Veterans to join young bullpen

azdad1978

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Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 10, 2005 12:00 AM

Looking to add some extra veteran arms to complement a young and mostly inexperienced bullpen, the Diamondbacks signed left-hander Donovan Osborne to a minor league, non-roster deal Wednesday and by the end of the week, could also bring aboard right-hander Juan Acevedo.

Both pitchers, along with the recent non-roster signing of reliever Jose Jimenez, give the Diamondbacks options to help bolster a bullpen that features Greg Aquino as closer and Mike Koplove, Jose Valverde and Brian Bruney as setup men.

"Donovan had been pitching winter ball in the Dominican (Republic), he had some good numbers there, and Junior Noboa (the club's director of Latin America operations) said he was particularly tough on left-handed hitters," Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said.


"Who knows what his chances are to make the club? But, it's an option for Mel (manager Bob Melvin) to have as we go through the spring and put the bullpen together."

Osborne, 35, has spent nine seasons in the majors, mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals, and owns a 49-46 lifetime record with a 4.03 career ERA. Last season, he went 2-0 with a 7.13 ERA in nine games for the Yankees, which included two starts.

Acevedo, 34, has pitched eight years in the majors, with stints with eight teams. He is 28-40 overall with a 4.33 ERA and in 2002, recorded 28 saves for the Tigers. In his last major league season, split between the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays in 2003, he went 1-5 with a 6.57 ERA.

A recent scouting report had him pitching in the 94 mph range with full command of four pitches.

He could be signed to a make-good, minor league deal within the next few days.

As for Osborne, whose best year came with the Cardinals in 1996 when he went 13-9 with a 3.53 ERA, he stands to earn $325,000 should he make the major league roster.

Short hop

Garagiola could not immediately reach Bob Garber, the agent for utility player Robby Hammock, but he plans to talk with him today in an effort to possibly re-sign Hammock to a minor league deal that could keep him within the organization.

Hammock, who caught Randy Johnson's perfect game May 18 at Atlanta, underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder last week and will likely be sidelined for at least three months.


http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0210dbnb0210.html
 

schillingfan

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I like the signing of veteran middle relievers to minor league contracts.

Relievers are mostly a crap shoot. There is a reason they are middle relievers. The best pitchers become starters or closers. Because they are often overworked when they are having good years, they are prone to injury and great year to year fluctation. So the best strategy for a bullpen is to have a lot of options in spring training. Take those pitching the best with you to start the season and stash the others at AAA. Most teams use about 18-19 pitchers over the course of a season so depth is important. And if they veterans stink, cut em. When they are signed to bigger or multi-year contracxts you are often stuck with them.

Hopefully Melvin won't hesitate to use the younger guys if they are pitching better than the mediocre veterans. Some managers tend to over rely on veterans even if they are crummy at that point in time, not being willing to rely on the youngsters.
 

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