In no other time in history has baseball attached such value to a deep bullpen. The Royals have been the poster boys, but it's not just a shut-down closer with a high-strikeout setup man. We are beyond that.
It's also not as easy as it seems. Dave Cameron wrote a good piece for us on the Dodgers' cheap and effective bullpen. It takes diligence, creativity and sometimes a little luck.
As we know, relievers are fickle; year-to-year performance can be difficult to sustain and predict. Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to find the right piece.
Veterans on minor-league deals are often given out-clauses in their contracts. These "outs" are like gold when you're in this position, as I have been many times. They relieve the stress of knowing you might get stuck in an organization that doesn't need you in the majors. The dates on outs are usually the 1st of the month, with May, June and July the most common months.
One May 1st out clause that caught my eye was right-hander David Aardsma's. Aardsma was a closer in Seattle in 2009 and '10, earning 69 saves. A 2011 Tommy John surgery provided a bump in the road, but in 2015 he fits the bill as the ideal experienced and inexpensive pickup.
Aardsma went to camp with the Dodgers and pitched well. In 10 games he threw 10 innings, struck out 10 and posted a 1.80 ERA. In AAA Oklahoma City he continued much the same, saving 6 games over 8 appearances while walking none in seven innings and allowing just 1 run.
Aardsma can elect to become a free agent on May 1st. Teams like the Tigers, Blue Jays, Padres, and Red Sox would be smart to check in. This is the ideal low-risk move competitive teams with bullpen issues must consider.
