BoSox Get a Shot in the Aarm

The Red Sox acquired RHP David Aardsma from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for two long-shot prospects, righthanded pitchers Willy Mota and Miguel Socolovich.  As OverTheMonster mentions, Aardsma struck out 90 and walked 55 in 96 Major League Innings.  He was drafted as a first-rounder (22d pick) by San Fran in 2003, has spent time with both Chicago franchises, and (perhaps appropriately) has an award named after him which was presented at the “2008 Recycled Baseball Items (RBI) Foundation Banquet.”

Best Second best stat on this guy?

He “is the first player listed alphabetically in the Baseball Encyclopedia, ahead of Hank Aaron ” [MLB.com Player Profile]  And you all thought that losing the HR record to Barry was rough…

 Update: Best stat on this guy?  His sister is an actress and has a saucy photo on IMDB:

Thanks to The Chief for flagging the transaction, if not the hot sister angle.

Brewers’ Revamped Pen… Sucks

The Brewers made an unfathomable trade on Friday, sending two minor-league relief pitchers to the Pirates for Salomon Torres. Comically, the title of the article I came across reads: Brewers Bolster Bullpen (nice alliteration!). At the same time, the article states: “To acquire Torres, the Brewers parted with two good, young arms from their system.” Is 36-year-old Salomon Torres really worth this? Why not just take a shot with one of these kids? Torres sucks. He has a career 4.40 ERA, 99 ERA+, and 1.431 WHIP. Last year, his numbers were even worse.

How could this get more terrible for the Brewers? Well… Torres is unhappy with the trade and is considering retirement. Awesome! Oh, and now, Eric Gagne has reportedly signed a one-year deal worth $10 million to close for the Brew Crew. That makes him the second-highest paid Brewer.

The Brewers are going to be bad next year. If you don’t think so, please post a comment and include your contact information so that I can make a bet with you.

** But see Olney, Buster. Apparently Buster might be interested in betting:

[T]he Milwaukee Brewers signed Gagne to a $10 million deal, a contract that would represent about 14 percent of their entire 2007 payroll of $71 million. And it may turn out to be precisely the right decision for them to make, at this particular time . . .

The Brewers traded for Salomon Torres, but he may retire, and in any event, he had a horrible run as the Pirates’ closer.

No, the Brewers needed somebody else. They had to do something, because this team is too good and has too much potential for 2008 to have left such a gaping hole left untended . . .
The Gagne signing is a proportional response, an expensive patch-and-fill job that keeps them in the running for next year but also freed them from any long-term obligation in the volatile relief market. And they keep their prospects for another day, for other trade talks.

12/4 Winter Meetings Recap

Besides the big deal for Dejo, there were two other trades today involving relief pitchers:

• Cubs send Will Ohman (and Omar Infante) to Braves for minor-league reliever Jose Ascanio
• Tigers get Denny Bautista from Rockies in exchange for Jose Capellan
  

In case you haven’t heard yet, everybody’s talking about the second deal. Most people believe that the Tigers are unstoppable now that they have Denny Bautista. They’re probably right.

The Perfect John Stevens Storm: Yankees Trade for Middle-Relief Pitcher

See that guy to the left? He’s 25 years-old. He’s 6′5″ and weighs 250 pounds. He’s a flame-thrower. He’s a New York Yankee.

With all the attention on Johan Santana, the Yanks made an under-the-radar trade, swapping Tyler Clippard — one of several pre-pubescent starters who was forced into action early last season — for Jonathan Albaladejo. Albaladejo, who I like to call “Dejo,” pitched just 14.1 innings last season out of the Nationals’ bullpen, but was impressive: 12 K’s, .628 WHIP, 1.88 ERA, 224 ERA+.

Welcome to New York, Dejo!

Brewers Trade for 34-Year-Old Steroid Abuser

The Mets received a mediocre catcher (man, they really hate Paul Lo Duca) from the Brewers today in exchange for a mediocre relief pitcher. The Brewers continue to add shitty pitchers to their hot stove, producing a rancid odor throughout Milwaukee. On November 20, they added Randol Doyle Choate, known by Yankees fans for being a fairly ineffective Loogy (1.35 Career WHIP against lefties). Now they’ve traded for Guillermo Mota, known best for two things: fighting and steroids. Sure, Mota had a good stretch with the Mets in 2006, but couldn’t the Brew Crew have done better trying out a young pitcher rather than paying Mota $3.2 million to pitch next season? Mota was bad last year: 1.365 WHIP, 5.76 ERA, 74 ERA+. Unless he reconnects with his performance-enhancing dealer, don’t expect much of an improvement in 2008.

Houston Gets (Villar)Real!

Here’s a trade we missed on Friday (we’re still new at this…):

The Houston Astros announced today (11/16/07) that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Oscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Josh Anderson. . . . “Oscar Villarreal gives us another experienced, durable arm for the bullpen,” said Wade. “He has the ability to pitch late in a game, throw multiple innings and pitch back-to-back days.

Villarreal, who turns 26 on November 22, was 2-2 with one save and a 4.24 ERA (36ER/76.1IP) in 51 games for Atlanta in 2007. The right-hander has appeared in 223 career Major League games and owns a 23-12 record with one save and a 3.71 career ERA (123ER/298.1IP). He has pitched the last two seasons for the Braves (2006-07) after three big league seasons with Arizona (2003-05). Villarreal was acquired by the Braves in December of 2005 along with right-hander Lance Cormier in exchange for catcher Johnny Estrada. He was originally signed by Arizona as a non-drafted free agent on Nov. 6, 1998.

During his rookie season of 2003, Villarreal pitched in a National League rookie-record 86 games and finished 10-7 with a 2.57 ERA (28ER/98IP). His 86 appearances in 2003 also set the Major League record for the most in one season by a pitcher from Mexico, eclipsing the previous mark of 84 set by Enrique Romo of Pittsburgh in 1979.

Well, after shipping Brad Lidge to Philly, you’ve got to figure that Houston was going to have to restock its pen.  But they got a very, very special kid in Villarreal: according to the OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE, the Astros got a kid who “has the ability to pitch late in a game,” “throw multiple innings” AND….wait for it… ”pitch back-to-back days.”

Holy shit, the Astros just signed…a major league relief pitcher. 

Also, not to be a complete ass, but does Major League Baseball actually keep separate record books for Mexicans?  As in, 86 appearance is pretty good….for a Mexican.  Because, again, remember: this was an official press release.  (If you’re interested Mike Marshall of 1974 Dodgers owns the non-Mexican record for appearances with 106)