Bullpen target: Robert Stephenson

[Sports Guy]

In any given year, there will always be several ways to go to add to your pen.

For me, there are a few things I’m going to look for:

1) High K rate

2) Miss bats

3) throws strikes/lower walk rate

4) limits homers

 

Robert Stephenson checks 3 of these boxes. The box he doesn’t check is homers allowed. That limits what I would give him in terms of a contract but if Walltimore can help him limit the homers, he has the ability to be a high leverage reliever.

I don’t think he’s going to get too big of a contract either, so I think he’s a realistic target for us.

 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/robert-stephenson-596112?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb

Edited October 20, 2023 by Sports Guy

[Moose Milligan]

To add to your list:

5) gets righties and lefties out.  I think it's fine to have a matchup guy or two in the bullpen but I want relievers that don't care which batter's box a hitter is standing in.

[Sports Guy]

1 minute ago, Moose Milligan said:

To add to your list:

5) gets righties and lefties out.  I think it's fine to have a matchup guy or two in the bullpen but I want relievers that don't care which batter's box a hitter is standing in.

Yea I agree…I think if you do the things I asked for, that this will take care of itself but that’s obviously not always the case.

[Moose Milligan]

Stephenson looks like he could be a good guy to get.  Something has clicked for him since he went to Pittsburgh, the WHIP has decreased tremendously.

[tntoriole]

2 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

In any given year, there will always be several ways to go to add to your pen.

For me, there are a few things I’m going to look for:

1) High K rate

2) Miss bats

3) throws strikes/lower walk rate

4) limits homers

 

Robert Stephenson checks 3 of these boxes. The box he doesn’t check is homers allowed. That limits what I would give him in terms of a contract but if Walltimore can help him limit the homers, he has the ability to be a high leverage reliever.

I don’t think he’s going to get too big of a contract either, so I think he’s a realistic target for us.

 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/robert-stephenson-596112?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb

I like him … a lot!!   Thoughts about Kimbrel? 

Edited October 20, 2023 by tntoriole

[Moose Milligan]

I think Kimbrel is going to be expensive because you're paying for a name and what he's done.  And I like Kimbrel, I'm just thinking the wheels are going to fall off sooner or later and I don't want him to be on our team when they do.

A guy like Stephenson is 30.  Still not too old.

[tntoriole]

1 hour ago, Moose Milligan said:

I think Kimbrel is going to be expensive because you're paying for a name and what he's done.  And I like Kimbrel, I'm just thinking the wheels are going to fall off sooner or later and I don't want him to be on our team when they do.

A guy like Stephenson is 30.  Still not too old.

Maybe a few more appearances like last night reins his price in a bit!  Lol .. Phillies fan board would give about 3 dollars this morning lol. 

[Sports Guy]

1 hour ago, tntoriole said:

I like him … a lot!!   Thoughts about Kimbrel? 

Kimbrel is a guy I would add.

He should get a 1 year deal for 10-13M.

I don’t disagree with what Moose is saying but having that vet stability at the back end is important. 

Edited October 20, 2023 by Sports Guy

[Osornot]

3 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

In any given year, there will always be several ways to go to add to your pen.

For me, there are a few things I’m going to look for:

1) High K rate

2) Miss bats

3) throws strikes/lower walk rate

4) limits homers

 

Robert Stephenson checks 3 of these boxes. The box he doesn’t check is homers allowed. That limits what I would give him in terms of a contract but if Walltimore can help him limit the homers, he has the ability to be a high leverage reliever.

I don’t think he’s going to get too big of a contract either, so I think he’s a realistic target for us.

 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/robert-stephenson-596112?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb

You nailed it. What we should be looking for.

[Just Regular]

I'm curious to watch the market respond to Stephenson.    It was Tampa more that got the value out of him, but for half a season it was elite elite.

I believe for GM's chasing per-batter efficiency (i.e., you have enough innings, and aren't worried if you're going to have to let Lance Lynn give up 4 HR in a playoff game), he'll be a priority target.    I don't know how much the market will think the unlocked performance can stick, but I think he'll have enough believers he is not going to be a cheap free agent.

His agent is I bet hoping for the Rafael Montero ballpark, if not more.

[Moose Milligan]

1 hour ago, Sports Guy said:

Kimbrel is a guy I would add.

He should get a 1 year deal for 10-13M.

I don’t disagree with what Moose is saying but having that vet stability at the back end is important. 

If it's a 1 year deal, I'm cool with it.  

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Stephenson shouldn't be too expensive given his up and down track record and before spending money on Fuji try to get some better quality relievers first.

[Aristotelian]

I like Stephenson and have mentioned him on some of the other threads. There are some guys I like better but he's a good target if we can get him on a one year deal. 

[24fps]

Stephenson made $1.75 million last year in arb 3, so he's sure to make more in 2024.  The most expensive reliever I was able to find that Elias acquired is Coulombe at $1 million a year (I don't include Fuji who was only partially compensated by the O's for 2023).

For the O's to sign Stephenson, they will have to break with tradition from the Elias years.  I have argued that the O's will have more resources this offseason, but it also looks like RP has consistently been used to keep costs low.  Given that, I'm not looking for Hader or Kimbrel to be pitching for Baltimore next year or any year; Stephenson maybe, but the O's will be picking from a smaller FA universe for relievers IMO.

Edited October 21, 2023 by 24fps

[Chavez Ravine]

7 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

If it's a 1 year deal, I'm cool with it.  

Until the ALCS.