Knuckle Curve » octavio_dotel

Braves Re-sign Soriano

Geoff Young — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:55:06 +0000

The Atlanta Braves have signed right-handed reliever Rafael Soriano to a 2-year, $9 million deal. Here’s a quick demonstration of why it’s good to lock up the guys you already have rather than pay top dollar on the open market:

Rafael Soriano vs Octavio Dotel
	2006-2007 Stats				2008 Age, Contract
	IP	ERA	WHIP	K/BB	Age	Yrs	$
Soriano	132	2.66	0.962	3.75	28	2	$9M
Dotel	40.1	5.75	1.721	2.09	34	2	$11M

I know we just picked on the Dotel signing, but seriously, what am I missing?

Post from: Knuckle Curve

White Sox Sign Dotel

Geoff Young — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:08:39 +0000

The Chicago White Sox have signed right-hander Octavio Dotel to a 2-year, $11 million deal. On the heels of their November signing of Scott Linebrink, the White Sox appear to have adopted the same strategy that worked so well for the Orioles last winter.

Like Linebrink, Dotel was a dominant reliever several years ago. Now he’s mostly just hurt. Here’s what Dotel has done recently:

Octavio Dotel, 2005 – 2007
IP	ERA	H/9	BB/9	SO/9	HR/9
Statistics are courtesy of David Pinto’s Day by Day Database.
56	5.14	9.16	5.46	10.29	1.29

You’ll notice in the caption that this is Dotel’s record for the past 3 years. Last season he worked 30 2/3 innings, which was the most he’d pitched since 2004. Dotel is 34 years old. Yep, better lock him up to a 2-year deal.

Meanwhile, the White Sox designated an intriguing arm for assignment in the process, right-hander David Aardsma. The latter hasn’t enjoyed much success at the big-league level but has good stuff, is young, and probably won’t cost a whole lot. Someone should give Aardsma a shot. For grins, here’s what he’s done over the past 3 years:

David Aardsma, 2005 – 2007
IP	ERA	H/9	BB/9	SO/9	HR/9
Statistics are courtesy of David Pinto’s Day by Day Database.
85.1	4.96	8.44	4.75	8.96	1.37

Huh, that looks kind of familiar…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Shocking News! Jaret Wright to DL

Geoff Young — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 19:06:21 +0000

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Jaret Wright has been placed on the disabled list due to “right shoulder stiffness.” First Octavio Dotel, then Eric Gagne, now Wright? I guess you just never know who injuries will strike. Where’s Keith Foulke again?

Post from: Knuckle Curve