The Jays have a one-year agreement with left-handed reliever J.P. Howell

[george09]

[Terminator]

Big league deal? Appears so.

 

He's not bad. xFIP hovering around 3.50 the past 4 seasons.

[Sammy225]

Depending on Dollar amount would not be a bad signing. Not really a fly ball pitcher which is what we need.

[Brownie19]

stat scouting him here...

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8245&position=P

 

His fastball average was down to 85 MPH last year and it appears he's dropped his usage of that, while increasing the usage of his curveball. However, Pitch Values suggests his fastball is above average, while his curve and change are below average? I can't imagine anyone's 85 MPH fastball being above average.

 

Certainly appears the results are there - even if he does it with smoke and mirrors.

[Terminator]

Not really a fly ball pitcher which is what we need.

 

Are you trying to say that he's a groundball pitcher which is good for the Jays? If so, I agree.

[Sammy225]

Are you trying to say that he's a groundball pitcher which is good for the Jays? If so, I agree.

 

In a round about way yes lol

[jaysfan2014]

Good,a LHP! When healthy, JP Howell is a good pitcher.. he had some good years with the Dodgers and Rays. Hopefully we'll see at least one more deal before pitchers/catchers report.

[BTS]

I'm assuming this will be a major league deal, and I like it. Howell is a solid pen piece.

[Spanky99]

Yay... JP Howell is a very nice addition.

[FrozenRopes]

Jamie Moyer smoke and mirrors

[RealAccountant]

Projected to be replacement level.

[Gary]

Barf.

[Gary]

It's a minor league deal. I like it better now.

[BTS]

It's a minor league deal. I like it better now.

 

Nice. Waiting out he market really paid off. He's not tangibly worse than Mike Dunn, who got 3/19.

[Orgfiller]

I was expecting to be pleased if this was a cheap Major league deal. The fact that it's a minor league signing is even better. Nice job by the front office.

[itaos]

It's a minor league deal. I like it better now.

 

Who is reporting a minor league deal?

[Gary]

Sorry guys. The guy on twitter who posted it's a minor league deal corrected his tweet. Looks like it's a major league deal

[burlingtonbandit]

Unless I'm missing something its a Major League deal.. You don't report it being a 1 year deal for it to be a minor league signing.

[Krylian]

Don't like soft tossers.

[Terminator]

[BlueJayWay]

Rosenthal saying expected to be about $3M.

 

His babip last year against lefties was .375 so could have been a lot of bad luck. The three seasons prior to that he had handled lhbs extremely well. His strikeout rate and gb% were still really good in 2016.

 

Could be a sneaky-good signing.

[Terminator]

When you compare that to 19 mil for Mike Dunn it's a great deal.

[Ray]

Don't like soft tossers.

 

Yeah, that Marco Estrada guy isn't gonna get anywhere with a 88 mph fastball. Ditto with that Kyle Hendricks guy.

[burlingtonbandit]

So this is the current bullpen

 

Osuna

Grilli

Biagini

Loup

Howell

Sparkman

Bolsinger/Floyd

[Orgfiller]

 

Love it.

[King]

So this is the current bullpen

 

Osuna

Grilli

Biagini

Loup

Howell

Sparkman

Bolsinger/Floyd

Barnes?

[Steveorama]

I would rather get a higher-end lefty.

Osuna, Grilli and Biagini are fine for late-inning RHers.

All we have for high-leverage situations for lefties are Loup and Howell. Ugh.

[Terminator]

Rosenthal reporting that we will be taking a look at right handed relief pitchers for around the same price. Stills lots of names out there:

 

Aaron Barrett (29)

Matt Belisle (37)

Joe Blanton (36)

David Hernandez (32)

Luke Hochevar (33)

Tommy Hunter (30)

Edwin Jackson (33)

Kevin Jepsen (32)

Seth Maness (28)

Peter Moylan (38)

Jonathan Papelbon (36)

Yusmeiro Petit (32)

Sergio Romo (34)

Fernando Salas (32)

Joe Smith (33)

Carlos Villanueva (33)

Chien-Ming Wang (37)

Tom Wilhelmsen (33)

Jerome Williams (35)

 

Anyone interesting in the $3 Million range?

[Krylian]

Yeah, that Marco Estrada guy isn't gonna get anywhere with a 88 mph fastball. Ditto with that Kyle Hendricks guy.

 

Exceptions don't make the rule.

[King]

 

Uh..