Ruben Pulls a “Will See” Move (JAN 1)

January 1, 2010   ·   philliesmania   ·   Jump to comments

PHILLIES sign right handed reliever Danys Baez to a 2 year deal, pending a physical.

 

Okay my first reaction was to bang my head against the wall. But then I clicked my heels 3 times and repeated the phrase “In Ruben we trust!”

 

 

 

Danys “Danny” Baez:

 

2009 Season Stats
SPLITS	G	GS	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	W	L	SV	HLD	BLSV	WHIP	ERA
Season	59	0	0	71.2	59	36	32	8	22	40	4	6	0	15	2	1.13	4.02
Career	453	26	1	613.1	554	307	275	60	252	459	35	49	114	0	0	1.31	4.04

 

Career:  Pitching
SEASON	TEAM	G				IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	W	L	SV	HLD	BLSV	ERA
2001	Cle	43				50.1	34	22	14	5	20	52	5	3	0	0	–	2.50
2002	Cle	39				165.1	160	84	81	14	82	130	10	11	6	0	2	4.41
2003	Cle	73				75.2	65	36	32	9	23	66	2	9	25	5	10	3.81
2004	TB	62				68.0	60	31	27	6	29	52	4	4	30	1	3	3.57
2005	TB	67				72.1	66	27	23	7	30	51	5	4	41	0	8	2.86
2006	Atl	11				10.0	7	6	6	0	6	10	0	1	0	6	1	5.40
2006	LA	46				49.2	53	29	24	3	11	29	5	5	9	6	7	4.35
2006	–	57				59.2	60	35	30	3	17	39	5	6	9	12	8	4.53
2007	Bal	53				50.1	50	36	36	8	29	29	0	6	3	14	2	6.44
2009	Bal	59				71.2	59	36	32	8	22	40	4	6	0	15	2	4.02
Total	–	453				613.1	554	307	275	60	252	459	35	49	114	47	35	4.04

 

THE BAEZ PLUS/MINUS FACTOR:

• ERA is unimpressive overall for a relief pitcher. He has been an AL pitcher most of  his career so some of that is too be expected. But still over 4 is steep for me
• Has had closer and late inning experience which is what makes him enticing to the Phillies
• He is Cuban – I just think that should mean something!
• Had a three year stretch as a solid closer. (See 2003 – 2005 above)
• Has had some health issues. Atlanta snatched him up after his 3 year run as a closer. And we all know how bad they always need a closer. They got rid of him the same year. (See 2006 above)
• Even with health issues he has averaged over 50 innings since 2001
• He is 32 years old
• Only pitched in post season once
• Played for some pretty bad teams
• Blown too many saves for me in ratio to his attempts

His signing most likely means NO CHAN HO. This leaves a bullpen of:

• Ryan Madson
• Chad Durbin – not exactly Mr Health in 2009
• Brad Lidge – sucked in 2009 and is coming off another surgery or 2
• J C Romero – missed most of last season and he is coming off elbow surgery
• Danys Baez – if he passes physical

This leaves room and talk of Antonio Bastardo and.or Sergio Escalona to step into the bullpen. And that is not necessarily bad. Both had moments of promise in 2009. I am curious what role Scott Mathieson will play in 2009. He has worked his wayback from 2 Tommy John surgeries and has doen well in relief appearances since. He has MLB experience also. And then you always have the Kyle Kendrick question. Of course he factors into the rotation consideration. And then you have Drew Carpenter who also has had a few sips of coffee in the bigs. The Phillies also have some other interesting options in Drew Naylor and Mike Zagurski. Naylor has some International experience and is doing well enough in the farm system to be considered. Matt has had some injury problems but he is considered worthy of a chance also.

On Phillies.com the bullpen depth chart is this as of Jan 1, 2010:

Bullpen
B. Lidge (CL) Righty
R. Madson Righty
J. Romero Lefty
C. Durbin Righty
S. Escalona Lefty
M. Zagurski Lefty
D. Naylor Righty
D. Carpenter Righty