Joel Pineiro is close to a one-year deal worth $4 million to join the Boston Red Sox, ESPN reports. With that amount of money, two thoughts immediately spring to mind.
Pineiro, a 28-year old Puerto Rican, has been a starter most of his career and had two very encouraging seasons in 2002 and 2003 as a starter, posting a 3.24 and 3.78 ERA, respectively. It’s been downhill since, thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness, and he started 25 games in 2006, but relieved in 15. He went 8-13 with a 6.36 ERA but has shown success in a relief role, posting a 4.81 ERA in the relief role. He also had a 5.94 ERA before the All-Star Break and a 7.04 ERA after, another sign that his endurance is waning. Word is that he recovered some of his previous velocity when he was a reliever. Pineiro likely has the inside track on being a closer considering the amount of money invested in him and the fact he signed with the Red Sox, passing up other opportunities to start.
However, I would not be surprised at all to see Joel Pineiro be the No. 5 starter for the Red Sox, with Jonathan Papelbon moving back to the closer’s spot. Either way, I fully expect Pineiro to begin the season as either a starter or closer.
UPDATE: The $2 million in bonuses are based on games finished. Gee, I wonder how the Sox plan to use him.
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