Astros agree to deal with Joe Smith

Thought I’d share this...

 

Astros now go six deep among RHRP’s (Giles, Devo, Harris, Smith, Peacock & Musgrove)

 

Definitely a nice addition:



She mentions that Smith has a 50% chance of Huntington Disease.

 

I like the signing

 

This improves the bullpen. Which is what Luhnow said he’d address at the winter meetings.

 

Good signing. He's been nothing but durable and productive in his career.

Last year was probably his best season as well. His FIP was 2.10, which suggests that he was even better than a 3.33 ERA would suggest, and you'll always take a guy with a 71/10 K/BB. Impressively, he didn't walk a single batter in his 21 regular season games with Cleveland last year.

 

have always been a fan of Smith's work out of the pen. Solid signing--and glad we have 2 years

 

Not earth shattering but a solid guy to plug in the pen. The Astros tried to get him a couple times the last few years.

 

Great point. It's going to be fun going against those Yanks the next several season. Those 3 strikeout fairly often.

 

I am on board with this 100%

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/righty-killer-joe-smith-signs-standard-reliever-deal-with-astros/

Excerpts:
When we last saw him, Joe Smith was recording the final out Cleveland would induce in 2017. He entered Game 5 of the American League Division Series in the eighth inning. He struck out Aaron Judge. Then he struck out Gary Sanchez. He intentionally walked Didi Gregorius — the only batter of eight he allowed to reach base in the postseason — then got Starlin Castro to ground out. It was an excellent end to an excellent season.
...
Last season, Joe Smith was lethal against right-handed batters. He struck out 47 of the 137 right-handers he faced while walking just two all season. Among pitchers with at least 20 innings, Smith’s 1.56 FIP versus right-handers trailed only Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, and Max Scherzer‘s. Against all batters, he finished the season with an excellent 2.33 FIP, which led to a 1.8 WAR and a solid 3.33 ERA. Those numbers rendered him one of the top-20 relievers in baseball. One would think his status as one of the top-20 relievers in baseball would merit more than a two-year deal, perhaps for more money.

 

Astros continuing to have a great WAG section as well

 

$7.5 million per year.

 

When he was with the Angels a few years ago he was freaking nails, I kinda lost track of him since then.

I like it.

What pitch can he teach (ala Jankowski, Peacock, McHugh, etc...) to which of our pitchers? Or vice-versa?

 

4:36pm: Smith will earn $7MM in 2018 and $8MM in 2019, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman tweets.

 

He’s going to teach submarine style to Anthony Gose, without losing velocity. 100 MPH submarine lefty!

 

Always getting the sloppy seconds of the Minnesota .... Timberwolves