2015 WFNY Author Spotlight: Best of Andrew Clayman
December 18, 2015WFNY Roundtable: 2016 thoughts as Browns travel to Seattle
December 18, 2015The moves continue: The Cleveland Indians traded for veteran reliever Dan Otero on Friday, and designated outfielder Jerry Sands for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Just yesterday, the team surprisingly DFA’d Chris Johnson to make room for Rajai Davis. Another 40-man roster move will need to take place for the official signing of Mike Napoli shortly, as well.
Otero, 30, was acquired for cash from the Philadelphia Phillies. He had been claimed off waivers from Oakland back in early November. San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser wrote about Otero’s popularity in the Athletics clubhouse, where he pitched from 2013-15. He is entering his final season of pre-arbitration eligibility in 2016.
A right-hander, he has a career 3.46 ERA with 108 strikeouts and 29 walks in 184.2 innings pitched. He was very effective for the A’s as they made the playoffs in both 2013 and 2014. But he struggled mightily last year with a 6.75 ERA, and even pitched in 15 games back in Triple-A Nashville.
The Indians already had signed Joba Chamberlain, Felipe Paulino, and Joe Thatcher to minor league deals this offseason. They also re-signed Jarrett Grube, a 34-year-old starter who went 9-0 with a 2.26 ERA for Columbus last season. There is no such thing as too much pitching and the over-working of the Indians main bullpen guys over the past few seasons leaves some cause for concern.
Perhaps none of these five guys make an impact on the 2016 Cleveland Indians. But Thatcher, especially, and Otero and Chamberlain – to a lesser degree – have pretty decent sample sizes of bullpen success. So, if just one has a breakout season (2014 Scott Atchison and 2015 Jeff Manship jump to mind), then the added value would still be hugely helpful.
Sands, 28, was a bit of a cult hero with the Indians in 2015 (as chants of Jerry in the stands can attest). He only batted .236/.286/.390 in 50 games, but made his mark early in the season with a four RBI game in his debut on April 11.
It was a bit of numbers game with Sands as the Indians already added outfielders Davis, Joey Butler and Collin Cowgill to the 40-man roster this offseason. Sands is a career .268/.357/.492 hitter in 439 Triple-A games, so he’ll certainly land another opportunity somewhere else. But we’ll have this moment to cherish. Thanks, Jerry.
Awesome moment early in the season pic.twitter.com/OxcE8WJw47
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) April 11, 2015
5 Comments
this move mildly annoys me, from what I gathered the Indians seriously considered protecting the pitching prospect that was claimed via rule 5 draft, within a week they are willing to move on from at least 2 players on the 40 man without compensation 🙁
They have another move to make yet as well…..
Nice link to the Chronicle.
The one thing this staff has been good at is bringing a pile of pitchers to camp and sorting out pretty damn good bullpens. Otero could be in a lot worse places to sort out a sinker that doesn’t sink.
I am getting a salary of more than 3700 dollars each week , that is awesome. Over a year ago I was in a horrible condition , jobless and Bank account with only few bucks . Thank one of my friends showed me a way where I was able to gather my self and making average of 85 d/h. So it can change your life as it has changed mine.
42
CLICK Here For Details
If he struggles at all this year we will get him back. He has to stay on 40 man roster all season.