More Pitchers To Wear The Tomahawk
By Fred Owens
The Braves signed two more pitchers – both former closers – to minor league contracts today.
The Pitchers
This off season’s seen the Braves snapping up former closers who lost their mojo like they are trying to corner the market. David O’Brien broke news of the first signing.
#Braves signed RHR Matt Capps to minor league contract. Douglasville, Ga., native hasn't pitched in majors since 2012 due to shoulder woes
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) February 10, 2015
Matt Capps
Capps (31) was drafted by the Pirates in 2002 and made hi debut in 2005. From 2007 through 2009 he was the Bucs closer posting 66 save in 72 opportunities with a 3.51 ERA, 1.187 WHIP and striking out 149 batters while walking just 38 in 187 IP. In 2010 he signed as a free agent with the Nationals and saved 26 games in 30 opportunities before being traded to the Twins for their post season run and he saved 16 of more chances the remainder of the year. He stayed with the Twins for the next two years saving 29 more games but lost his closer’s job in the second half of 2012. He hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since then.
Jose Veras
Later this evening Mark Bowman tweeted this tidbit.
Add RHP Jose Veras to the list of NRI pitchers the #Braves will bring to camp.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 11, 2015
Veras (25) broke in with the Yankees in 2006 and worked in relief for there and with Cleveland, Florida, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee before becoming Houston’s closer in 2013. In the first half of that year he saved 19 games for a team that wasn’t very good. At the deadline he was traded to the Tigers for a player to be named later (David Paulino) and Danry Vasquez. He threw 19 innings for Detroit with a 3.20 ERA after the trade and five post season innings in the ALDS.
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In 2014 he signed with the Cubs but appeared in only 12 games before being released in June. The Astros picked him up after release and he was a solid in relief after that appearing in 34 games with a 3.03 ERA and striking out 37 32 2/3 innings. While he’s a strikeout pitchers his EAR was nearly a run lower than his FIP and his WHIP was 1.225.
That’s a Wrap
It seems as if the Braves new front office expects to use a lot of pitchers in relief this year. These guys are simply minor league depth but both have control issues. If Roger McDowell can fix Veras control issues his power arm might come in handy. Capps on the other hand wasn’t a power arm so when he lost the ability to hit his spots he was wild in the zone and that’s always a recipe for disaster. If he can regain that control his experience could prove useful. I have no idea what the plan is but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more bargain basement signings. One wonders whether McDowell gets overtime pay because there doesn’t seem to be any time off in his future.