Indians ink Joba Chamberlain to minor league deal

According to various media reports, the Cleveland Indians signed relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Chamberlain will be making his third stop in the AL Central after pitching for both the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals last season.

In 27 2/3 innings at the big league level in 2015, Chamberlain posted a 4.88 ERA and 23/9 K/BB ratio and was designated for assignment in mid-October by the Royals.

It’s been quite the fall from grace for the once promising pitcher who rose to stardom with the New York Yankees in 2007-2008. Chamberlain became a Yankee fan favorite with his electric fastball, devastating slider and emotional outbursts on the mound.

Joba became a folk hero in the hearts of Yankee Universe.

Since then it’s been an up and down career for the right hander. The Yankees took what made him so great-his fear nothing attitude out of the bullpen-and tried to make Chamberlain a starting pitcher with mediocre at best results.

He made 31 starts in ’09 and threw 157 innings with a respectable 4.57 ERA but the Yankees treated him like a yo-yo and general manager Brian Cashman has to shoulder some of the blame by constantly questioning what the best role was for Joba-starter or reliever.

The Yankees adhered to what became known as the “Joba Rules,” where they carefully monitored and limited his appearances.

This decision of course was influenced by the presence of future hall of fame closer Mariano Rivera but Joba as any Yankee fan would attest was a straight-up mental case by the 2013 season.

Chamberlain was arrested in 2008 for a DUI conviction where before the world of TMZ, video leaked of his arrest.

He also was involved in an off-field trampoline accident resulting in a broken leg costing Jobs almost a full season in 2012.

The Yankees decided to cut ties with Chamberlain even at the young age of 28 because he had become more of a distraction than anything else and his on-field performance made him expendable.

Chamberlain quickly caught on with the Detroit Tigers and found some success away from the bright lights of New York City, pitching in 69 games to the tune of a 3.57 ERA in a major set up role for closer Joe Nathan.

Chamberlain regained some of the nastiness that made him so venerable and likeable in pinstripes.

He’s always had the penchant to give up the big homerun in recent seasons and after struggling early on in 2015 with the Tigers they released him in July.

But like any pitcher with his talent, age and experience- Chamberlain is receiving his fourth shot in the big leagues despite mixed results.

If Chamberlain somehow manages to make the big league roster- let’s hope the infamous “midges” don’t attack him like they did in the playoffs of 2007.

AP Photo- Amy Sancetta