Jeff Passan of ESPN broke the news that the Guardians have signed Shawn Armstrong, right-handed reliever, to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.
Armstrong broke into the bigs with the Guardians in 2015-2017. Since being traded, he has put up a solid 3.86 ERA and 3.64 FIP with eight other teams in 378 innings. Take out 2020 and that’s over 50 innings of relief work a season.
Last year for the Rangers was one of Armstrong’s best season with 74 innings of 2.31 ERA and 3.07 FIP, striking out 9 batters per 9 and only walking 2.43 batters per 9. He looks to be a reliable veteran arm for a young bullpen in need of that. He features a four-seam, cutter, sinker and slider, with his sinker his best weapon, which keeps him off the barrel of hitters’ bats. Stuff+ likes his 4-seam (102) and sinker (107) and loves his slider (119) and his cutter is usable at 93.
Armstrong is a useful addition to the pen, but, perhaps most interestingly, his addition would put the roster at 22 pitchers and 41 players total. They will have to make at least one move before this addition becomes official. Is there a trade in the offing or would the team DFA a Doug Nikhazy? Stay tuned…