I say SIGN HIM! Our relief core sucks, and so does Billy, but maybe we can rebuild him... we have the technology....
agree...sure it would take too much to sign him. He may have started off the spring slow...but who knows what he might be capable of.
I agree, bring him in as a middle reliever. Not much to lose if it is a minor league contract, but whoever signs him will probably have to give him something guaranteed.
He was the closer for the White Sox and had a pretty good year a few seasons ago. He was hyped as their "big time" closer for years to come but, the next season, he just fell off and hasn't regained that quality of pitching again.
The only comparison between Koch and Wagner is that they both throw hard. Even through he throws hard, Koch has never been a strikeout pitcher, and has never even had a season of striking out a batter an inning. He also walks a lot of batters. He's had one really good season, one good season, and the rest have been below average. Having said that, Koch wouldn't be a bad pickup for the Astros if they can get him cheaply. He had decent numbers last season after being picked up by Florida.
Hell, he's a relief pitcher that throws hard, has gotten major league batters out consistantly (at least for a season or two), and he's over 25 and under 60! Besides Lidge, he might be our best reliever!! j/k I just thought he might thrive in that 7th or 8th inning role.
I think he might be able to help. It's really not much of a gamble paying a middle reliever that can't find work. He can't ask for that much. Plus, switching leagues might be good for him and he would feel comfortable with our core of veterans and laid back clubhouse.
Most of what I have heard about him is that he has lost his fastball. It was reportedly down around 90mph last season.
If that's true he might have a shoulder problem we don't know about, but his team feared. Similiar to our situation with Wade Miller. Any Pitcher in the minors can hit the low 90's. I wonder if there's anyway he'd try out with us before signing anything. Probably not, since other teams have shown interest in him. Unless he really wants to play here. Maybe a good physical could shed some light on this.
