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August 1, 2017Zach Britton, Brad Hand, Justin Wilson, and Joe Smith were all potential relief pitching trade deadline targets of the Cleveland Indians. One of those names is not like the others. One of those names just does not belong. Can you tell which name is not like the other by the time I finish this song?
You might have guessed the player that is different is Joe Smith, whom the Indians acquired near the trade deadline on Monday as first reported by Ken Rosenthal. The reason that he doesn’t fit in with the other three on this list is that Smith is a right-handed pitcher when the Indians biggest need was for a southpaw out of the bullpen. However, over-use worries of Cody Allen, Andrew Miller, and Bryan Shaw coupled with a season-ending injury to Boone Logan might have prompted the Tribe to grab the best reliever available at a reasonable price.
Source: Joe Smith to #Indians.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
Cleveland.com writer Paul Hoynes reported that Indians send minor leaguers left-handed pitcher Tom Pannone and shortstop Samad Taylor in return for the relief pitcher who was finishing out a one-year, three million dollar deal.
Joe Smith has been a fine reliever in 2017. Over 35.3 innings pitched (38 appearances), Smith has a 3.28 ERA, 2.31 FIP, 1.121 WHIP, and a staggering 51 strikeouts. His 35.4% strikeout rate and 28.5% K-BB rate puts him only below Corey Kluber (35.8%, 29.8%) and Andrew Miller (37.9%, 31%) on the Indians. The numbers are all career highs, so there is warranted skepticism of if he can sustain them.
There are some other concerns with Smith as well. He was activated on July 22 from the 10-day DL (that he had been on since June 15) for shoulder inflammation, but he has had no issues with it in his rehabilitation efforts or relief stints over the past three weeks. In 2016, Smith had a 3.46 ERA / 4.99 FIP as he had an uncharacteristically poor year striking batters out and allowed a career high in home run rate leading to a negative WAR (-0.4), which means he was worth less than a replacement player.
Smith has definitive value even if the rest of his season returns closer to his career norms. Maintaining his 2017 pace would change the entire outlook of the Indians relief corps and turn it into one of the more formidable weapons in MLB.
One local scribe believes that Smith will welcome the opportunity to return to the Progressive Field bullpen he called home from 2009 to 2013.
Know this: Joe Smith would love a homecoming. https://t.co/p76LZmUmHE
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) July 31, 2017
So, what do you think of Indians deadline deal for RH reliever Joe Smith?
— michael bode (@mgbode_WFNY) July 31, 2017
55 Comments
i agree … they are both having outstanding years. well , so far , the Tigers have gotten 5 young infielders for J.D. Martinez , J.Wilson & Avila … & Candelario was the Cubs #1 prospect … i’m just a little surprised there were no pitchers that the Tigers wanted.
good luck the rest of way fending-off those pesky Royals … sometimes i wonder how they do it with no starting pitching. AND they let Holland & W.Davis walk & they’re still getting it done.
Well thanks for bursting my buble
I didn’t even mention Michael.
Joe was the best pitcher last night. He looked good while the rest of the pitching staff choked.