The Brewers announced that right-hander Jason Alexander has been recalled from Triple-A, with lefty Jake McGee being designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
McGee, 36, is a veteran in his 13th MLB season. The Giants signed him to a two-year deal prior to the 2021 campaign, which looked like a masterstroke at the halfway point of the contract. The Giants won 107 games last year, thanks in no small part to McGee. The southpaw threw 59 2/3 innings last year with a 2.72 ERA, 24.3% strikeout rate, 4.2% walk rate and 35.9% ground ball rate, racking up 31 saves and eight holds in the process.
However, things have swung completely the other way around here in 2022, with McGee struggling immensely. In 21 1/3 innings with San Fran, he registered a 7.17 ERA, along with greatly diminished 11.5% strikeout rate and 29.1% ground ball rate. Based on that unfortunate downturn, the Giants released him, with McGee then landing with the Brewers about a week later.
For Milwaukee, things haven’t gotten much better. McGee has a 6.35 ERA since getting his new jersey and is still only getting strikeouts at a 16% clip. That’s a small sample size, but it largely matches what McGee was doing prior to joining the Brew Crew.
The Brewers’ bullpen has been in the spotlight lately, after the club traded away Josh Hader despite leading the NL Central. Since then, the club has gone 1-4, with the bullpen giving away late leads in some of those games, and now sit one game back in both the Central and the Wild Card race. It seems they felt the need to shake things up, with McGee getting cut loose despite a brief audition.
Despite his poor season, he could still get a shot elsewhere, given his track record and the fact that many teams are deficient in terms of left-handed relief. He’s making $2.5MM this year but the Giants are on the hook for most of that, with any team that signs him only having to pay the prorated league minimum. Since the trade deadline is now passed, the Brewers will have to put him on outright waivers or release waivers in the coming days.
Stick a fork in him …
The guy had a 2.72 ERA last season and people are so ready to just write him off based on a bad year. He’ll just as likely go to Pittsburgh or somewhere and be a borderline All Star again as be done.
Relievers are volatile.
Pirates have a lot of young relievers and do not need a veteran down on his luck as they will run out of roster room this year.
I didn’t mean the Pirates specifically, just used them as an example.
Brewers fans said this was a good pickup last week. Not so much now.
Most good Brewers fans didn’t take the time to comment. The reason being that none of them thought it was a good pickup, or anything to get excite about.
Fair enough. But having watched him during his entire tenure in SF, even at his best, his success felt tenuous. He always reminded me of Brian Wilson – a one trick pony who, despite what his numbers said, always looked to be playing with fire on the mound.
Oh trust me, I watched more than enough of him when he was with the Rockies. He was always very streaky and I suspect he still is. But a young team that needs a veteran presence in the pen could take advantage of that streakiness and not put so many innings on younger arms.
Cincinnati is possible. Their best bullpen guy is Hunter Strickland for God’s sake. McGee would be their best pen guy by default. Kansas City needs arms. Even a return to the Rockies is possible. They love to have guys come in for second stints with the team.
Cincinnati’s bullpen just made the Brewer’s hitters look pretty foolish…
Summer of George continues…..
The Goat Show continues!
And yesterday was his birthday.
That’s harsh.
Mets claim? Why not?
Blue Jays desperately need a lefty out of the pen with Mayza’s injury. He’s going to Toronto.
Jays might have a spot
“Freedom’s just another word for nothin left to lose…”
This could turn into another organizational embarrassment for Milwaukee if Dinelson Lamet has success in Colorado.
If Lamet, or any other pitcher, has success in CO, give that person the Cy straightaway.
Maybe George Costanza will pitch better than McGee……
Yeah, DFAing 36 yo Jake McGee is really gonna bite the Brewers in the rear
Is that a picture of Vogelbach pitching?
Maybe the Dodgers will bring him back
Mets need a lefty and Hefner seems to have a great feel for what he’s doing. Nothing lost in signing him, he’s gotta be better than Joely Rodriguez.
Of the 4 major professional sports, Jason Alexander had to pick baseball.
He refuses to play during Festivus.
Donations in his name should be directed to “The Human Fund”.
He could always go back to Seinfeld
Hope Jake has more success.