Veteran relievers Joba Chamberlain, Neftali Feliz designated for assignment
Friday was another reminder of just how unpredictable and unstable the career of a mjaor-league reliever can be.
Veteran right-handers Joba Chamberlain and Neftali Feliz were both designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers respectively, leaving both teams with 10 days to trade, release or place the relievers on waivers.
Chamberlain, 29, inked a one-year, $1 million deal with Detroit during the offseason in an attempt to rebuild his value. For Detroit, it was a cheap signing they hoped would add depth to their bullpen despite Chamberlain’s up and down 2014.
Chamberlain had performed well in a relief role previously for the New York Yankees, It just didn’t work out in Detroit. In 30 appearances, Chamberlain posted a 4.09 ERA and a 1.682 WHIP. He struggled avoiding contact as well, striking out just 15 over his 22 innings.
The final straw appeared to come in Wednesday’s 9-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pitching mop up duty in the eighth inning, Chamberlain allowed three home runs in the span of four batters. He walked off the field to chorus of boos that evening. He also walked away with a firm understanding that he’d let the fans and the organization down with his latest performance. .
“I’d boo myself, too,” Chamberlain told reporters after the game. “I mean, you can’t be mad at it. You spend your hard-earned money to come see somebody be successful, and you don’t be successful.”
Self awareness is a good thing to have. Better execution and better results are the name of the game though, so for now anyway Chamberlain will be forced to take a step back.
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As for Feliz, the move comes as a bit of a surprise given his past success in Texas. He was removed from the roster so veteran starter Matt Harrison could be activated from the disabled list.
There’s no doubt it has been a struggle for Feliz to stay healthy and remain consistent since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2012. Feliz missed the rest of the 2012 season and nearly missed the entire 2013 season, appearing in only six games.
In 30 appearances last season, he showed promise, posting a 1.99 ERA over 31 2/3 innings. He also notched 13 saves. This season, he came out of the gate slow, posting a 5.09 ERA in 17 appearances, before landing on the disabled list with an axillary abscess on his right side. He ended up missing six weeks.
Feliz was once an ace reliever, recording 72 total saves between 2010-11. The Rangers tried moving him to the rotation in 2012, which directly preceded the elbow injury. Whether or not that was a good decision was a hotly debated topic leading up to the change and continues to be debated in wake of his injuries.
Perhaps it’s a topic the Rangers have grown tired of, or more likely the Rangers have simply run out of patience.
It’s reported the Rangers will look to trade Feliz in the coming days. Both Feliz and Chamberlain should draw interest given their experience. Chamberlain is the cheaper option with Feliz still due $4.13 million this season, but both have appeal. Perhaps we’ll even see them swap spots as both teams look for answers.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
