Red Sox Sign Jake Diekman
- Thread starter DeadlySplitter
- Start date
The idea of Whitlock or Houck pitching in Pawtucket because they have options, and Strahm and Diekman and Brasier don’t, is kind of nauseating.
Agree…. But with most BP arms…. I guess it’s worth it to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks. Last year’s worst pitcher can turn into this season’s BP ace and next year’s overpaid flop.
Jake Diekman get 2 years @ 3.5m each, with a third year team option at 4m/1m buyout.
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1503747261540483081
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1503747261540483081
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com
"Diekman is one of the top bullpen arms available on the market. The now-35-year-old was lights out for the A’s during the pandemic-shortened 2020. He appeared in 21 games, posting a microscopic 0.42 ERA/2.72 FIP spanning 21 1/3 innings, numbers-driven at least in part by an uncharacteristically high 61.6 percent groundball rate. For comparison, he posted a 34.8 percent groundball rate last year and owns a 47.9 percent rate in that department for his career.
The 10-year veteran initially came to Oakland mid-season in 2019 in a deal with the Royals that netted KC a pair of minor leaguers. He continued to be effective for the A’s last season, though not quite at the surreal level of 2020. He tossed 60 2/3 innings over 67 outings with a 3.86 ERA/4.46 FIP while notching seven saves and 14 holds. He also blew seven saves."
I knew the name but couldn't remember much about him. Had a great 2020*. Otherwise seems generally good. I definitely don't expect that performance again but hopefully something better than 4.46 FIP that he pitched in '21. Still seems like too much money for guys like him that I wouldn't blink if they were absolute garbage, nor if they were 2007 Papelbon for next season.
I still think the best option is to use the borderline starters in the minors as bullpen arms.
Generally not much $ but all these smaller contracts add up and push the money closer to the threshold. If for some reason the Sox were at $10M below but someone came along and inked Schwarber for $15 per season and the excuse was "oh.... the tax threshold...." I'd be a little peeved. Probably worrying too much.
Last year was lots of homers, lots of walks, lots of strikeouts. I feel like there are enough of those guys already in the pen, but this one doesn't have a platoon split. That's something, I guess.
Too much $ for a 35 year semi-fungible (one great but shortened season) reliever when there’s a luxury tax present/finite resources.
I don't get why some people don't like these kinds of deals. A team will put up with the volatility of RP when they are on their rookie deals, but how often do bigger money RP deals actually work out? There are a few exceptions, but not the norm. A guy like Greg Holland is a perfect example. Looked like he was going to be great for a while, cratered, seemed to have fixed himself and sucked again. I'd rather sign 3 guys around 3-5 million that have at least proven they can have a solid season over giving one RP 10-12 mil
Diekman was DL’d in 2016 for slicing his finger open on a Cheers souvenir beer mug. He bought it in Boston over a Rangers series and it had broken in his luggage.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/07/15/beer-mug-injury-puts-rangers-pitcher-jake-diekman-on-dl/87137140/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/07/15/beer-mug-injury-puts-rangers-pitcher-jake-diekman-on-dl/87137140/
I can’t speak for others.. but I think it’s the cost. These fungible types can likely be had for less or be brought up through the system to likely be as, if not more, effective at a lesser cost even.
The 3-5 million per year piles up quickly after 3-4 guys when there is a cap for a team. If Bloom hits that ceiling (maybe they go over? I doubt it) but misses out on Schwarber for instance because of $5m per season….
Diekman comes from a very small town on the Nebraska-Kansas border and has ulcerative colitis which required surgery in the past, so I have followed his career through multiple teams. He has always seemed to be a dependable guy to have in the bullpen and so hopefully will be a useful addition. With the plethora of bullpen lefties we now have, I would be surprised if someone is not included as part of a future trade. Certainly he has none of the traditional "wackiness" associated with some left-handed pitchers.
I had dinner with a friend/business acquaintance tonight in San Francisco who knows Diekman socially from his time in the bay area. He's biased but he speaks very, very highly of Diekman as a person and thinks he will be a good contributor to the Sox bullpen, although he grants that he's the wrong side of 30, has always been injury prone and seemed tired at the end of last season. Conversation makes me feel a little better about Diekman's likely performance for us.