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February 12, 2016With pitchers and catchers due to report to Spring Training February 17, the Cleveland Indians have signed yet another right-handed reliever. The team announced Friday that they have signed Tommy Hunter to a one-year deal. According to cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes, the major league deal is worth $2 million. In November, the Indians reportedly expressed interest in signing Hunter and almost three months later, that interest was realized in a deal that has finally come to fruition.
After being traded to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline in 2015, the 29-year-old struggled in the Windy City. In just 19 appearances with the Cubs, he had an unimpressive 5.74 ERA. But, outside of his half-a-year in Chi-Town, Hunter has been a solid reliever. With Baltimore since 2011, the 6-foot-3 reliever had a 21-20 record with the Orioles, including a 4.22 ERA and 257 strikeouts in 212 games. In his eight-year career thus far, he owns a 46-33 record with a 4.31 ERA and 423 strikeouts in 284 appearances.
A first-round selection (54th pick) by the Texas Rangers in the 2007 amateur draft, Hunter has pitched well enough since being exclusively a relief pitcher in July 2011. In 209 games, he owns a 3.28 ERA, including striking out 187 batters (seven strikeouts per nine innings). Hunter’s calling card has been a blazing fastball that sometimes touches 100 miles per hour, but it is one without much movement. The lack of movement has been cited as a reasoning for his mediocre strikeout rate and elevated home run rates though he will be expected to have the top velocity in the Indians 2016 bullpen.
Pitching in AL Central stadiums:
- US Cellular (White Sox): five appearances, 2.20 ERA, 11 strikeouts
- Progressive Field (Indians): six appearances, 15.00 ERA, 15 strikeouts
- Comerica Park (Tigers): six games, 1.80 ERA, nine strikeouts
- Kauffman Stadium: four games, 0.80 ERA, four strikeouts
- Target Field (Twins): six games, 8.00 ERA, eight strikeouts
Pitching against AL Central opponents:
- Chicago: 3-2, 12 appearances, 5.00 ERA, 20 strikeouts
- Detroit: 2-1, 11 appearances, 2.60 ERA, 18 strikeouts
- Kansas City: 2-0, seven appearances, 3.27 ERA, seven strikeouts
- Minnesota: 4-2, 12 appearances, 2.95 ERA, 22 strikeouts
Hunter joins a large group of right-handed relievers who the Indians have signed this off-season, including Joba Chamberlain, Ross Detwiler, Tom Gorzelanny, and Joe Thatcher. Fortunately for Hunter, his deal is the only major league deal of the group.
Unfortunately for Hunter, his start to the 2016 could be delayed.
Hunter could be delayed for the start of the regular season. He underwent core muscle surgery earlier this winter.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) February 12, 2016
To make room on the 40-man roster for Hunter, the Indians DFA’ed catcher Tony Wolters.
Cleveland’s pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Goodyear, Arizona on February 17.