Valaika claimed again, Kline DFAd

[sportsfan8703]

Similar to the Alberto situation last year.  I don't think we'll see Beckham pursued anymore, or even mentioned.  We have our IF depth now.  I'm shocked that Wynns is still on the 40 man.  Shocked to the point where I'm starting to think Sisco might not be in the mix at C in the MLB next year.  

Any of the 1 IP relievers on the 40 man this year are in trouble.  We need guys that can go multiple innings, plus have any of the 1 IP really distinguished themselves that much?

[interloper]

4 minutes ago, DirtyBird said:

We could have just DFA'd Kline the instead of Valaika the first time.

I think about this kind of thing a lot and always wonder about the inner reasonings for stuff like this. 

They DFA'd him for Richard Urena, another infielder who is younger than Valaika and has more upside. They could have definitely DFA'd Kline there instead and had both players like they do now. 

Maybe they had hoped some better infielders would become available and are now settling for Valaika again. Or they decided to pass on Beckham. 

[sportsfan8703]

Remember they had the pitcher's mini camp recently as well.  Maybe Kline didn't attend?  Maybe Kline didn't look too good?  

Armstrong, Carroll, Fry, Phillips, Scott, and Sulser, all have to pitch really well being as they are typically 1 IP type of relievers. They need to be really lights out to justify keeping them around. Can they go more than 1 IP?  Sure.  Can they do that for a long period of time?  Probably not.  We need innings.  

Is a guy like Phillips worth more than the AA SP that Boston(Denyi Reyes) DFA'd?  Probably not.  A team that is going to lose 100+ games doesn't really need specialized relievers.  

[interloper]

7 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Remember they had the pitcher's mini camp recently as well.  Maybe Kline didn't attend?  Maybe Kline didn't look too good?  

Armstrong, Carroll, Fry, Phillips, Scott, and Sulser, all have to pitch really well being as they are typically 1 IP type of relievers. They need to be really lights out to justify keeping them around. Can they go more than 1 IP?  Sure.  Can they do that for a long period of time?  Probably not.  We need innings.  

Is a guy like Phillips worth more than the AA SP that Boston(Denyi Reyes) DFA'd?  Probably not.  A team that is going to lose 100+ games doesn't really need specialized relievers.  

I would caution on cutting Phillips just yet. He's got a couple things going for him if you squint.

In his 28 innings, he only gave up 2 home runs and his K-rate was great at 12.9 (40 Ks). Unfortunately he walked a million dudes (6.4 and 20 BBs). His ERA sucked (6.43), but his FIP was 3.96. 

At the very least I think he's worth checking out in ST and seeing if maybe another year under his belt leads to improvement. 

[sportsfan8703]

1 minute ago, interloper said:

I would caution on cutting Phillips just yet. He's got a couple things going for him if you squint.

In his 28 innings, he only gave up 2 home runs and his K-rate was great at 12.9 (40 Ks). Unfortunately he walked a million dudes (6.4 and 20 BBs). His ERA sucked (6.43), but his FIP was 3.96. 

Well really that whole group of Armstrong, Fry, Phillips, Scott, Carroll, and Sulser.  We're two years away from needing specialized relievers at the least. We have to add a ton of players next November to protect from the rule 5.  I only see Scott making it out of that group.  

We should be all over SP prospects that are DFA'd and have options.  

[clapdiddy]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

Expecting a deluge of posts about how letting a hard thrower with poor control go.

To which I reply:

Note the forlorn look in his eyes.  This must have been taken shortly after the Griffey homer.  Poor Brad just couldn't ever find the strike zone.

I think that ball Griffey hit is still orbiting the earth.

[Frobby]

14 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Remember they had the pitcher's mini camp recently as well.  Maybe Kline didn't attend?  Maybe Kline didn't look too good?  

Armstrong, Carroll, Fry, Phillips, Scott, and Sulser, all have to pitch really well being as they are typically 1 IP type of relievers. They need to be really lights out to justify keeping them around. Can they go more than 1 IP?  Sure.  Can they do that for a long period of time?  Probably not.  We need innings.  

Is a guy like Phillips worth more than the AA SP that Boston(Denyi Reyes) DFA'd?  Probably not.  A team that is going to lose 100+ games doesn't really need specialized relievers.  

Kline did attend the minicamp.   He was one if only six (only three of whom were specifically identified).   

[sportsfan8703]

From mlbtr,

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/orioles-claim-pat-valaika-dfa-branden-kline.html

He averaged a hearty 96.3 mph on his four-seamer in that time but generated below-average spin and yielded hard contact at far too great a clip (49.2 percent, per Statcast)

Edited January 30, 2020 by sportsfan8703

[Enjoy Terror]

 

Think it's bizarre to say that Kline was one of the best stories of 2019. I mean, there weren't many amazing stories but we're talking about a guy who got mostly shelled all year.

[sportsfan8703]

4 minutes ago, Enjoy Terror said:

Think it's bizarre to say that Kline was one of the best stories of 2019. I mean, there weren't many amazing stories but we're talking about a guy who got mostly shelled all year.

I know he had TJ, but didn't he get his leg broken on a comebacker too?  Seems like a pretty good story.  I've heard him on the radio.  He's an easy guy to root for.  He'll likely clear waivers.  

[interloper]

19 minutes ago, Enjoy Terror said:

 

Think it's bizarre to say that Kline was one of the best stories of 2019. I mean, there weren't many amazing stories but we're talking about a guy who got mostly shelled all year.

 

12 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

I know he had TJ, but didn't he get his leg broken on a comebacker too?  Seems like a pretty good story.  I've heard him on the radio.  He's an easy guy to root for.  He'll likely clear waivers.  

Frederick native is a thing as well. Lots of freak injuries, able to work his way to the bigs despite getting derailed as a prospect. 

[interloper]

21 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

From mlbtr,

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/orioles-claim-pat-valaika-dfa-branden-kline.html

He averaged a hearty 96.3 mph on his four-seamer in that time but generated below-average spin and yielded hard contact at far too great a clip (49.2 percent, per Statcast)

Bingo. 

[atomic]

Seems like a guy who might get claimed.    If another team had DFA'd him we would probably be picking him up. 

[Going Underground]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

Kline did attend the minicamp.   He was one if only six (only three of whom were specifically identified).   

They also made him do the met and great at the B & O musuem. He went to the University of Virginia and is really smart.Said after baseball would finish his degree in kinesiology..

[scOtt]

2 hours ago, DirtyBird said:

We could have just DFA'd Kline the instead of Valaika the first time.

See? Elias learns on the fly! He's not going to make that mistake a second time.