. Lucchino is the devil incarnate.

Did I cover everything?


What is fascinating about Uehara is that he had .42 ERA at Arlington last season. To be fair, it was only across 21.2 IP but he only gave up one earned run. He also only walked one guy while racking up 27 Ks there. The guy walked three guys all year in 36 IP.

Worst.signing.yet!!!

You failed to mention the dentist, he's out there somewhere. Lurking. Asking if it's safe yet?

[Rough Carrigan]

O'Hara!
Great name for playing in Boston.
I like it.

[Mugsys Jock]

Who's gotta a guess on terms? A year for $2 million with upside?

Or just the standard issue 3/39?

[Corsi]

Rosenthal:

#RedSox intend to use Uehara in seventh inning and at times later.

https://twitter.com/...763070901149696

[FredCDobbs]

Also on the plus side; he's a weird-looking guy! All good relievers look weird somehow.

Appropo of nothing, I wonder what Keith Foulke is doing right now? Perhaps driving to get some Copenhagen in his WEEI truck.

[Ted Cox 4 president]

Who's gotta a guess on terms? A year for $2 million with upside?

Or just the standard issue 3/39?

[Rasputin]

I wonder if this means Bailey or Tazawa gets traded with Salty.

Also, in re the joke about 3/39, I wonder if ownership has set a cap on what Cherington is allowed to sign guys for without ownership approval, and it's 3/39. I can see a lot of logic behind that.

[rembrat]

Of course now that he is a Red Sox he'll show Marmolian levels of control.

[Corsi]

I wonder if this means Bailey or Tazawa gets traded with Salty.

Would the White Sox have interest in Bailey? Addison Reed had 29 saves last season, but with a 4.75 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. His minor league numbers are A LOT more dominant, however.

[lexrageorge]

I always thought Uhura's first name was Nyota.

[JMDurron]

I am literally vomiting bile at this trade. Huge overpay. Signed for far too long. On the wrong side of 37. Specialized at this point in his career. This is being done to ramp up ticket sales. The front office has learned nothing and all the good will from the Punto deal is out the window. I miss Theo. Lucchino is the devil incarnate.

Did I cover everything?

Worst.signing.yet!!!

You forgot to blame the medical staff.

[pokey_reese]

I am literally vomiting bile at this trade. Huge overpay. Signed for far too long. On the wrong side of 37. Specialized at this point in his career. This is being done to ramp up ticket sales. The front office has learned nothing and all the good will from the Punto deal is out the window. I miss Theo. Lucchino is the devil incarnate.

It actually took me a second to figure this out. By sentence three I was thinking it was a joke, but then I had a split second where I thought maybe the initial reports were wrong and it wasn't a 1-year deal after all, and my heart sank.

Well done.

[smastroyin]

I like when the main board turns into one set of douchebags making dumb comments about another set of douchebags on the internet and marginalizing their opinions just because they don't agree. I like when the entire thread starts going that way. It's almost like C-SPAN.

This is all sarcastic, so cut the shit guys. Seriously.

[Van Everyman]

It actually took me a second to figure this out. By sentence three I was thinking it was a joke, but then I had a split second where I thought maybe the initial reports were wrong and it wasn't a 1-year deal after all, and my heart sank.

Well done.

Agreed, I look forward to or being copied into every acquisition thread during the offseason. Even if it means everyone has to be on the wrong side of 37.

[RedOctober3829]

Hearing from baseball source that Uehara deal will be worth in neighborhood of $4.5 million #RedSoxTalk

Sean McAdam

https://twitter.com/...775897284104192

Really good value for Uehara.

Edited by RedOctober3829, 06 December 2012 - 02:55 PM.

[The Hit Dog]

So with the (not yet official) additions of the 3/39 Boys and Uehara, this requires a 40-man move, right? Wonder if there's a Salty move in the near future.

[mabrowndog]

So with the (not yet official) additions of the 3/39 Boys and Uehara, this requires a 40-man move, right? Wonder if there's a Salty move in the near future.

As I posted in the bullpen thread, if there's no trade I'm betting Melancon (out of options) gets DFAd.

Edited by mabrowndog, 06 December 2012 - 03:01 PM.

[SoxScout]

As I posted in the bullpen thread, if there's no trade I'm betting Melancon (out of options) gets DFAd.

This would be such a god awful move if they just dumped him.

Pitched great in 2011, in 2012 he had 4 bad games, got sent to AAA, and when he came back up 43 IP, 40 K, 9 BB, 3 HR

We are just going to dump the guy with 4 years left of team control?

[pokey_reese]

As I posted in the bullpen thread, if there's no trade I'm betting Melancon (out of options) gets DFAd.

I'm not saying it won't happen, but I for one really hope that it isn't Melancon being DFAd. I might be a sucker for the K numbers in middle relievers, but I think that there is a decent chance that his HR rate falls, and after he was called back up last year he was actually one of the RPs that I felt best about, right after Tazawa.

[Adrian's Dome]

As I posted in the bullpen thread, if there's no trade I'm betting Melancon (out of options) gets DFAd.

I'd be very surprised to see Melancon dumped before Mortensen, or maybe even Aceves. I know the latter provides a lot of flexibility, but his attitude may still be a problem, and is he even really any more effective a pitcher than Melancon? Not to mention Morales could likely fill his role.

[mabrowndog]

This would be such a god awful move if they just dumped him.

Pitched great in 2011, in 2012 he had 4 bad games, got sent to AAA, and when he came back up 43 IP, 40 K, 9 BB, 3 HR

We are just going to dump the guy with 4 years left of team control?

I don't necessarily disagree, but it's really just a process of elimination.

I don't see any current position players getting DFA'd, though I'd give Mauro Gomez a very slim outside shot. However I don't think there's a chance he clears waivers. Until the Sox know what they have in Sands, or unless they acquire another corner man who can play both 1B and 3B, I can't see the club dumping him.

Wilson, Beato and Carpenter are likely to ride the Pawtucket shuttle since they have options. Ditto for Wright, Webster and possibly Pimentel or Britton as spot starters/injury replacements. So I doubt the club risks having them claimed.

They're not exposing Bard to waivers until Farrell & Co. have their shot at resurrecting him. For all his flaws & warts, he'd be scooped up in a cocaine heartbeat.

The top 4 in the pen are currently Bailey, Uehara, Aceves & Tazawa.

That leaves 5 pitchers who are out of options: Melancon, Mortensen, Miller, Morales & Breslow.

Melancon is clearly the lagging horse in that quintet, and I don't think it's close.

EDIT - And just to be clear, DFAing Melancon wouldn't necessarily be "dumping" him though the club would indeed risk losing him. Ideally he'd clear waivers and he'd be in camp with the club come February, and would remain available with the PawSox for a call-up. Of the 5 no-option guys, I believe he'd be the least likely to be claimed off waivers by another club.

Edited by mabrowndog, 06 December 2012 - 07:00 PM.

[mikeford]

Pretty stoked on getting a guy who only walked 3 people all season. Our bullpen could certainly use that sort of control.

[Corsi]

Source: Koji Uehara's deal with the #RedSox has $4.25MM base salary.

https://twitter.com/...782564713328640

[MartyBarrettMVP]

So Bard languishes in AAA again?

[The Boomer]

I wonder if this means Bailey or Tazawa gets traded with Salty.

Also, in re the joke about 3/39, I wonder if ownership has set a cap on what Cherington is allowed to sign guys for without ownership approval, and it's 3/39. I can see a lot of logic behind that.

Tazawa is a better bargain with some untapped upside. With Dice-K gone (or is he?), this will still give the Sox 2 Japanese pitchers to talk about the old country.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

So Bard languishes in AAA again?

The way he pitched in the minors last season, its not clear whether AAA is a low enough languishing level.

[Manramsclan]

Also, in re the joke about 3/39, I wonder if ownership has set a cap on what Cherington is allowed to sign guys for without ownership approval, and it's 3/39. I can see a lot of logic behind that.

I don't think it is a coincidence that $13 Million per year dovetails with the $ value of offer required to secure a draft pick if a FA leaves.

I like this signing. One year deal, reliever with high K rate, low walk rate. There is a lot to like.

[mabrowndog]

Not to temper the collective enthusiasm, but this is an excellent point.

Chris Hatfield @SPChrisHatfield
I like the Uehara signing, but note 75% of his innings were low leverage this year, <7% were hi lev. Wasn't used in setup role he had w/ O's

Edited by mabrowndog, 06 December 2012 - 10:26 PM.

[Plympton91]

Well, this is an incredibly pleasant surprise! I like it for the sheer cost-benefit, but also for two other reasons. First, it says free agents who obviously have other options at similar money still view Boston favorably enough to want to come here. Second, it says the front office is serious about contending. Otherwise, this signing is a luxury they could have passed up given the numbers in the bullpen.

Despite those numbers I agree with the poster who earlier remarked that they were mostly question marks. Tazawa has had a half season of success, Bard, and to a lesser extent perhaps Melancon, have issues that are beyond physical and so extremely worrisome. Bailey is fragile. This was a very, very important signal that they weren't willing to risk those downsides without a safety net. Great signing.

Edited by Plympton91, 06 December 2012 - 10:35 PM.

[Robert Plant]

I like the fact that the Red Sox are building on an area of strength (perhaps their only area of strength), the bullpen. Assuming their defense is average, their hitting is average, their starting pitching is average and can eat up a lot of innings, having one of the strongest bullpens in the game could help the Red Sox to get into contention. It would net them above average pitching overall and thus above average run prevention. Thus even with average or slightly above average run production the Sox could end up with a pretty nice record.

[LondonSox]

I have nothing but good things on this. One year, reasonable price. I mean if he is a disaster then minimal harm.

Completely no brain signing. In a good way

[Rasputin]

I like the fact that the Red Sox are building on an area of strength (perhaps their only area of strength), the bullpen. Assuming their defense is average, their hitting is average, their starting pitching is average and can eat up a lot of innings, having one of the strongest bullpens in the game could help the Red Sox to get into contention. It would net them above average pitching overall and thus above average run prevention. Thus even with average or slightly above average run production the Sox could end up with a pretty nice record.

I would think the defense would be better than average, certainly up the middle. Of course, that assumes Iglesias is playing.

[MikeM]

Despite those numbers I agree with the poster who earlier remarked that they were mostly question marks. Tazawa has had a half season of success, Bard, and to a lesser extent perhaps Melancon, have issues that are beyond physical and so extremely worrisome. Bailey is fragile. This was a very, very important signal that they weren't willing to risk those downsides without a safety net. Great signing.

Agreed.

I personally had upside bullpen arm on my ideal wish list for this winter. This more or less fits the bill perfectly imo.

[Sprowl]

I'd say this puts Cherington at 2-2-1 in signings so far -- Napoli and Uehara, I like; Gomes and Victorino, thumbs down; Ross... everything depends on whether, how or when they trade Salty. I'd call it a .500 record, which is about where I'd put the 2013 Red Sox right now.

Uehara is no mean ROOGY: he can handle LHB with a mean fastball-splitter-cutter combination. I'd say his stuff has visible movement, and the numbers agree with me (the BrooksBaseball pitcher card on Uehara is fun to play with). Uehara's fastball has nudged higher year over year, while his arm slot has migrated lower, and the change seems to be working for him. I like his stuff better than Jose Valverde's, who has gotten very lucky in a few recent years. He is an excellent choice for a late-inning RLR reliever.

[j44thor]

Very surprised to see the reliever market apparently this soft. This is a no-brainer signing. To think that 2yrs ago Bobby Jenks was worth 12M is mind boggling. Goes to show you that the "S" stat is still grossly overrated by a lot of league GMs.

This will give the Sox some nice trade chips come July in the event they are out of contention as teams tend to overpay for relief pitchers at the trade deadline.