The Atlanta Braves aren’t stopping the current revamp of their bullpen as they added left handed reliever Josh Outman today to a one-year, Major League deal. For the 2015 campaign, Outman will be paid $925,000 in guaranteed money, according to Chris Cotillo of SB Nation’s MLB Daily Dish.
Outman, 30, spent last season unable to find his rhythm as he tossed for both the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. His stats, at first glimpse, may speak to the contrary as he ended his 2014 campaign with a 4-0 record and a 2.86 ERA, also tallying 26 strike outs and 16 walks.
As we delve deeper however, we see that Outman appeared in 40 games but only pitched 28.1 innings; Such is the life of a LOOGY (left-handed one out guy.) He gave up 24 hits and 10 runs in those meager 28 innings pitched but most startling is his 5.1 BB9 (average walks given up over nine innings.) This is the highest of his career, and although it’s not the worst BB9 in the MLB, for a guy who only comes into the game to face one or two batters in specialty situations, this is bad news.
On the bright side, he gave up a sensational .186/.254/.283 slash line to lefties in 2014. It’s hard knowing what the Braves will get out of Outman in 2015, but if he gets his walk counts down and keeps his ERA low, he’ll be a force in this remade Atlanta pen.
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