Greg Fiume - Getty Images
9 months ago: BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 31: Jo-Jo Reyes #45 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 31, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The Pirates will sign pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes to a minor-league deal.
This isn't a bad idea; Reyes isn't old, and he's posted fairly good minor-league numbers. He doesn't throw particularly hard, but he's not a complete junkballer either, and he's a lefty. He soaked up a bunch of innings last year - not particularly well, but he did a better job than his 5.57 ERA indicated, with an xFIP about a run lower. As things stand, he arguably should get a shot at a big-league job this year, although that's an indictment of the Bucs' rotation more than anything else. He probably would have been better served to go to a team that needed more bullpen help, but the Pirates have decent depth there. Still, he might get a shot at a bullpen job out of Spring Training - it would be easy to see the Bucs taking him north instead of someone like Tony Watson.
0 recs | 78 comments
so...
he’s trending upward, right?
Is that the silver lining?
BlindSquirrel - January 3, 2012
I think I’d rather have Brian Burres back, but it’s not a big deal one way or the other.
WTM - January 3, 2012
Ouch
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
it's a minor league deal - low risk, medium reward.
I approve.
theatrain - January 3, 2012
From the looks of his numbers – low risk, very low reward.
Thunder - January 4, 2012
He pitched well as a reliever (small sample size) last season — An 8-to-1 K/BB ratio in 7 innings, only 6 hits. He has the pedigree. Hope he doesn’t start, but definitely worth a shot as a LOOGY.
bolton - January 4, 2012
I knew we would get Reyes!
He never would have fit in with the Marlins. Do we have to absorb his entire contract?
pineapplepete - January 3, 2012
Two lefties
I kind of thought we would get another lefty somewhere in the offseason because Hurdle likes it that way.
I think he does not replace Watson, but rather Moskos.
Bullpen could be:
Hanrahan
Meek
Grilli
Resop
McCutchen
Watson
Reyes
SojourningPirate - January 3, 2012
Leroux is out of options, and it’s hard to see the Pirates giving up on him after how he pitched last year. And DCutch is probably necessary due to the uncertainties in the rotation. So I think they will probably go with one lefty to start the year. That could be wrong.
Charlie Wilmoth - January 3, 2012
I think there's going to be another trade
too many good relievers
and we haven’t even started dumpster diving yet
bmcferren - January 3, 2012
Oh, yes we have…that’s where Reyes comes in.
Thunder - January 4, 2012
not if its a minor league deal
white angus - January 4, 2012
minor league deal
wish i could bold it twice. no reason to be up in arms about a minor league deal. This is actually a great depth move. Reyes can start IF NEED BE if we get decimated and ravaged with injury. PNC park would be good fit and NL obv easier than AL East
Mingy - January 3, 2012
no reason to be up in arms about a minor league deal.
And no one is, to be fair.
Charlie Wilmoth - January 3, 2012
I bet they are at the PBC blog.
WTM - January 3, 2012
yeah sorry
was a preemptive strike
Mingy - January 3, 2012
I am
C Shint - January 3, 2012
there is one on here, to be honest
white angus - January 4, 2012
Yep.
I like him just fine as a sixth or seventh starter in the organization – keeps us from having to bring up a Locke or Owens the first time the injury bug strikes.
I do hope, however, that that’s all the bigger a role he receives.
wg1of5 - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
Like the Move
He could be on a Bruce Chen career path. Always the type of guy to bring up for one start then put on waivers back to AAA. Should not suck up a 40 man slot unless he is helping.
NHpiratefan - January 3, 2012
Chen has won 24 games the last two years. I’ll take that!
erad67 - January 4, 2012
might not be a bad idea to try him as a LOOGY
7.6 K/9, 3.3 BB/9, 0.96 HR/9 vs lefties, though it’s only in 81 MLB innings
johnnycuff - January 3, 2012
Yuck
GO_BUCS - January 3, 2012
I’ve seen this guy pitch plenty of times and get LIT UP plenty of times. Nothing to like here
GO_BUCS - January 3, 2012
minor league deal
repeat
minor league deal
theatrain - January 3, 2012
You can also add....
Over 60 players go to spring training with the Pirates, only 25 go north. There’s plenty of guys that won’t be on the major league roster come Opening Day, so seeing any real reaction (one way or another) to a minor league deal is just silly….but I guess that’s what January is for!
impliedi - January 3, 2012
Sometimes, a bad player will ride a minor league deal and a hot spring into an undeserved spot on the 25-man roster. Look at Craig Monroe, or Luis Rivas.
As such, a certain measure of concern is warranted.
Vlad - January 3, 2012 via mobile
if a guy has a hot spring though
is his 25 man spot really all that undeserved? A good spring is all anyone on a minor league deal can hope for to make the club.
theatrain - January 4, 2012
disregarding the general arguement
would you want to give Reyes a starting job if he has a hot spring? Have you seen his career numbers? Or him pitch live or on tv? GAHHHHHHH
C Shint - January 4, 2012
Yes, it is.
The purpose of spring training is to get the 25 best players in camp ready for the start of the season. Anything that gets in the way of that goal is a problem for the team.
Vlad - January 4, 2012 via mobile
If the likes of Monroe or Rivas or Jo-Jo ride a hot spring into a 25 man roster spot, then your 25 man roster isn’t that good to begin with.
GPT - January 4, 2012
Our 25-man roster ISN’T that good to begin with. That’s the problem.
Vlad - January 4, 2012
Exactly
Although, to be fair, Moskos and Correia are probably the only guys on it who aren’t clearly better than Reyes. Maybe Watson, depending how you want to weight his career path (which iirc, and without checking, hasn’t been a straightforward progression with great numbers at every level).
If they had Maholm or similar on the roster, Reyes would have close to zero chance. As it is, it’s a non-zero chance.
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
Watson is the type of scenario I’m thinking about here. For example, if Watson has a bad week this spring and comes out of it with a double-digit ERA, and Reyes lucks his way into a clean spring, and that leads the team to start the year with Reyes in the pen instead of Watson (or D’Cutch, or Leroux, or whomever), that’ll be a significant problem.
Vlad - January 4, 2012
But isn't the likely outcome
a month of Reyes showing his true colors, after which Watson comes back up? I mean, he won’t get lost on waivers, will he?
I agree it wouldn’t be optimal, but I don’t see a long term downside (the way there was when Craig Wilson was getting blocked).
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
It's not a problem with long-term consequences...
…(unless they cut a guy with no options, like Leroux, to make room for him), but it’s still a problem. If I’m going to buy a ticket and give up my evening to watch a game, I’d rather not have to watch pitchers of that caliber.
Vlad - January 4, 2012
this seems overly harsh on Correia
Last year their FIPs were not that far apart, but that was a good year for Reyes who posted an FIP above 5.00 every other year. And relievers are supposed to post better rate stats than starters. I’d say Correia is clearly better than Reyes — he’s probably a replacement-level starter or even better, and I wouldn’t expect Reyes to be replacement-level as a starter.
WHYG Zane Smith - January 4, 2012
Wasn't meaning to be
I agree that Correia is almost certainly better (although Reyes has the advantage of age – he’s still got a couple of years to figure it out), I just meant that everyone else is head and shoulders above, whether through proven talent (Morton, J-Mac) or established track record of being able to start and relieve (Karstens, DCutch).
You can squint and convince yourself that Reyes is more valuable/desirable than Correia; you can’t possibly do it with any other SP/swingman.
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
Cool
Kosstic518 - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Not really a fan, but maybe he’ll surprise me.
Vlad - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Repeat my endless mantra
Minor league deal. No such thing as a bad one.
Maybe such stuff as Jo Jo has will play better out of the bullpen & he can become a decent LOOGY. Or he never sees PNC unless he buys a ticket. Either way, nothing to do but shrug and see what he does in Florida.
Raybin - January 3, 2012
I have to disagree there. If a minor league deal puts amguy who has no business making the team’s 25-man roster in a position where he might win a spot on the team’s 25-man roster, it’s a bad minor league deal.
Everybody needs a few warm bodies to take up space at AA and AAA, and that’s fine, but if a crappy player is in camp as a NRI, he presents one degree or another of threat to the team’s well-being. Particularly on a team managed by a guy like Hurdle, who has somewhat eccentric taste in bench guys.
Vlad - January 3, 2012 via mobile
you know its bad news
when me and Vlad are thinking on the same page
C Shint - January 3, 2012
Fair enough
I will say, though, that if Jo Jo rides a hot spring into a bullpen slot then reverts to form, he can be easily DFAd without a second thought to limit the damage. This in contrast to, say, Kevin Correia who I’m convinced only still holds a rotation spot because the Bucs don’t want to pay him 3 million just to go away.
Your point about Hurdle’s goofiness about his depth is well taken though.
Raybin - January 4, 2012
Will there be a bad SportsCenter piece on this?
Longest losing streak in MLB (until it snapped last year) going to the team with the longest streak of losing seasons in professional sports history? It’s a reach, but with a slow newsday and an overzealous intern…
SuperBaes - January 3, 2012
My favorite ever
Was a piece titled “Milwaukee’s Best” that chronicled how hot their bats had been and highlighted their 2,381 consecutive wins over the Pirates.
SuperBaes - January 3, 2012
As Mr. Michael G. Scott said
when he saw Toby come back…..
“NOOOOOO GOD, PLEASE NO GOD, NOOOOOOOOOOO”
that is how I feel about this.
C Shint - January 3, 2012
JoJo Reyes
may be the worst pitcher out there. I can’t remember one good thing happening with him on the mound. Not one. He has literally sucked every time I have seen him pitch. Flat out horrible.
C Shint - January 4, 2012
I'd say
Logan Kensing is worse than Reyes.
Midnight Moose - January 5, 2012
Let's see...
pitched in parts or most of 5 seasons in the majors. Record 12-26, career ERA of 6.05, WHIP of 1.637, 1.5 HR/9, 10.8 H/9, 3.9 BB/9, 5.8 K/9, 1.47 K/BB, 5.33 FIP, 4.75 xFIP. BAA .294
Could somebody please point out the stat I am supposed to be encouraged by?
Thunder - January 4, 2012
The xFIP, I guess?
That’s a borderline fifth-starter type number.
Vlad - January 4, 2012 via mobile
Starters with numbers like that sometimes make good relievers. Hanrahan had a 6.00 ERA in his lone season as a starter and he’s worked out pretty well. I wouldn’t put money on Reyes having an ERA below 4.00 this season, but he’s worth a flier. I like this move.
bolton - January 4, 2012
Hanrahan had much better stuff than Reyes does, though.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, but personally, I don’t see it.
Vlad - January 4, 2012 via mobile
Reyes has decent stuff for a lefty and it might get better when facing 1-4 batters per night. I doubt he’s Billy Wagner, but it wouldn’t shock me if he gives the team more than it received from Grabow and Beimel.
bolton - January 4, 2012
no
Reyes shouldnt get to face 1 batter a night let alone a chance at 4. Bad things happen when the ball is in his hand.
C Shint - January 4, 2012
As I was reminded on another board...
Reyes is the starting pitcher that had 28 consecutive winless starts (6/18/08-5/25/11).
Thunder - January 4, 2012
This is a gag by the Pirates FO after reading the last couple BD posts
Asking if the FO was done with offseason acquisitions and predicating the need for another SP. And making sure there is someone far worse than Captain
Correiageous for all to worry and complain about.
Central*Scrutinizer - January 4, 2012
Makes as much sense as any other theory.
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
A quick description of JJ is "not a major league pitcher"
I saw him live last season in a BAL-TOR game. When I saw he was the starting pitcher that night, I said to my friends ’it’s gonna be a high scoring game’. Final score : 13-0.
So, although it’s only a minor league contract and we shouldn’t overreact, I’m a little surprised NH chose this guy over a bunch of other AAAA options.
From France - January 4, 2012
Why's he so bad, though?
I was looking at his MiL numbers, and they seem (mostly) respectable. He’s been in AAA 4 times; twice he had a K/BB above 3:1, once above 2:1, and in 2009 he didn’t strike anyone out (but the BB rate was pretty much his typical ~3/9). Until last year, he never had a high HR/9 in the minors.
I get that he’s a lefty without a lot of stuff, but his MiL numbers, at a glance anyway, suggest a guy who can succeed (somewhat) in the bigs. Is he just a perfect AAAA player, better than (almost) everyone in AAA, worse than (just about) everyone in MLB?
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
In his ML performance to date, by component ratios, he’s been below-average in literally every phase of the game. His best single-season performance is a 76 ERA+, which is pretty terrible.
Here are the career numbers of Reyes and another Pirates pitcher of recent vintage:
Reyes: 334 2/3 IP, 6.05 ERA (70 ERA+), 1.64 WHIP, 10.8 H/9, 1.5 HR/9, 3.9 BB/9, 5.8 K/9
Mystery Pitcher: 358 1/3 IP, 5.75 ERA (77 ERA+), 1.62 WHIP, 10.6 H/9, 1.1 HR/9, 4.0 BB/9, 5.6 K/9
Anybody recognize the mystery pitcher? And if so, does anybody want to see him come back in 2012?
Vlad - January 4, 2012
Shawn Chacon?
cocktailsfor2 - January 4, 2012
Has to be Brian Burres
Raybin - January 4, 2012
We have a winner!
Vlad - January 4, 2012
so Jo-Jo can be described as a slightly worse and left-handed version of Brian Burres??
let’s just call him “Gas Can” for short
gonfalon - January 4, 2012
Burres is a lefty
In fact that’s what made me think it was him….what lefty AAAA pitcher lives in our nightmares? Had to be Burres
Amusingly, Burres has also played for the Orioles and Jays just like Reyes.
Raybin - January 4, 2012
well feck me, Burres is indeed a lefty
:o :o :o
gonfalon - January 4, 2012
Jonah Bayliss
Has already claimed this nickname.
Tuckshop25 - January 4, 2012
I get that he IS bad
I’m just trying to understand what’s failing to make the transition from the minors to the bigs.
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
on the bright side
with Jo-Jo on the hill there is a possibility that we might get the epic Greg Brown call: “JO-JO with the NO-NO!” if he manages a no hitter. i am hoping he excels as a bucco for this reason only.
yeah, im a jerk - January 4, 2012
"...it would be easy to see the Bucs taking him north instead of someone like Tony Watson."
Agree with SojourningPirate above. Quite possibly Moskos.
Also, am I the only one who thought of this?:
.
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
cocktailsfor2 - January 4, 2012
yep
just you
white angus - January 4, 2012
That's fine.
cocktailsfor2 - January 4, 2012
You're unique!
The onliest snowflake in all of BD.
JRoth95 - January 4, 2012
Gawrsh.
Thanks.
…I think…
cocktailsfor2 - January 4, 2012
Also, looking at the box-office that film did,
I was one of the only people to see that movie, too.
cocktailsfor2 - January 4, 2012
The summer of Jo-Jo was one of the worst of my life. But hey, I hope you guys enjoy him! :P
He seems like a really good guy, though, whatever that’s worth. And who knows, maybe he can turn it around in the NL Central.
leaflover4ever - January 4, 2012
FTFY. =)
wg1of5 - January 4, 2012
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