The Rockies have signed right-hander Luis Cessa to a minor league deal, MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reports (Twitter link). It was only a brief stay in free agency for Cessa, who was released by the Reds earlier this week.
Working as a swingman for the Reds in 2022, Cessa was essentially a full-time starter this year (starting six of seven games) but the results just weren’t there. The righty posted a 9.00 ERA over 26 innings with more walks (12) than strikeouts (11), and while a .410 BABIP represents some bad luck, Cessa’s Statcast metrics are pretty grim across the board.
Never a big strikeout pitcher, Cessa has generally had better success as a reliever than as a starter, with a 3.81 career ERA coming out of the bullpen compared to a 5.44 ERA starting games. However, it would seem like the Rockies will give Cessa at least an initial look as a starter given the team’s huge needs in the rotation. Colorado’s starting five was already a question mark heading into the season, but its depth has been further reduced by multiple injuries, most notably German Marquez’s Tommy John surgery.
The Rockies’ makeshift rotation now consists of Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Connor Seabold, Chase Anderson (just recently acquired on a waiver claim from the Rays), and rookie Karl Kauffmann, who has one MLB start under his belt. While Cessa’s 2023 numbers don’t look like an upgrade on paper, the Rox might at least prefer having a more experienced arm eat some innings until they start to get some pitchers back from the injured list.
The minor league deal carries basically no risk for the Rockies, since Cincinnati is still covering the bulk of Cessa’s remaining salary (roughly $1.87MM of his initial $2.65MM). If Cessa is called up, the Rox will owe him only the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary.
With the beating their staff has taken this weekend, they probably need him for the bullpen tomorrow.
I was hoping the Yankees were going to take a flyer on Cessa. Oh well, good luck in Colorado.
They tried him.
Then they made him a flyer on a Cessna.
Cessa must be thrilled being in MLB for close to 10 yrs and now in AAA
Better than sitting at home. Besides he should be used to it. In that decade, he has only accumulated a little over 5 years of service time. That means he was likely in AAA for half of that 10 years.
You’d think they’d learn after Lidle.
Cessa, Colorado…ouch.
14.00 ERA here we come!!!