A’s Sign Foulke
February 9, 2008 by Geoff Young
Filed under Personalities, Transactions
Looks like Keith Foulke is coming out of retirement. The Oakland A’s have signed the veteran right-hander to a 1-year deal worth $700,000 plus incentives that could kick the total value up to $3.2 million.
Reports have Foulke’s fastball in the mid-’80s, but he’s never been a flamethrower, so that shouldn’t be an issue. More importantly, he’s drawing praise for his command and deception, two elements crucial to his success.
Foulke last pitched in the big leagues in 2006 for the Boston Red Sox, but the last time he was more than marginally effective came in 2004. From 1999 to 2004, Foulke posted an ERA+ of 195, second only to the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera (207) among relievers who worked 400 or more innings over that period.
At 35 years old, and having missed an entire season, Foulke is something of an unknown quantity. Still, he’s enjoyed success in the past and the A’s didn’t invest a lot in him. This seems like a smart, under-the-radar signing that could pay surprising dividends. If not, no harm done.
