Twins slip Anthony Slama through waivers

Too bad. I would've probably claimed him, if given the opportunity. Particularly if I was planning to non-tender one or more of the team's veteran relief arms from 2011...

Slama's primarily a fastball/slider reliever (also throws a change and cutter), 27 years old, and over the last three seasons at AAA he's put up a 2.59 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. He experienced some elbow pain last year, but surgery ultimately wasn't needed, and he's got one option remaining.

What do you guys think?

7 months ago Vlad 10 comments 0 recs |

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I would insist on a package deal with Phi and Jama

by maguro on Oct 24, 2011 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

hahahaha

by SLucas22 on Oct 24, 2011 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

ha

this thread says 0 comments, although i see one from maguro and i guess the others have been removed…

by BurgherKing on Oct 24, 2011 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

how tall is he and how hard does he throw?

by Mr. E on Oct 25, 2011 4:59 AM EDT reply actions

From what I’ve read, he’s usually in the 90-92 range with the FB these days. This MLB.com clip from 2010 has two FBs on it, and the graphic has them at 91 and 92, so that’d make sense. Fangraphs has his average ML FB at 90.8 over his (brief) ML career so far, which tends to support that as well.

As far as build goes, he’s listed at 6’3", 200. Pretty typical build for a pitcher.

by Vlad on Oct 25, 2011 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

then we probably have enough right handed relief options already. Though I guess if you can just stick him in Indy it can’t hurt. We should have the space on the 40man.

by Mr. E on Oct 25, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Downward plane!

by GPT on Oct 25, 2011 8:18 AM EDT reply actions

Considering the numbers, I’m surprised nobody’s claimed him. That may be an indication of a couple different things, either questions whether his stuff will play at the next level or about his health.

Typically by now, the Pirates would have claimed a reliever off waivers. (Can’t remember who else has hit the wire, but there’s a bunch of relievers most years.) Could be an indication they’re going to stick with most or all of their arb. guys.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Oct 25, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

questions whether his stuff will play at the next level or about his health

Of the two, I think I’d lean toward the latter. His stuff isn’t super-sexy, but it’s not like he’s a mushballer throwing in the mid-‘80s, and he’s been very hard to hit in even the upper minors. I mean, six hits per nine innings in AAA – that’s pretty fierce. If he were going to be hittable, I would’ve expected him to show signs of it before now.

He also has a fairly substantial L/R split, which might be a concern to some teams. I don’t think it’s unmanageably large, though, and the cutter he added this spring should in theory help with that as he gains more experience with it.

by Vlad on Oct 25, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess they might also be concerned about the walk rate. It’s a little higher than I’d like, but it’s trending down ever-so-slowly, and I think it’d be high-but-manageable in the majors.

by Vlad on Oct 25, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Looking at his numbers the last three years in AAA, they’re pretty similar to what Veras did in the PCL in 2010. Like you said, the velocity isn’t the same, but you think he’d be worth a flier.

by biggyv on Oct 25, 2011 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions