Full Count
A Furiously Updated Red Sox Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
Koji Uehara, history-making strike-thrower, and the implications for Daniel Bard and the Sox bullpen 12.07.12 at 10:59 am ET
By Alex Speier

The Red Sox have an agreement on a one-year deal with right-hander Koji Uehara. (AP)

After the 2010 season, the Red Sox recognized that they needed to upgrade their bullpen. The team considered right-hander Koji Uehara, who had put up some eye-popping numbers out of Baltimore’s bullpen that year, but the team steered clear of the bidding for his services because of what it viewed as too many medical red flags for a pitcher who would be 36 the following season. And so, Uehara returned to the Orioles on a one-year, $3 million deal (with a $4 million club option), while the Sox signed right-hander Bobby Jenks to a two-year, $12 million deal.

Jenks’ history in Boston proved brief and disastrous. Uehara, meanwhile, proved one of the most dominant relievers in the American League. Though he missed about two and a half months in 2012 with a strained lat, he finished strong, with scoreless appearances in 16 of his 17 contests after returning from the DL in mid-August. That punctuated a stretch in which he offered enormous return on the deal to which the O’s signed him.

Uehara logged a total of 101 innings with a 2.14 ERA over the last two years, with 128 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 101 innings. His excellence made him a critical trade chip for Baltimore, which dealt the right-hander to the Rangers in the middle of 2011 (when he had one and a half years of team control remaining) for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter. (Davis smashed 33 homers for the O’s in 2012, while Hunter provided the O’s with some depth in both their rotation and bullpen.

Clearly, he represented a missed opportunity for the Sox the last time he was a free agent. The team didn’t want to pass on another opportunity to acquire him, particularly given that he was available on just a one-year deal. There were three pitchers in the big leagues who had a strikeout-to-walk rate of 9-to-1 or better in 2012. The Sox now have two of them in Uehara and Junichi Tazawa. While the Sox didn’t have a profound bullpen need, Uehara’s track record suggests that he is a pitcher for whom it is worth reshuffling the deck.

A few additional thoughts on the Red Sox’ deal with Uehara, whom a major league source confirmed had agreed (pending a physical) to a one-year deal with Boston. The agreement (first reported by the Dallas Morning News) is reportedly for $4.25 million.

  • Since 1901, 14 major league pitchers have logged at least 100 career innings with a strikeout-to-walk rate of better than 4-to-1. Not only is Uehara in that elite mix — he’s pulled away from it in a fashion that has turned him into a distant speck on the horizon. In parts of four big league seasons, Uehara has a 7.97 strikeout-to-walk ratio, having punched out 239 batters and walked just 29. Only Sergio Romo (5.77 K-to-BB) joins him in the list of pitchers with a rate of better than 5-to-1.
  • Last year, Uehara struck out 43 and walked just three, a 14.33 strikeout-to-walk rate. Only Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley has ever topped that ratio in a season that featured 30 innings of work. (Impressively, Eckersley did it twice, having exceeded an 18-to-1 strikeout to walk rate in BOTH 1989 and 1990.)
  • He’s American League East battle-tested, having recorded a 3.03 ERA and 6.6 strikeout-to-walk rate for the Orioles from 2009 until being traded halfway through 2011. That includes his time as a starter in 2009 and a reliever in 2010-11. He was spectacular out of the bullpen, however, with a 2.27 ERA, a 9-to-1 strikeout-to-walk rate, 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings and 1.29 walks per nine.

In short, Uehara’s track record is remarkable, someone who — if (big if) healthy — can be one of the better right-handed relievers in the game, capable of dominating hitters from both side of the plate. But what does his arrival mean for the rest of the Sox bullpen?

Here’s a look at how things line up for the rest of the bullpen:

RHP Andrew Bailey (three options)
RHP Mark Melancon (out of options)
RHP Alfredo Aceves (one option)
RHP Daniel Bard (two options)
RHP Chris Carpenter (two options)
RHP Junichi Tazawa (one option)
RHP Clayton Mortensen (out of options)
RHP Pedro Beato (two options)
RHP Alex Wilson (three options)
LHP Craig Breslow (out of options)
LHP Franklin Morales (out of options)
LHP Andrew Miller (out of options)

That’s 12 options for what will likely be seven spots. There’s a good chance Beato will be peeled off the 40-man roster to make room for Uehara, who in combination with the additions of Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino, will push the Sox one over the 40-man roster limit. Wilson and Carpenter likely will be sent down as primary depth options.

Still, the Sox must clear an additional two spots from the bullpen. Perhaps Aceves will be dealt. Mortensen, who impressed throughout 2012, could be on the bubble. And right there with him?

Bard.

After the right-hander’s dreadful 2012 season, nothing can be taken for granted as he prepares for the coming season. If he is still searching throughout spring training, then given the fact that the team would want him to get consistent work and the fact that he has options, the best solution might be for him to start the year back in Triple-A, until he proves he can dominate again.

Of course, that might come in spring training. But it’s an outcome that the Sox can’t take for granted, something that the team may be acknowledging quietly with the acquisition of Uehara.

Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Jeffrey Mestre

    I wonder who would be taking over the closer role if Bailey and Bard don’t pan out. Would Aceves or Melancon be given another shot? Or would the sox bring in someone else like Brain Wilson?

  • Grygor_c

    Bring back Vincente Romo

  • Mike

    Ya Theo gave 360 lb Jenks two years 12 mil.. Please don’t remind us.  He also made 38 yr old Mike Cameron cf and moved Ellsbury to left. genius. 

  • Bob M.

    Yeah, but he did bring us Wily Mo Pena in 2006. And Arroyo has only given Cincy a mere 1488 innings over a 7 year span. In Theo we trusted.

  • Anonymous

    Melancon? Ho Ho .He sucks.

  • Ipse Amicus

    Jenkes looked good at the time – sort of.  Good article.  I have no faith in Melancon.  As for Bard, I wonder if moving him to be a starter was the real problem because he actually began to stink it up the end of the year before (2011) when the Sox collapsed as a team.  It was terrible in that span.  It wasn’t just last year for Bard.  So for that reason, I would not blame his being converted to being a starter as the cause of his problems.  And of course when he was moved back to being a reliever late last year he still stunk. Conversely, if he got his magic back I would not rule him out for another shot at being a starter either – though one does wonder whether he nursed in 2011 the idea of being a starter in 2012 and that was the beginning of his mental collapse.

  • Coach365

    I would like to see Tazawa given a shot at starting.  He and Morales, either one,could possibly be effective as a starter.  Tazawa, especially, because he really had great command of his pitches last year.  He was on the corners, in and out, on everything he threw.  Stretch him out in the spring and we may be surprised in what he does.

  • Anonymous

    I would honestly prefer not to fool around with what appears a good thing, this year. I would rather go after Marcum or Jackson or trade for a starter. This team could have a lights out pen to support a run producing offensive unit.
    If you had a rotation of: Lee, Marcum, Jackson, Lester and Buch. 
    With a pen of:
    Chris Perez,Taz, Uehera, Miller, Morales, Melancon and Breslow.

  • anguillaman3

    Good question….and your right…you can’t count on Bailey except to be injured a lot in any given season. I like this signing but its not a solution to the bullpen woes.  The starting pitching is an even larger problem. I’m shocked that brilliant Ben did not concentrate on starting pitching this off season and instead dedicated his time to signing GOMES and Victorino.

  • Mike

    Aceves is a stiff. Why not Tazawa or Uehera? 

  • Brilliant

    I’m sure if you were GM you would have a starter already. Its December give the guy a chance it’s not like the offseason is over. I like what he has done and he has plenty of time to get a starter.

  • Anthony

    just can’t get that excited about what the Red Sox are doing, they picked up a catcher /first baseman in Napoli that is coming off a bad year that the rangers don’t want and he is not a good first baseman, they pick up Gomes who can’t hit right handers and is not a good glove man in the outfield, they pick up another outfielder who sucked last year in  Victorino and they haven’t gotten any starting pitching.

    Are they any better so far then they were last year? I don’t think they are, but..then again spring training is still a little over 2 months away, wake me up in the spring.

  • anguillaman3

    I think your right…if I was the GM I’d have a starter already, no doubt…
    Your right, though its December and there is still time…plenty of time.
    I see the Yanks getting Josh Hamilton now. Sox fate as last place team
    in 2013 is all but sealed.  We need a miracle this season..maybe we’ll get
    lucky somewhere.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jherrera617 Joseph Jonathan Herrera

    Getting Hamilton would hardly assure the Yankees of anything.  In fact, getting Hamilton would likely mean that Granderson and Cano could both be jettisoned, definitely one of them to keep them under the tax threshold.  And would Hamilton really be able to handle the NYC lifestyle?  I don’t wish him any ill will and his story is remarkable but I think that would be a terrible move for him.  You could be right in the end but I don’t see that move guaranteeing the Yanks a title or the Sox finishing last, nor does it mean it is likely to end up well for the Yankees overall, even with Hamilton likely hitting 50 HR’s if healthy and sober.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jherrera617 Joseph Jonathan Herrera

    Another point, the difference in this division between first and last could close very rapidly. Yes they need some luck, but who would have thought the O’s would get lucky like they did this past season?  No ace starter, an inexperienced closer, Markakis hurt much of the season, but they still found ways to win.  Point is, you can never count anyone out, and the core of this team has two young if inconsistent starters (Lester and Buchholz) who have been Cy Young contenders in the past, Lackey who had a proven track record of pretty good consistency before coming here, and another starter in Doubront who flashed some potential last season who needs better conditioning for the season.  Combine that with a lineup that has some balance, some patience, and some power, and a little luck with a strong bullpen and it won’t take much to be a contender for that second wild card.  A few breaks and this team isn’t terribly far away.  Big “ifs” to be sure, but I wouldn’t write them off before the first pitch.

  • markfromlynn

    So you think that acquiring Hamilton,whose post season performances have been ARod like, somehow assures Boston’s fate as a last place team? Last time I checked,Cano,Granderson and Hamilton ALL had horrendous Septembers and were even worse come playoff time. As a matter of fact,Cano hasn’t been nearly the same player once his name was linked to PED’s in August. Coincidence? I rather doubt it.

     Additionally,the Yankees have  huge questions at 3B and SS with ARod’s career in the field likely over now after having surgery on his other hip. Jeter’s broken ankle was worse than originally expected and at his age that can’t be good. Losing Rafael Soriano from the bullpen could also proved to be a big loss given Rivera’s uncertain status. True,his ACL is healed,but guys generally don’t sit out almost an entire season and come back better at age 41.

  • Frostlaced

    bring back padilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Brian

     Yeah, let’s talk about Wily Mo Pena, that mattered more than Schilling, Ortiz, Pedroia, and two World Series.  Good priorities, real objective, you clearly have no agenda here.  No spin zone.

  • Brian

    What pitcher got signed that you would like?  Brandon McCarthy and his injury history plus his fly ball routine that has only worked in Oakland?  Haren, who couldn’t get traded for the immortal Carlos Marmol because of his awful medicals?  Hanson and his hamburger meat elbow?  Not one starter has signed a deal that would’ve made sense here.  Jackson and Marcum are still out there.

  • anguillaman3

    Brian that is a great analysis…can’t argue your points..but I thought Haren’s issues are back related and have improved?  Maybe not.  Thin free agent market out there this year. The Grienke deal is an eye opener.  Keep the posts coming …you know your stuff.

  • anguillaman3

    Brian that is a great analysis…can’t argue your points..but I thought Haren’s issues are back related and have improved?  Maybe not.  Thin free agent market out there this year. The Grienke deal is an eye opener.  Keep the posts coming …you know your stuff.

  • Bill

    Looking at their roster, maybe it’s a good thing people can’t afford to go to games.

  • 8191

    Marcum17, Lester20, Buchholz18, Lacky16 & Doubront15

    All possible win totals (Not what I think they’ll get).

    If we could get Marcum (for our standard 3 year deal- he’s worth more than Victorino and Gomes) I think we could contend.

    The O won’t be as good as the 1st 2/3rds of last year but should hold its’ own

    Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz, Napoli, Middlebrooks, Gomes (Maybe platoon), Catcher Victorino, Iglesias

    Pen looks Very Nice
    Bailey, Uehara, Tazawa, Breslow, Miller, Morales, Mortonsen or Aceves

    Sox Rock in 13
    Not to mention Bradley, Brentz, Bogertz

  • Capecodrt

    They would be crazy to let Aceves go. If they would put him back in the middle of the pen, they will get the guy they had in2011. Then, you are talking about a deep strong bullpen. How about talking Darrin Oliver out of retirement. This guy is as good as they come, as a LH reliever.

  • SqueakyRat

    Really, you can be an alcoholic just about anywhere.

  • Capecodrt

    And don’t forget letting Derek Lowe walk and replacing him with Matt Clement.

  • Capecodrt

    You’ve gotta love the team’s crack medical staff passing on Uherra in ’10, because of injury concerns and giving the OK to Bobby Jenks.

Red Sox Box Score
Red Sox Schedule
Baseball Analytics Blog
Red Sox Headlines
Red Sox Minor League News
Red Sox Team Leaders
MLB Headlines
Tips & Feedback

Verify