Kyle Davies Signs With Indians for Minor League Depth

Credit: KCMB Kansas City News

Kyle Davies and Indians Agree on Minor League Deal

A day after pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, the Indians came to agreement with veteran right hander Kyle Davies. While the deal is a minor league contract, it does not include an invitation to spring training with the big league club. Instead of competing with other minor league signings for a roster spot on the big league club, Davies knows he will begin his 2014 journey within the depths of the Indians minor league system.

After missing all of the 2012 season recovering from a shoulder injury, Davies spent 2013 within the Minnesota Twins minor league system. In 12 starts, he compiled a 3.41 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Respectable numbers for someone who hadn’t pitched professionally in over a year.

Davies hasn’t pitched at the Major League level since 2011 for the Kansas City Royals. Things did not go well. In his 13 starts he was 1-9 with a 6.75 ERA, 1.793 WHIP and ERA+ of 61. For his career as a whole, Davies’ number haven’t been all that much better. He has appeared in 151 games, 144 of which were starts, going 43-65 with a 5.59 ERA and 1.618 WHIP. His peripherals help paint the picture of just how disappointing Davies has been : 10.3 H/9, 4.3 BB/9, 6.4 SO/9, and 1.92 SO/BB.

In summation, this move by the Indians is purely for depth purposes. As thing stand right now, Kyle Davies probably stands about as good a chance of making an appearance for the Indians as you or me. He has been a mediocre starting pitcher at best and having never posted double-digit wins and only twice in seven seasons posted an ERA under 5.00. As we like to say, vertical depth is a necessity for any organization, but if the Indians go deep enough this year to bring up Kyle Davies, there is a chance that multiple something have gone very, very wrong.