What would you guys think about giving Clayton Richard a shot next spring? He underwent surgery in April & is now a free agent. Maybe a minor league contract with a shot in spring training?

No! Enough of gambles and cheapness

No! Enough of gambles and cheapness

So many people wanted to rebuild with kids for so long, now that we've got it we better get used to it.

What would you guys think about giving Clayton Richard a shot next spring? He underwent surgery in April & is now a free agent. Maybe a minor league contract with a shot in spring training?

 

I always liked him and he had a couple of solid stretches in the bigs with the Padres. His peak outside of Petco seems to be a #5 starter that eats some innings and has some implosions. In 2010 and 2012, he pitched over 200 innings and made 33 starts each season. In those years, his home-road splits are exactly what you'd expect from a pitcher who's home ballpark is the best home park in the league. I'd be concerned about him pitching half of his games in The Cell.

I don't see what the upside is here. Dude is a 5th starter. If we are going to pick the trash, I'd rather it have some upside.

I always liked him and he had a couple of solid stretches in the bigs with the Padres. His peak outside of Petco seems to be a #5 starter that eats some innings and has some implosions. In 2010 and 2012, he pitched over 200 innings and made 33 starts each season. In those years, his home-road splits are exactly what you'd expect from a pitcher who's home ballpark is the best home park in the league. I'd be concerned about him pitching half of his games in The Cell.

First of all, he's left handed, and so signing him would accomplish the important goal of making sure no other team in the league has a left hander.

 

Secondly, he's not better than the current guys in our rotation, including the 2 righties at the back. So if he's looking to be a starter post-injury then someone else can work him on that.

 

OTOH, he's a guy who throws low to mid 90's from the left hand side. Out of the bullpen, that'd be a guy I'd test out.

45 days ago I'd read this thread title, laugh, and not even open it, but now, with our SP how it is, we need any help at all (for next year too, when he's healthy)

Edited June 22, 201411 yr by Jose Abreu

I can see him as a reliever but in the Sox rotation, no. Tired of reclamation projects.

As a LHSU guy I think there's a lot of upside there. That's exactly the kind of player you want, someone who could turn into something that you can acquire for a low base plus incentives. You don't have to pay him if he sucks. Great.

 

I bet someone would look at him as a starter though. As a RP we should definitely be interested if others pass.

No! Enough of gambles and cheapness

LOL we're paying Scott Downs to spray gas all over the mound something like $4M or so IIRC? And Robin's been using him so much his option is about to vest, meaning we can't even trade the guy for a scrap or two because no team would want to be on the hook for that.

 

Never turn your nose up at potential quality LHP. Even Veal's still here, not on the roster but he's still in our org. We need lots of help.

As a LHSU guy I think there's a lot of upside there. That's exactly the kind of player you want, someone who could turn into something that you can acquire for a low base plus incentives. You don't have to pay him if he sucks. Great.

 

I bet someone would look at him as a starter though. As a RP we should definitely be interested if others pass.

 

I'm glad someone said it. I agree. He's a bullpen arm who was stretched (multiple meanings!) to be a starting pitcher.

Outside of Petco Park, Richard's career ERA is 5.22. His upside is a borderline #5 starter. No thanks.

Outside of Petco Park, Richard's career ERA is 5.22. His upside is a borderline #5 starter. No thanks.

 

His upside is a good relief arm. If you use him as a starter, you're doing it wrong.

His upside is a good relief arm. If you use him as a starter, you're doing it wrong.

I agree. That's what I thought he would be with us when he came up, turns out the Pads wanted him to start.

 

I still remember Hawk toward the very end of the 2008 season on air saying he would pitch Richard against the Rays over the vet Javy Vazquez. I don't blame Ozzie for going to the better pitcher, the vet, etc. but that was one of Javy's schizo years or mental vacation years, whatever you want to call it, and lo and behold he Javy'd it up big time.

 

Anyway as a LH reliever, in theory he's the perfect type of player. You can use him vs. one LH batter, you can pitch him a full inning, you can even go 2-3 with him if you haven't overused him recently. I'd love to have him back, but again, I think he would prefer to start while other teams might look at him as a 5-6 inning per game option at the back of the rotation. It's interesting though, when you look at guys like Matt Thornton and Jeremy Affeldt, you can make pretty good money in a lefty setup role whereas often the 5th starter types just get cut when the team has to pay him. Maybe his agent will try to route him into that kind of career path? If so, and he's healthy, sign me up.

 

Also I think Downs blows. I feel like I've said this before.

TUC and Wite just had a bro hug moment

TUC and Wite just had a bro hug moment

I tried for the smooch but he turned away.

 

I held him tighter, I said "But baby..."

 

"I can't," he said. "I just can't. It's not time yet."

 

And so I left, pausing in the doorway, not daring to turn back to look. But I thought of him all the way home.

Honestly wite & I agree a lot, we shall agree more on things. Now that I am over Dunn and how deeply he hurt me.

 

I still want that f***er gone though. ASAP.

IIRC, wasn't Richard pretty bad out of the pen when he was with us?

Honestly wite & I agree a lot, we shall agree more on things. Now that I am over Dunn and how deeply he hurt me.

 

I still want that f***er gone though. ASAP.

 

I would re-sign Dunn for 52 years and $2.67 billion.

IIRC, wasn't Richard pretty bad out of the pen when he was with us?

 

In 2008, he was much more effective as a reliever, but not very many innings in that role.

 

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/...clayton-richard