I don&#8217;t know why I decided to write the title of this post in all caps, because holy shit, Craig Breslow isn&#8217;t a real sexy signing. In fact, if I didn&#8217;t feel some sort of obligation to do so, I might have just let it passed unmentioned.
Because what the hell does one even mention about this?
The particulars, first, I suppose:
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Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> signing LHP Craig Breslow to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to Spring Training.
&mdash; Robert Murray (@RobertMurrayFRS) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertMurrayFRS/status/963101300731850753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Per source <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> have agreed to sign LHP Craig Breslow to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to MLB spring training. He&#39;d earn $1.25 million if he makes the team, possibly more with incentives, and has an opt-out at the end of spring training.
&mdash; Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/963109555449225216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Breslow, who &#8212; if you&#8217;re like me (congratulations) &#8212; you&#8217;ll probably remember most as a member of the Red Sox, actually has some good seasons on his resume. Unfortunately they&#8217;re quite a far distance into the past.
From 2006 to 2013 he made 405 big league appearances, accumulating 3.6 WAR (per Fangraphs) over that span. WAR isn&#8217;t a great stat for relievers, but whatever: you get it, he was pretty useful.
That 2013 season, though, marked a bit of a change. Through the end of the 2012 season Breslow carried a career strikeout rate of 20.7%. In 2013 that dropped to 13.9%, and it really hasn&#8217;t gone back since &#8212; from 2013 onward he&#8217;s struck out just 14.6% of the batters he&#8217;s faced. The number is even lower when he faces left-handed hitters, which (being a left-handed pitcher himself) is the role he&#8217;s really best suited to.
Well, unless you count pitching in Buffalo &#8212; which seems an even better idea.
But whatever! The Jays really only have Aaron Loup and Tim Mayza (UPDATE: oh, and apparently Matt Dermody) right now as potential bullpen lefties, and the fact that Breslow &#8212; who Benny Fresh <a href="https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/963110715396521984">notes</a> has ties to the Jays&#8217; front office (he pitched for Cleveland in 2008, and was at his best on Ben Cherington&#8217;s Red Sox teams) &#8212; is on a minor league deal with an invite means that his presence isn&#8217;t stopping the club from going out and getting an option that looks even better. (Tony Watson, I presume?)
Should I add some numbers on what Breslow has done since 2013&#8230; ? Nah, fuck it.
So&#8230; sure! See if something&#8217;s there. SEE IF I CARE!!!!!

I don't know why I decided to write the title of this post in all caps, because holy shit, Craig Breslow isn't a real sexy signing. In fact, if I didn't feel some sort of obligation to do so, I might have just let it passed unmentioned.

Because what the hell does one even mention about this?

The particulars, first, I suppose:

https://twitter.com/RobertMurrayFRS/status/963101300731850753

https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/963109555449225216

Breslow, who -- if you're like me (congratulations) -- you'll probably remember most as a member of the Red Sox, actually has some good seasons on his resume. Unfortunately they're quite a far distance into the past.

From 2006 to 2013 he made 405 big league appearances, accumulating 3.6 WAR (per Fangraphs) over that span. WAR isn't a great stat for relievers, but whatever: you get it, he was pretty useful.

That 2013 season, though, marked a bit of a change. Through the end of the 2012 season Breslow carried a career strikeout rate of 20.7%. In 2013 that dropped to 13.9%, and it really hasn't gone back since -- from 2013 onward he's struck out just 14.6% of the batters he's faced. The number is even lower when he faces left-handed hitters, which (being a left-handed pitcher himself) is the role he's really best suited to.

Well, unless you count pitching in Buffalo -- which seems an even better idea.

But whatever! The Jays really only have Aaron Loup and Tim Mayza (UPDATE: oh, and apparently Matt Dermody) right now as potential bullpen lefties, and the fact that Breslow -- who Benny Fresh <a href="https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/963110715396521984">notes</a> has ties to the Jays' front office (he pitched for Cleveland in 2008, and was at his best on Ben Cherington's Red Sox teams) -- is on a minor league deal with an invite means that his presence isn't stopping the club from going out and getting an option that looks even better. (Tony Watson, I presume?)

Should I add some numbers on what Breslow has done since 2013... ? Nah, fuck it.

So... sure! See if something's there. SEE IF I CARE!!!!!

CRAIG BRESLOW!!!!!!!!!!

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