Matt Capps signs minor-league deal with Indians

The Indians have signed former Pirates closer Matt Capps to a minor-league deal. Capps now has the "proven closer" tag, but he missed much of 2012 with shoulder problems and only pitched one inning after late July. He also isn't by any means a dominant closer even when healthy. So it's no surprise he had to settle for a minor-league deal.

When Capps was starting his career with the Pirates, I worried about his workload -- he pitched in 161 games between 2006 and 2007, which is a ton, particularly considering that he was only 22 when he pitched in 85 games in 2006. In 2008 he missed time due to arm trouble, and in 2009 he was terrible. I wonder if there might have been some cumulative effect.

Anyway, if he's healthy, Capps will probably have a clear shot at a job in the Indians' bullpen, which has several open spots.