Tampa Bay Rays sign Evan Scribner to minor league deal
The Tampa Bay Rays are continuing to attempt to find quality bullpen arms on the scrap heap, as they have signed Evan Scribner to a minor league contract.
Over the past few years, the Tampa Bay Rays have done an amazing job of finding relievers on the scrap heap. Although these players have been bargain basement free agents, and unexciting at the time, they performed far better than anyone could have imagined. From players like Kyle Farnsworth, Fernando Rodney, and Erasmo Ramirez, the Rays have managed to get impressive production.
The Rays are once again hoping to strike gold in another bargain signing. Tampa Bay has signed former Athletics and Mariners reliever Evan Scribner on a minor league contract, with an invitation to Spring Training. Should he make the major league roster, Scribner will earn $800,000.
The #Rays take another flyer: Sign pitcher Evan Scribner to Minor league deal worth $800k if he makes big leagues with spring invite
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 6, 2018
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Throughout his career, Scribner has been a roughly average reliever. He has posted a 4.15 ERA and a 1.124 WHiP while toiling in relative obscurity as a middle reliever. Scribner has also been bitten by the injury bug, appearing in just 169 innings over parts of seven seasons. In his last two years with Seattle, he has dealt with lat and flexor strains that kept him out of action for an extended time.
However, when he is on the mound, few pitchers have the command that he does. Since 2014, a span of 93 innings, he has issued only six walks. In his career, Scribner has walked only 23 batters while notching 155 strikeouts. That incredible command offsets his relatively pedestrian fastball, as he can put his pitches exactly where he wants them.
On the surface, this is not an exciting signing. However, given Scribner’s impressive ability to limit walks and generate over eight strikeouts per nine innings, he could prove to be a bargain for the Rays. Of course, that is entirely contingent on Scribner being healthy, which has not always been the case.
Next: Rays rebuild being held up
The Tampa Bay Rays have signed Evan Scribner to a minor league contract. As has been the case in the past, this underrated reliever could become a key part of the Rays bullpen.