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December 12, 2006
Gagne Signed
Texas signed reliever ERIC GAGNE to a one-year contract for $6 million with (allegedly) $5 million in incentives.
The ultimate high-risk high-reward signing. Gagne has pitched in only sixteen games over the past two years, missing time with nerve-replacement surgery on his elbow and disc surgery on his back. So why drop no fewer than $6 million on a two-year hospital resident, particularly when the bullpen is already a team strength? Here’s why:
Hitters Against Gagne by Plate Appearance, 2002-2006:
| Strikeout | 38.7% |
| Out in play | 36.8% |
| Single | 10.8% |
| Walk | 6.2% |
| Double | 2.9% |
| Homer | 1.5% |
| Hit by pitch | 1.1% |
| Sac bunt | 1.1% |
| Sac fly | 0.4% |
| Reached on error | 0.3% |
| Triple | 0.2% |
Opponents have batted .169/.229/.254 against him during the past five years. He had a WARP of over ten in 2003, an absolutely outrageous number for a relief pitcher. If he returns most of the way to his prior form, he could be worth five to seven wins. Gagne’s presence also makes a trade of Aki Otsuka (packaged for starting pitching, presumably) more likely.
Posted by Lucas at December 12, 2006 06:14 PM