Sox sign Putz

[witesoxfan]

I like the signing, although I wonder how cash-strapped KW is going to be now when it comes to addressing the team's hitting needs.

 

A random question to all: How much better do you think 2010 JJ Putz will be than 2010 Octavio Dotel (wherever he ends up)?

 

Dotel is almost guaranteed to sign for more.

[Dick Allen]

Here are the incentive clauses in Scott Linebrink's contract, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts...

 

 

 

MVP? All Star starter?

 

Even further, Matt Guerrier was never, ever, ever, ever considered the Twins closer last year, and still "finished" 15 games. Putz's agent is looking for the most money he can get, and if Putz even becomes a setup man, it's likely he's going to "finish" quite a few games.

 

The finished games clause has absolutely nothing to do with Jenks. If anything, it's probably $10K per game that he finishes up until 30 games finished.

The finished games have everything to do with being the closer. He also has $250k based on appearances.

 

Before anyone annoints Putz as the bullpen savior, keep in mind he has a higher ERA the past 2 seasons than Scott Linebrink and he's been pitching in Seattle and Citi Field, two of the most pitcher friendly places in the world, and is coming off some elbow clean up, the same sort of clean up Colon had last offseason. He won't even start throwing off a mound until after Christmas.

 

If he's 100% its probably a very good signing. There really is no guarantee of that right now.

Edited December 12, 2009 by Dick Allen

[Kyyle23]

The finished games have everything to do with being the closer. He also has $250k based on appearances.

 

Before anyone annoints Putz as the bullpen savior, keep in mind he has a higher ERA the past 2 seasons than Scott Linebrink and he's been pitching in Seattle and Citi Field, two of the most pitcher friendly places in the world, and is coming off some elbow clean up, the same sort of clean up Colon had last offseason. He won't even start throwing off a mound until after Christmas.

 

If he's 100% its probably a very good signing. There really is no guarantee of that right now.

 

He was scheduled to throw for teams yesterday

[Dick Allen]

He was scheduled to throw for teams yesterday

Long toss. Not off a mound.

[SockMe]

I really like this signing, helps the bullpen a lot!

[Jordan4life_2007]

I was watching some Putz highlight clips from '06/'07 at MLB.COM. Man was he filthy those years. If we can get 80-85% of the Putz from those years this could go down as KW's best acquisition yet.

[southsider2k5]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/...bilitation.html

 

White Sox receive ample evidence from J.J. Putz's rehabilitation

December 11, 2009 8:05 PM | 13 Comments

putzcolon.jpgBy Mark Gonzales

 

There's a great chance that J.J. Putz won't be another Bartolo Colon for the White Sox.

 

For starters, Putz is scheduled to throw off a mound next month, unlike the more deliberate schedule Colon was placed on last spring.

 

Second, Putz is scheduled to be ready when the Sox hold their first workout for pitchers and catchers on Feb. 21 without any restrictions after undergoing surgery last June to remove a bone spur and fragments from his right pitching elbow.

 

Whether Putz can regain his 2007 American League all-star form remains to be seen, but at least the Sox kept track of Putz's rehab dating back to last season and the information made available to them through Brett Fischer, who supervised Putz's rehabilitation in Phoenix.

 

Fischer has been instrumental in the longevity of five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson and the health of other top baseball players. He recently expanded his duties and now works with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.

 

Fischer reported that Putz has thrown well recently in long toss drills in front of several teams. The plans call for Putz to take a break over Christmas before throwing off a mound for the first time since his surgery.

 

It's not uncommon for pitchers to not throw off a mound until a few weeks prior to spring training, so Putz is ahead of schedule.

 

"We've had no problems," Fischer said. "He's working hard, whether it's on his throwing program or his core work. He's been a good guy to work with."

 

With D.J. Carrasco likely to not be tendered a contract Saturday night and become a free agent, there is the chance that rookie Daniel Hudson could slide into Carrasco's long relief role while receiving hands-on training from pitching coach Don Cooper and veteran pitchers Jake Peavy and Mark Buehrle.

 

But another consideration would be to send Hudson to the minors for more consistent work until he's ready to join the major league staff. That would create a spot for Sergio Santos, who was converted from an infielder to a pitcher and possesses a 98 mph fastball.

 

Santos is out of options, and the Sox avoided losing him in Thursday's Rule 5 draft by putting him on their 40-man roster. If Santos doesn't pitch well in spring, the Sox could be faced with exposing him to waivers.

 

Meanwhile, general manager Ken Williams didn't seem enthused about possibly acquiring a left-handed reliever from the list of players not tendered contracts late Saturday night.

 

Williams added that the Sox have enough faith in Randy Williams, who limited left-handed batters to a .162 batting average with 14 strikeouts in 27 at-bats. Randy Williams finished with a 4.58 ERA in 25 appearances, and the Sox's GM said Randy Williams' troubles stemmed from being asked to perform duties he was unsuited for.

 

Simply, Randy Williams is more effective against left-handed batters than right-handed batters (who hit .269 against him).

 

If the Sox want to add competition, they may consider a member of their 2005 World Series title team.

 

Neal Cotts is expected to be non-tendered by the Cubs, who may try to sign him to a minor league contract. Cotts, not a favorite of Cubs manager Lou Piniella, had a 2.84 ERA in 12 games with Triple-A Iowa but had a 7.36 ERA in 19 games with the Cubs.

 

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has been a fan of Cotts for his work in 2005, and pitching coach Don Cooper may be able to help Cotts regain his form during his World Series season

 

[knightni]

Neal Cotts coming back maybe? Interesting...

[Princess Dye]

Maybe JJ Putz and Matt Thornton hang out in this bar where everyone there is an awesome reliever.

[Kalapse]

Neal Cotts coming back maybe? Interesting...

He had Tommy John surgery 5 months ago and isn't expected to be ready to go for another 7 months, doesn't sound very interesting to me.

[bmags]

I'm anxious to see what Carrasco nets and if he signs early or people wait out.

[Jordan4life_2007]

He had Tommy John surgery 5 months ago and isn't expected to be ready to go for another 7 months, doesn't sound very interesting to me.

 

Not to mention he sucks at this thing we call pitching.

[ozzfest]

I likey. Now trade Linebrink for Gardner.

 

Putz video highlights

http://mlb.mlb.com/search/media.jsp?text=p...amp;x=0&y=0

+1

[southsider2k5]

I'm anxious to see what Carrasco nets and if he signs early or people wait out.

 

I think it is a big mistake to try to wait out offers, as we saw last year. There is only so much money to go around, and after that, it becomes bargain basement shopping time.

[ozzfest]

I think it is a big mistake to try to wait out offers, as we saw last year. There is only so much money to go around, and after that, it becomes bargain basement shopping time.

good point 2k5, totally agree

[Melissa1334]

Kenny indicated he's 100%. He's already been throwing off the mound for teams. Barring any set-backs, he'll be ready to rock and roll right when training camp starts.

 

How effective he is and whether the injuries hinder him or come back could possibly happen though.

 

i thought he had thrown for teams too but then i read this yesterday

[witesoxfan]

The finished games have everything to do with being the closer. He also has $250k based on appearances.

 

Perhaps, but it's no indication that the White Sox are going to look to move Jenks because they signed with Putz. If it is about being the closer, it would be him being a candidate to take over for saves during the middle of the season due to injury/ineffectiveness of Jenks.

[WCSox]

Perhaps, but it's no indication that the White Sox are going to look to move Jenks because they signed with Putz. If it is about being the closer, it would be him being a candidate to take over for saves during the middle of the season due to injury/ineffectiveness of Jenks.

 

Kenny would be insane to move Jenks right now and rely on a guy that's been injured and ineffective for the past two seasons. That said, if Putz bounces back, I could definitely see Jenks dangled at the deadline.

 

[BaseballNick]

Kenny would be insane to move Jenks right now and rely on a guy that's been injured and ineffective for the past two seasons. That said, if Putz bounces back, I could definitely see Jenks dangled at the deadline.

 

It's very likely that the reason he's been ineffective is health related. If he's healthy, which the White Sox and their medical staff are saying is the case, then moving Jenks to free up cash to spend elsewhere actually makes a lot of sense.

[witesoxfan]

It's very likely that the reason he's been ineffective is health related. If he's healthy, which the White Sox and their medical staff are saying is the case, then moving Jenks to free up cash to spend elsewhere actually makes a lot of sense.

 

No it doesn't. You are making the bullpen weaker and potentially weaker than it was before, and Putz would end up making around $6.5 mill if he were healthy all season as a closer as opposed to right around $3-4 mill by being a setup man all year long. Sure, you save $1.5 mill plus the $8 that Jenks was owed, but unless Jenks is traded for peanuts (which would be the case right now with Valverde, Rodney, Gonzalez, and Gregg on the market as guys who were closers at some point last year) and Mike Gonzalez was signed for a similar price to come in so that one of he or Thornton could close to try and help replace some of the lost help, and the relief pitching from the right side still hurts...it just doesn't make sense.

 

Trading Jenks right now is something that would occur in a video game. It just doesn't make enough sense for the Sox to even consider dealing Jenks right now.

 

If Putz shows he's healthy and performing, Jenks shows he's healthy enough to be dealt, and someone stands out from the crowd and puts themselves in the middle relief or setup discussion (and that's excluding Pena, who is already going to be counted on heavily to perform out of the bullpen), then it's a possibility. It's really not possible before the season starting.

 

[BaseballNick]

No it doesn't. You are making the bullpen weaker and potentially weaker than it was before, and Putz would end up making around $6.5 mill if he were healthy all season as a closer as opposed to right around $3-4 mill by being a setup man all year long. Sure, you save $1.5 mill plus the $8 that Jenks was owed, but unless Jenks is traded for peanuts (which would be the case right now with Valverde, Rodney, Gonzalez, and Gregg on the market as guys who were closers at some point last year) and Mike Gonzalez was signed for a similar price to come in so that one of he or Thornton could close to try and help replace some of the lost help, and the relief pitching from the right side still hurts...it just doesn't make sense.

 

Trading Jenks right now is something that would occur in a video game. It just doesn't make enough sense for the Sox to even consider dealing Jenks right now.

 

If Putz shows he's healthy and performing, Jenks shows he's healthy enough to be dealt, and someone stands out from the crowd and puts themselves in the middle relief or setup discussion (and that's excluding Pena, who is already going to be counted on heavily to perform out of the bullpen), then it's a possibility. It's really not possible before the season starting.

 

 

If the Sox had money, I'd be in favor of keeping Jenks. Since payroll is said to be maxed out and with holes at a corner OF spot and at DH, the money is going to have to come from somewhere. If they can afford to keep Bobby and sign a leadoff hitter as well as a DH, I'd be in favor of that. Who wouldn't want the stongest bullpen possible? I just don't think it's likely given the state of the team right now. I also don't think it's a coincidence that Putz has a games finished incentive in his contract.

[WCSox]

If Putz shows he's healthy and performing, Jenks shows he's healthy enough to be dealt, and someone stands out from the crowd and puts themselves in the middle relief or setup discussion (and that's excluding Pena, who is already going to be counted on heavily to perform out of the bullpen), then it's a possibility. It's really not possible before the season starting.

 

This ^^^

 

If the Sox had money, I'd be in favor of keeping Jenks. Since payroll is said to be maxed out and with holes at a corner OF spot and at DH, the money is going to have to come from somewhere. If they can afford to keep Bobby and sign a leadoff hitter as well as a DH, I'd be in favor of that. Who wouldn't want the stongest bullpen possible? I just don't think it's likely given the state of the team right now.

 

The bullpen was bad this year and was as big a hole as the middle of the lineup. It would be a bad idea to pay out the nose for a stud rotation and to not back them up with a halfway decent bullpen. What's the point of paying Peavy and Buehrle a combined $30+ million, only to have Linebrink and Pena blow leads twice a week?

 

I'd expect Kenny to sign a DH (maybe Thome or Matsui) and that's about it. If they bring in a leadoff hitter, it's going to be a cheap, low-impact guy like Coco Crisp.

 

I also don't think it's a coincidence that Putz has a games finished incentive in his contract.

 

I agree. If both he and Jenks are healthy and productive at the break, Bobby is most likely dealt with Putz moving into the closer role. But Bobby's not going anywhere until Putz demonstrates that he can still get hitters out.

Edited December 14, 2009 by WCSox

[Quin]

Cowley may be to blame for Carrasco's departure.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog/_/...432/name/levine

 

The Putz leak drove the price up by $500,000, and DJ and the team were reportedly only a couple hundred thousand apart.

[ScottyDo]

Cowley may be to blame for Carrasco's departure.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog/_/...432/name/levine

 

The Putz leak drove the price up by $500,000, and DJ and the team were reportedly only a couple hundred thousand apart.

lol sure, he's a jerk, but that's a pretty huge scapegoat project

[southsider2k5]

Cowley may be to blame for Carrasco's departure.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog/_/...432/name/levine

 

The Putz leak drove the price up by $500,000, and DJ and the team were reportedly only a couple hundred thousand apart.

 

And now he gets to write about how cheap the Sox are... Its win-win for him.