Red Sox sign Alexi Ogando

[Palodios]

Excellent depth signing. Ogando is a guy who can both close and start. Hopefully he's healthy and cheap.

[jacksonianmarch]

Health has been the issue. His elbow and shoulder are shot.

[Spudboy]

Maybe so.

 

Or maybe he fits in the chart?

[Spudboy]

I just read that there is an agreement in place pending a physical.

 

And Rosenthal the dwarf also says that the Sox are looking to move Mujica and his $4.75 mil tag.

 

Not sure I get this one. If he is healthy, and that is just another IF at this point, he could make some starts if necessary.

 

A solid performing arm is always welcome. But this guy pitched in 2014 to an ERA north of 6.

 

This could be another scrap heap signing along with Ross. I'm not familiar with the nature of his elbow and shoulder injuries. But the fact that he has only made 50 appearances in the past two years combined with that huge ERA makes me wonder if what Jacko says is true.

 

This is not what I wanted for the Sox pen in 2015. Other than Miller, who signed for 3 years in NY, I saw no reason to not resign all of the 2014 pen or at least most of it anyway.

 

I wonder how much this guy will cost? If it's cheap money for only one year than throwing crap at the wall and hoping it sticks could be justified. Otherwise, if he sucks pond water and contributes nothing, it's a waste of time, a roster spot, and money.

 

My bet is that he lands on the DL and skates after 2015.

 

Who is the back-up for Koji if Mujica is dealt?

Edited January 30, 2015 by Spudboy

[Kimmi]

His deal is a one year deal for $1.5 mil guaranteed, with another $1.5 mil possible in incentives.

 

Throwing a lot of "crap" at the wall and seeing what sticks is a good way to build a bullpen, IMO.

 

Relievers are just too fickle to spend big bucks on. I love Koji and am glad to have him back, but I think the Sox paid too much for him.

[sk7326]

Good, cheap lottery ticket

[Kimmi]

I was just reading that out of 233 relievers that threw 25 innings or more, Ogando ranked 231 in the "luck" factor (.386 BABIP and 63% LOB %). Another guy the Sox are hoping will bounce back.

[a700hitter]

Good, cheap lottery ticket

 

Lottery Tickets are cheap because they are incredible long shots,

[iortiz]

Lottery Tickets are cheap because they are incredible long shots,

 

LOL!

 

Another injury prone arm. Well that's going to be the strategy, a bunch of low risk/high reward arms.

[Kimmi]

LOL!

 

Another injury prone arm. Well that's going to be the strategy, a bunch of low risk/high reward arms.

 

 

That's the key though, isn't it? Low risk with potentially high reward?

 

If he bombs, the Sox are out $1.5 mil. Peanuts. No harm done.

 

If he bounces back and is effective, then good for us.

[iortiz]

That's the key though, isn't it? Low risk with potentially high reward?

 

If he bombs, the Sox are out $1.5 mil. Peanuts. No harm done.

 

If he bounces back and is effective, then good for us.

I would love that side of the story... But since it is a long shot I'd hold my breath.

[Kimmi]

I would love that side of the story... But since it is a long shot I'd hold my breath.

 

 

Well, it might not work out, but if it doesn't, there is nothing lost, really.

 

But the more "crap" you have to throw at the wall, the better the likelihood of having some of it stick.

[sk7326]

LOL!

 

Another injury prone arm. Well that's going to be the strategy, a bunch of low risk/high reward arms.

 

For building a bullpen - it is the best way

[iortiz]

Well, it might not work out, but if it doesn't, there is nothing lost, really.

 

But the more "crap" you have to throw at the wall, the better the likelihood of having some of it stick.

 

There's nothing to lose?, mmmm... I don't think FO and some fans agree. FO already put a high payroll out there and I do not know you but I do not want to spend another year with an insufferable season.

Edited January 31, 2015 by iortiz

[iortiz]

For building a bullpen - it is the best way

 

Yeah but I meant the whole low risk/high reward strategy.

[User Name]

There's nothing to lose?, mmmm... I don't think FO and some fans agree. FO already put a high payroll out there and I do not you but I do not want to spend another year with an insufferable season.

 

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why we are now as despised by many as Yankee fans are.

[dupree]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why we are now as despised by many as Yankee fans are.

Agreed.

[a700hitter]

Well, it might not work out, but if it doesn't, there is nothing lost, really.

 

But the more "crap" you have to throw at the wall, the better the likelihood of having some of it stick.

I can think of years where we had a small shopping cart of these damaged injury rebounding pitchers -- John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Aaron Cook, and Vinny Padilla among others. I can't remember any instances of these dumpster dives working out. The harm that occurs is when these broken piles of junk take the mound and ruin games.

[Palodios]

I can think of years where we had a small shopping cart of these damaged injury rebounding pitchers -- John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Aaron Cook, and Vinny Padilla among others. I can't remember any instances of these dumpster dives working out. The harm that occurs is when these broken piles of junk take the mound and ruin games.

 

The Red Sox have not been so great identifying starting pitching from the scrap heap but their relief acquisitions have been better.

 

Aceves was excellent for a year. Andrew Miller wasn't injuried but he certainly was a work in progress. I'd argue Koji might be in the "dumpster dive" group too considering his injury history at the time.

[Ogden]

His deal is a one year deal for $1.5 mil guaranteed, with another $1.5 mil possible in incentives.

 

Throwing a lot of "crap" at the wall and seeing what sticks is a good way to build a bullpen, IMO.

 

Relievers are just too fickle to spend big bucks on. I love Koji and am glad to have him back, but I think the Sox paid too much for him.

 

 

You hit the nail on the head. "Decent" maybe be a more descriptive adjective than "crap", but I catch your drift. A lot of successful teams have taken that approach. Maybe occasionally spend $4-6M on a reliever, but other than that, there is no need to do that.

Edited January 31, 2015 by Ogden

[iortiz]

I can think of years where we had a small shopping cart of these damaged injury rebounding pitchers -- John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Aaron Cook, and Vinny Padilla among others. I can't remember any instances of these dumpster dives working out. The harm that occurs is when these broken piles of junk take the mound and ruin games.

I do not like that strategy at all. Probably 1/100 would be the line.

[a700hitter]

The Red Sox have not been so great identifying starting pitching from the scrap heap but their relief acquisitions have been better.

 

Aceves was excellent for a year. Andrew Miller wasn't injuried but he certainly was a work in progress. I'd argue Koji might be in the "dumpster dive" group too considering his injury history at the time.

 

True. They have had better luck with relievers. Let's hope they don't use Ogando to start.

[seabeachfred]

I can think of years where we had a small shopping cart of these damaged injury rebounding pitchers -- John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Aaron Cook, and Vinny Padilla among others. I can't remember any instances of these dumpster dives working out. The harm that occurs is when these broken piles of junk take the mound and ruin games.

 

Why stop there Ted.....Why not add to that august list these gems of dumpster dumpers. Bailey, Carpenter, Beato, Ohlendorf, Silva, Jenks, Wheeler, Hottovoy, and the immortal Boof Bonser. None have worked out and just about all of them caused harm to the team. This season we better have a solid bullpen because our starting rotation has a lot of questionmarks, and as our pal iortiz said, they s*** the bed the way they blew the Lester deal.

[sk7326]

Yeah but I meant the whole low risk/high reward strategy.

 

I know - but the bullpen is still best built by throwing a ton of arms at it. Some will work - others just move on. Ogando is the sort of arm to at least give a run at. Now in isolation I could say they overpaid Uehara by resigning him - but that's not really true. It's not a number that prevents them from doing anything - and it's still a short hitch.

[sk7326]

Why stop there Ted.....Why not add to that august list these gems of dumpster dumpers. Bailey, Carpenter, Beato, Ohlendorf, Silva, Jenks, Wheeler, Hottovoy, and the immortal Boof Bonser. None have worked out and just about all of them caused harm to the team. This season we better have a solid bullpen because our starting rotation has a lot of questionmarks, and as our pal iortiz said, they s*** the bed the way they blew the Lester deal.

 

We don't know what the bullpen will end up looking like - but psst ... we didn't know it in 2013 either and it went well

[mvp 78]

But but but "let's wait and see" isn't a hot take! We need to yell about something because they were bad last year and the FO sucks and the pitching is literally the worst ever in the MLB and ticket prices are going up and it's all about NESN ratings and and and and... Huff huff huff...

[BSN07]

I like this signing. He has good versatility when healthy. If his arm falls apart it's not a contractual burden.

[Bellhorn04]

But but but "let's wait and see" isn't a hot take! We need to yell about something because they were bad last year and the FO sucks and the pitching is literally the worst ever in the MLB and ticket prices are going up and it's all about NESN ratings and and and and... Huff huff huff...

 

The best part is, we've got over 2 months more of pre-season prognostications to look forward to.

[Spudboy]

His deal is a one year deal for $1.5 mil guaranteed, with another $1.5 mil possible in incentives.

 

Throwing a lot of "crap" at the wall and seeing what sticks is a good way to build a bullpen, IMO.

 

Relievers are just too fickle to spend big bucks on. I love Koji and am glad to have him back, but I think the Sox paid too much for him.

 

Are you suggesting that I am not aware of the methodology employed in the construction of a pen? If so, you are way off target. The fact that I used "throw crap at the wall and hope it sticks" and my qualification that if he is on short money the deal may be justifed surely indicates that I am at least aware of this technique.

 

We have discussed this subject many times on talksox. I have seen bullpens built a variety of ways since 1967. Several years ago a700 coined the phrase "dumpster diving" ( or Dempster Diving! ) while discussing the Sox move on some low risk / high reward dregs.

 

I get it. It works sometimes. Other times it does not work. I'm glad that the deal is for "only" $1.5 mil ( lol ). This minimizes the risk, I guess. My preference would have been to sign Badenhop again since he is healthy and a proven performer for this team. Additionally, I am concerned that if Mujica is dealt that the Sox do not have a back up plan if Koji fails for whatever reason.

[mvp 78]

I don't like Mujica as a backup plan. My guess is they could insert one of their live arms in the minors to be closer for a little bit if they needed to.