Down the Rabbit Hole (35.07): Bolstering the Bullpen

[bpbrooksy]

The Jackrabbits have signed a pair of relievers -- setup man Jose Gutierrez and closer Jonathan Bowen (10/5/9 Ratings, 5 - 4, 3.06 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 60 K).

Gutierrez is a 37-year-old right-hander who's enjoyed a lengthy career bouncing between bullpens in places like Halifax, Brooklyn, and most recently Atlantic City. Last season with the Gamblers, he posted a 240 ERA+, limiting baserunners in almost 50 innings of work, posting a career-high 1.79 ERA. The Rabbits are buying while the iron is hot here, but it's been five years since Gutierrez had surgery to reconstruct his elbow, and he hasn't faced any injury issues since. Gutierrez will don #43 and come out of the back end of the bullpen alongside guys like Alfredo Martinez and youngster Stewart Vale (7/6/7 Ratings, 0 - 0, 4.86 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 12 K).

Meanwhile, Domingo Ayala (10/4/9 Ratings, 6 - 5, 4.96 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 48 K), the only closer this franchise has ever known, moves onto San Antonio after logging 148 saves in six years with the Rabbits. His replacement will be 35-year-old righty Jonathan Bowen (10/5/9 Ratings, 5 - 4, 3.06 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 60 K), who moves onto Edmonton from San Antonio. Effectively, we've traded closers with the Outlaws. Bowen saved 33 games for the Outlaws last year, with a 3.06 ERA and 8.0 K/9, advancing his career saves mark to 341.

Bowen is on a 2-year deal, $18 million deal, with an option for 2037 at $13 million should he really blow us away in these next two seasons. Bowen will wear #38, and speaking of numbers, his signing brings the team payroll up to an even $65 million.