The Indians are signing right-hander Brad Peacock to a minor league contract, reports Mandy Bell of MLB.com (Twitter link). The 33-year-old spent the 2013-20 seasons with the Astros.
Peacock was quite often a valuable swing man in Houston. He started 21 of his 34 appearances with the Astros’ 2017 World Series-winning club, pitching to a 3.00 ERA/3.76 SIERA. Despite that quality performance, Peacock found himself squeezed out of a loaded rotation the following season. He was equally effective in a relief role, working to a 3.46 ERA/2.40 SIERA across 65 frames in 2018. Peacock returned to starting in 2019, where he was again productive.
Unfortunately, Peacock’s 2020 season was almost entirely derailed by injury. He only made three relief appearances due to soreness in his throwing shoulder. Ultimately, he required arthroscopic surgery last October and spent the entire offseason recuperating. Peacock returned to health in April, but his market remained quiet until he threw a showcase in front of interested teams earlier this week.
Evidently, Cleveland’s brass was impressed enough with his form to add him to the organization. The Indians have been reeling from a series of injuries to their top trio of starting pitchers. Each of Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale are on the injured list at the moment. That’s left the Indians with an unproven, generally underwhelming starting staff. At 41-31, the Indians are nevertheless only two games back of the White Sox in the American League Central. They’re trying to hang in contention while weathering the injuries to their top starters.
Given that outlook at the big league level, it seems Peacock has a good chance to pitch his way back into a big league rotation relatively quickly. (The Cleveland bullpen is in much better shape health-wise and has been the strength of the team all year). Presumably, Peacock will report to Triple-A Columbus and build up into game shape as a potential starting option for Cleveland in the coming weeks.
Monkey’s Uncle
Birds of a feather, pitch together.
Francys01
To me this is a good signing. It makes sense for the Cleveland Indians he could be a reliever or a starting pitcher.
PutPeteinthehall
Worth a shot. Probably more upside that a pitcher that has washed out in other organizations. While the article doesn’t mention how his contractual status ended in Houston he must have become a free agent while rehabbing.
AZCardman
He made 3.9 million in 2020 and was released in October of 2020
hockeyjohn
Worth a try.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
I thought Peacock already had a job with NBC
Diatribefan
Soitenly!
Polish Hammer
Would’ve been nice taking a flier on a guy closer to helping sooner like Kazmir but this is not a bad low risk move.
solaris602
Really not a bad move at all. Tribe could have plucked someone off the waiver wire, but anyone on waivers is there for a reason. CLE just has to tread water until he can go at least 5 innings.
frozeninneohio
Please don’t use the term plucked and Peacock in the same sentence. PETA will be gunning for you. But it was a colorful comment.
solaris602
First name that came to mind when it became clear CLE needed to add a SP when Civale went down was Anibal Sanchez. There have been no updates on him since late April. Anyone know what’s going on with Sanchez?
Polish Hammer
They say his stuff is dirty…
AmaralFan1
He was starting for Venezuela in an Olympic qualifier game a few weeks back.
Colt 45
glad for Brad
hoof hearted
With the pitching injuries the Indians are having, how are they doing it?
Colt 45
playing smart baseball
debubba
Good coaching and June is a very easy schedule. They need to have all their pitchers back for a very tough July. It will determine if they are sellers at the trade deadline.
solaris602
Francona is a miracle worker – point blank.
Polish Hammer
Duct tape and krazy glue…
Red Wings
Tigers should have signed him
jessaumodesto
always thought his name was spelled Peecock?
AZCardman
You might be thinking of Pete LaCock
sufferforsnakes
If the Tribe keeps playing defense as bad as they did in Friday night’s game, it won’t matter who they get to pitch.
dmbphils27
Always like a guy who has many feathers in his cap