The Guardians have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Ian Gibaut, as announced by his reps at Fusion Sports Agency. The righty has suited up with three teams in as many seasons, including three appearances for the Twins last year. Outrighted off the Minnesota roster at the end of the season, he elected minor league free agency.
Gibaut, 28, has tossed 33 1/3 career innings in 27 appearances at the big league level. He’s pitched to a 5.40 ERA with a 22.5% strikeout rate and an alarming 13.9% walk percentage. However, Gibaut has averaged north of 95 MPH on his fastball in all three of his big league stints, and his 11.2% swinging strike rate isn’t far off the big league average for relievers.
The Tulane product was also a fairly well-regarded relief prospect as he climbed the minor league ladder in the Rays’ system. He has posted an ERA of 2.65 or lower at every level up through Double-A and owns a 4.31 mark over 117 career Triple-A frames. Gibaut has punched out nearly 30% of opposing hitters at the minors’ top level and he induced grounders on almost half the balls in play against him with the Twins’ top affiliate last year.
Edp007
Sometimes to get a little you gotta Gibaulittle
AgentF
Nothing little about Gibault.
HBan22
It feels like Gibaut has been touted as the next great young reliever for a decade now. It’d be nice to get a good look at what he can actually do at the major league level.
partyatnapolis
ah yes. another minor league signing. typical cleveland move.
hockeyjohn
I do not know why people get so upset with minor league signings. If they work out, great. If they don’t, nothing is lost. Every team make them. Give it a rest.
partyatnapolis
because it’s all cleveland does. only minor lg deals on former top prospects that didn’t pan out or guys coming off bad years or washed up etc etc
Polish Hammer
What do you expect them to do with the joke the MLB has become? They push back the start of the season to hammer out labor relations, yet end up with the same garbage of haves and have nots. Ink isn’t even dry and LA already added another expensive piece. The league needs a true salary cap, with ceiling and floor. Until then the teams like Cleveland will continue to make signings like this shopping at the scratch and dent section looking for reclamation projects while LA, NY, Boston and Chicago can afford to shop at the most exclusive store.
3Men&ABibee
I agree. Their is never a bad no risk minor league signing. He got an arm. That’s a chance I take. You never know.
User 3663041837
Cleveland has a reputation of developing pitching. They can probably get some value out of him.
Vince Camp
Aahhh. The best is yet to come. Wait till we sign Michael Martinez.
partyatnapolis
don’t you dare. tito may hear you
HBan22
Martinez plays a mean SS still, I hear.
Polish Hammer
All I know is when you’re in extra innings of game 7 in the World Series, he’s the guy you want at the plate….said no one ever (other than Tito)…
3Men&ABibee
You can never have enough arms I guess.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Is that a spider proverb?
sufferforsnakes
Keep searching the scrap heaps, Cleveland. It’s what you’re best at.
Sigh…..
jorge78
On to the World Serious!!!
48-team MLB
*SPIDERS
Jordan09
Guardians is such a cheesy name
dixoncayne
When you think about it, Red Sox is cheesy. If they named the team the Blue Shirts everyone would hate it.
Hello, Newman
It will age well. People are just so bitter anymore
chipperniner7
Well, I guess you have a good point Dixon. However, at least they spelled socks with “sox” which is much cooler lol.
thebluemeanie
Very bitter. They way some people talk you’d think Indians to Guardians was the worst thing that has ever happened in their life. Funny thing is, half the people on here whining about the name aren’t even fans of the team.
dkcsmc1991
Are the Guardians at least signing autographs?