A Look at 1997 FA Signings: Relievers edition

[lchronister]

Having reached the All Star break, it's time to take a look at the major free-agent signings from the offseason and early in the season to see who has helped their team the most. For the purposes of this not taking all day to put together, I'm considering only signings of more than $1 million a season to be "major".

Best Signings
1) Damario Poso, Louisville ($6.1 million)
That's a lot to pay a reliever, but Poso's been one of the few bright spots for the Sluggers this season. The 28-year-old righty is putting up some of the best numbers of his career (3-1, 2 saves, 2.52 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 14.8 VORP, 179 ERA+, 4-to-1 K/BB ratio), even if those stats are a bit lucky (.230 BABIP). He's been even better at home (3-0, 2 saves, 2.05 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 6-to-1 K/BB ratio) despite The Ballpark at Locust Grove's hitter-friendly ratings.

2) Leo Villar, Omaha ($2.35 million)
The Barnstormers have struggled this year, but few of those issues are because of their offseason signings (see the SP version of this feature for more). Villar is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 5.7 VORP and 115 ERA+, though like Poso he's been a bit lucky (.239 BABIP). Still, considering the entire Omaha bullpen is posting an ERA of 5.81 (only one other reliever has an ERA below 4.30), the Barnstormers will take all the luck they can get.

Worst Signings
1) Ja Ahn Kim, Omaha ($6.56 million)
OK, so not everything went right for Omaha this offseason. Kim has just one decision (a loss) this year, but his 8.87 ERA and 2.06 WHIP are atrocious in his 22.1 innings, especially for more than $6.5 million this season. He's now the team's spot starter and has made only six appearances in June, so at least the Barnstormers are trying to keep him out of important situations.

2) Eric DeSoto, Des Moines ($1.2 million)
The 31-year-old southpaw's contract isn't too big of a drain on the Kernels, but they certainly were hoping for more than a 7.94 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, -9.1 VORP and 57 ERA+ when they signed DeSoto to a three-year deal. There was reason to hope he'd be a solid bullpen addition after being a league-average starter for pretty much his entire career, but Des Moines started him in the rotation instead. Four starts, 20 runs and two losses later, The Chosen One was moved to the bullpen, where he's lowered his ERA nearly 4 points from 11.74. Still, he's blown two saves and picked up two more losses since becoming a reliever.

3) Oscar Acosta, Austin ($7.72 million)
The offseason's top relief target thanks to solid 1995 and 1996 seasons and being a lefty, Acosta might deserve the No. 2 spot on this list thanks to his salary. He has a winning record (3-2) and has picked up a save, but his 5.63 ERA and 1.78 WHIP certainly aren't what the Riverbats were hoping for. Part of it's bad luck (.402 BABIP), but Austin has to hope it's something more than just that and something that Acosta can figure out quickly since they're stuck with him for two more years at this salary.

Honorable Mention:
Nestor Suarez, New Orleans ($2.02 million)
Getting 12 saves from a guy making this little would make most general managers thrilled. Having that pitcher also be 2-5 with a 6.96 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, -4.6 VORP and 65 ERA+, though, has to make JimBob2232 pretty unhappy with this signing.

[aaronweiner]

You know, any complete list of reliever signings has to include Jack May. The only reason he wasn't an offseason signing is that he was a Type A free agent, and he's lived up to the billing.

[lchronister]

You know, any complete list of reliever signings has to include Jack May. The only reason he wasn't an offseason signing is that he was a Type A free agent, and he's lived up to the billing.

I said "major" signings, of more than $1 million