Author Topic: Matt Thornton waiver claim excitement (Read 4125 times)

houston-nat · « **Reply #25 on:** August 05, 2014, 04:20:31 pm »

FangRaphs reports!

That’s right; the Yankees just let a quality left-handed reliever go for nothing but cash savings because they are working on directing that money somewhere else. It’s interesting to see the Yankees dumping salary here, when they spent the last few weeks taking on money to add the likes of Chase Headley, Brandon McCarthy, Martin Prado, and Stephen Drew. Perhaps more interesting will be what deal that are working on that would consume the money they just saved on Thornton, as it has been publicly reported that the Phillies just placed a bunch of their expensive players on waivers yesterday.

For the Nationals, they get a decent lefty specialist who isn’t atrocious against right-handers for $1 million over the rest of this season and $3.5 million next year, and don’t have to give up any talent in exchange. For a team in their position, this is a nice little addition, and gives their bullpen another solid arm for October.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/the-nationals-buy-matt-thornton-from-yankees/

WhiteWhale · « **Reply #26 on:** August 05, 2014, 04:21:40 pm »

Everything is saying straight waiver claim.
Which means he will be in the pen next year as well unless we move him somehow.

I know I was the guy saying 3 lefties is fine, and I still think that, but I wonder if this means that we will try to move Blevins, Det, or flip Thornton in the offseason - you would have to think

houston-nat · « **Reply #27 on:** August 05, 2014, 04:22:50 pm »

Quote from: WhiteWhale on August 05, 2014, 04:21:40 pm

I know I was the guy saying 3 lefties is fine, and I still think that, but I wonder if this means that we will try to move Blevins, Det, or flip Thornton in the offseason - you would have to think

We might see a team like the Padres or Astros claim Detwiler and send us some random AA guy. Who hopefully becomes the next Tanner Roark.

nfotiu · « **Reply #28 on:** August 05, 2014, 04:30:42 pm »

Yeah, I think they must be close to giving up on Detwiler. He doesn't seem useful as anything other than pure mop up. Probably deserves a chance with a lower tier team to see if he can get it back as a starter. Seems that Thornton could be a full inning guy for lefty heavy due ups, and Blevins would (hopefully) be just a straight loogy who only gets LHBs.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #29 on:** August 05, 2014, 04:40:57 pm »

Adam Kilgore ‏@AdamKilgoreWP 11m
Matt Thornton is driving from New York and could be activated tonight, Matt Williams said.

I like this guy's style.

whytev · « **Reply #30 on:** August 05, 2014, 06:13:33 pm »

Quote from: nfotiu on August 05, 2014, 04:30:42 pm

Yeah, I think they must be close to giving up on Detwiler. He doesn't seem useful as anything other than pure mop up. Probably deserves a chance with a lower tier team to see if he can get it back as a starter. Seems that Thornton could be a full inning guy for lefty heavy due ups, and Blevins would (hopefully) be just a straight loogy who only gets LHBs.

Based on the past while I'd rather shake loose Blevins.

Slateman · « **Reply #31 on:** August 05, 2014, 07:57:31 pm »

So who gets sent down?

lylelgreen · « **Reply #32 on:** August 05, 2014, 08:50:00 pm »

It end up Blake Treinen being sent down.

imref · « **Reply #33 on:** August 06, 2014, 01:35:47 am »

Quote from: lylelgreen on August 05, 2014, 08:50:00 pm

It end up Blake Treinen being sent down.

especially after tonight.

Bloo · « **Reply #34 on:** August 06, 2014, 02:59:47 am »

Dang it, I"m late but Championship!!!!!!11111!!!!!

expofan · « **Reply #35 on:** August 06, 2014, 07:04:13 am »

great pick up. go rizzo

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #36 on:** August 06, 2014, 02:43:45 pm »

Quote from: expofan on August 06, 2014, 07:04:13 am

great pick up. go rizzo

I thought I heard or read that lefties are batting .250 against him this year. That does not seem too impressive. Better than Blevins I suppose.

Ray D · « **Reply #37 on:** August 06, 2014, 02:53:18 pm »

Quote from: Natsinpwc on August 06, 2014, 02:43:45 pm

Better than Blevins I suppose.

Lefties are batting .137 against Blevins.

Ray D · « **Reply #38 on:** August 06, 2014, 02:54:34 pm »

What I don't get is, if this is such a good pickup, how come no other team claimed him before us? He had to clear the entire AL, and most of the NL.

whytev · « **Reply #39 on:** August 06, 2014, 02:55:38 pm »

Quote from: Ray D on August 06, 2014, 02:54:34 pm

What I don't get is, if this is such a good pickup, how come no other team claimed him before us? He had to clear the entire AL, and most of the NL.

Most teams don't have a gaping hole in the bullpen like us.

imref · « **Reply #40 on:** August 06, 2014, 03:14:26 pm »

activated, Blake heads north.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #41 on:** August 06, 2014, 03:28:22 pm »

Quote from: Ray D on August 06, 2014, 02:54:34 pm

What I don't get is, if this is such a good pickup, how come no other team claimed him before us? He had to clear the entire AL, and most of the NL.

committing $500K in 2014 and $3.5MM next year to an aging reliever who is less than a full inning primary set up guy is not something many teams want to take on. I'd think only the Angels and Tigers in the AL would even think of adding the salary in order to round out their teams for the playoffs. The Angels have $154MM in contract commitments this year, so add in another $10MM or so in cost that count towards the luxury tax threshold and they may not want the extra commitment. I don't know the ins and outs of how much of his $3.5MM for this year gets assessed for this year, but for next year they have $123MM locked in before a number of arbitration cases. Tigers are in worse shape with $163MM committed already this year.

Count Walewski · « **Reply #42 on:** August 06, 2014, 09:19:41 pm »

I remember when the White Sox acquired Matt Thornton. He was doing horrible on another team, they swapped him for one of their washed-up prospects: a guy named Joe Borchard who could hit a ball 500+ feet but made an out 90% of the time. The White Sox pitching coach made one adjustment to Thornton's mechanics and then he became an fantastic lefty out of the bullpen, long-time 7th and 8th inning guy. Apparently they had been scouting him and the pitching coach saw something and said "I can fix him!" and was allowed to try.

That's a good story in and of itself, but a better story has been his durability. 2007 was a long time ago and lots of guys like Thornton who randomly became good have ended up washing out of the league. Think of all the dominant closers who wash out after a few seasons: where is the Papelbon generation of closers now? Thornton has stuck around and I'm happy to see him on the Nationals.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #43 on:** August 06, 2014, 09:39:12 pm »

HE may end up being a good role model / mentor for Detwiler. If Det could have a career like thornton, I would be happy.

Squab · « **Reply #44 on:** August 06, 2014, 09:40:55 pm »

Was 95-97 with a 90 slider and painting with it.

And Rizzo gave up nothing for him.

mmzznnxx · « **Reply #45 on:** August 06, 2014, 10:05:24 pm »

Awesome debut for him tonight.

Slateman · « **Reply #46 on:** August 06, 2014, 10:08:00 pm »

Good move

mitlen · « **Reply #47 on:** August 06, 2014, 10:08:33 pm »

As a non-seamhead, I wasn't too familiar with Thornton. Man, I like what I saw this evening.

Optics · « **Reply #48 on:** August 06, 2014, 10:20:44 pm »

Exactly what I wanted: another quality lefty.

Mathguy · « **Reply #49 on:** August 06, 2014, 11:18:45 pm »

He looked sharp tonight, with 96mph pitches. Looked better than Det or Blevins

Quote from: mitlen on August 06, 2014, 10:08:33 pm

As a non-seamhead, I wasn't too familiar with Thornton. Man, I like what I saw this evening.