The Orioles announced Monday that they’ve claimed righty Jacob Webb off waivers from the Angels. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster, right-hander Austin Voth was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Voth has already been out since mid-June due to elbow discomfort.
Webb, 29, was designated for assignment in Anaheim over the weekend. He’s appeared in 29 games this season, pitching to a 3.98 ERA through 31 1/3 innings. Webb has fanned 24.3% of his opponents but has also issued free passes at a far-too-high 14.3% clip so far on the season. He’s sitting just shy of 95 mph with his average fastball, inducing swinging-strikes at a strong 12.5% rate and has shown a knack for inducing fly-balls in the infield. On the flip side, Webb has been far too homer prone and has benefited from a .218 average on balls he’s unlikely to sustain.
Since Webb is out of minor league options, he’ll report directly to the big league bullpen. The O’s can’t send him down to the minors without first designating him for assignment and passing him through waivers. If Webb is able to continue his run of strong results and/or improve upon the command issues he’s experienced in Anaheim this season, he’d be arbitration-eligible through 2026 season.
Prior to his stint with the Halos, Webb’s only big league experience had come with the Braves, for whom he pitched during the 2019-21 seasons. He’s compiled a career 2.91 ERA in 108 1/3 innings, albeit with a roughly average strikeout rate (22.6%), a hefty walk rate (11%), and this year’s uncharacteristic home run problems (1.71 HR/9 in ’23; 1.16 career).
Did Ben Cherington forget to check waivers today?
Your not missing anything, his era should be a lot higher.
You’re probably right but the Orioles have been magicians with bullpen arms over the last two years.
He absolutely came apart after a hot start to the year. You’re getting a 6 era guy not a 4.
Again, O’s have had a history of turning that around here lately. No one cared what his ERA is, this isn’t 2002.
Never got over hitting Kevin Pillar in the face.
His change up pitch has an elite level spin rate. His fourseamer, not so much. Maybe the Os see a tweak there? Plus, not much of an arsenal. Maybe they encourage him to add to it?
You will care when he let’s 2 inherited runs on top of his two, and blows the game out of reach. He will be back on waivers soon enough
O’s are more likely to pair a relievers pitch mix down v. Add to it. I guess Irvin gets optioned
It possible he can be fixed, the pitching coach is garbage he got the job by default, kinda like nevin. Part of the reason I think as well was Arte was going to sell so he kept the same staff.
@bkbk
Nothing to lose making this waiver claim, esp as they made 40 man roster space by making Voth’s IL a 60 day.
Fuji came over with a horrid 8.5 ERA over 49 IP and is already showing some strong improvement (albeit only over 8.2 IP sample size) with just a 3.12 ERA since the trade.
He must not scare the pitching development folks. And if the experiment doesn’t work by the time some of the injured pitchers are ready to make it back… no biggie, we can release him without much hullabaloo.
Only upside here, worst case he’s a low leverage stopgap. Best case, we find yet another shiny thing in the discard pile.
@Mac
Fuji’s ERA isnt terribly fair to use. He was horrendous as a starter but was already pitching better in Oakland. I fully believe in our coaching staff/FO being one of the best but have to point that out.
He’s a relatively fresh middle relief arm at the least. Our bullpen is certainly pretty taxed. Can’t hurt. .
@Bstro
Can’t argue w you on that. I was just trying to make a point that other team’s high ERA or walk arms aren’t poison to the O’s.
I know it’s a bit greedy, but would save wear and tear to the pen if our offense could come out of the gate hot instead of the exciting late game heroics. I’ve worried that there is a lot of up and down happening even when our high leverage guys don’t end up coming in bc we score late after we’ve already warmed up arms to come in and protect a small lead.
Fuji was probably getting acclimated to the mlb, definitely happens with Japanese pitchers.
Allowing earned runs matters.
What doesn’t matter is a janky ratio centered on league average ERA that dismisses 80% of data points as sheer luck or “noise.”
At least use xERA if you are dissatisfied with ERA.
It’s time to bring back the chant, sell the team, sell the team sell the team sell the team now
Saw he went to Tabor.Was he in Animal House?
He had a promising future at Tabor when he arrived, but he was eventually put on double secret probation before eventually being drafted by Atlanta.
Have to hit the ball about 400 feet to clear that crazy LF wall in Baltimore. Seems like a strong bet to post better numbers here.