Cleveland Signs Logan, Keeps Winning Offseason
The Indians have had a successful offseason, as noted by Craig Edwards last week and they kept winning the offseason on Thursday, agreeing with left-handed reliever Boone Logan on a one-year deal with an option, as first reported by Ken Rosenthal.
Sources: #Indians in agreement with free-agent LHP Boone Logan, pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 2, 2017
Entering Thursday, Cleveland had only one lefty in its bullpen, albeit perhaps the game’s best left-handed reliever in Andrew Miller. Now they have two who can miss bats, and presumably Logan can fit a matchup role that will free Miller to be used in a more versatile manner by Cleveland manager Terry Francona.
Last season with the Rockies, Logan held left-handed hitters to a .139/.222/225 slash line and since 2014 he’s limited lefties to a .236/.330/.392 slash line.
Francona said earlier this winter he didn’t just want any lefty added to the bullpen, he wanted an effective one. And according to T.J. Zuppe, Logan was on the Indians’ radar last trade deadline.
Logan didn’t make the cut of FanGraphs’ top-50 free agents this offseason, but he did come in at No. 50 on at CBSSports and ranked 37th according to MLB Trade Rumors. So for Cleveland to sign Logan in February to a one-year deal with an option seems like a winning transaction for a club, which is projected to win the AL Central and return to the postseason.
Logan produced slightly superior strikeout and swinging-strike rates this past season — and a better FIP — relative to Brett Cecil, who signed a four-year deal with St. Louis earlier this offseason. Logan seems like a relative bargain in terms of years.
Logan has posted strikeout percentages of 30%, 26% and 27% the last three seasons. He’s produced swinging-strike rates of at least 15% every year since 2014, reaching a career-best 16.4% last season, thanks to a slider-heavy approach. Logan threw his slider 52.3% of the time last season, while his fastball, which averaged 93 mph, was thrown 46.7% of the time.
Among relievers who threw at last 40 innings, Logan’s slider usage ranked fourth last season. His new teammate, Miller, ranked first (60.5%). Cleveland now owns considerable late-inning, left-handed, bat-missing power. That could come handy in the late innings in October.
The addition provides for Francona, who was as creative as any manager in recent memory with bullpen usage last postseason, even more weapons at his disposal should Cleveland again reach the postseason.
The Cleveland bullpen was already a strength with Miller, Cody Allen and company ranking fifth in bullpen FIP last season and seventh in fWAR. Today, it’s become stronger, giving the defending AL champions a little better odds of returning to October and succeeding there.
A Cleveland native, FanGraphs writer Travis Sawchik is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Big Data Baseball. He also contributes to The Athletic Cleveland, and has written for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, among other outlets. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Sawchik.
So close last year! I can’t help but think they would have pulled it off with a healthy staff. I know, should’ve, would’ve and could’ve. I just don’t see the Cubs as head and shoulders above the other projected division winners. Best team on paper in baseball, yes. In a league of their own? No. Would love to see a rematch. Looking forward to another new season.
I more thing: I’m tired of (only) talking about baseball. Can’t wait to hear “Play Ball!”
aren’t the dodgers actually the best team on paper (projections) now?
I’m a cubs fan, but I love the indians. I started really paying attention to baseball when i was about 10 in 1998, so i liked those indians(‘?) teams and was very happy to see them in the ws, so no disrespect to them, but the cubs are a better team. However due to baseball being baseball, in a 7 game series anything can really happen, as we saw. If a non cubs team should win it in 2017, I too, hope it is Cleveland.
You are correct, the Dodgers are now projected for 95 wins while the Cubs are at 94. I agree, the Cubs are a (slightly) better team than Cleveland. My point was they are not separated in talent by as much as I imagine the overall consensus thinks (or any of the projected division winners, for that matter). I didn’t say I hope Cleveland wins it in 2017. I say they outplayed the Cubs and probably should’ve won it in 2016 and health played a big role in not doing so. A rematch in 2017 would be a lot of fun, no matter who wins.