Cleveland Indians Sign Joba Chamberlain to Minor League Deal

Cleveland Indians Sign Joba Chamberlain

The Cleveland Indians have announced they’ve signed right-handed reliever Joba Chamberlain to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.

Chamberlain is probably best known in Cleveland for his part in the “Bug Game” with the New York Yankees in the 2007 American League Division Series.  Chamberlain has also pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Royals in his nine-year big league career.  Chamberlain is coming off a year in which he really struggled, throwing just 27.2 innings along with a 4.88 ERA and 5.38 FIP.  He did limit walks (for him) but the long ball was something that really killed him, averaging nearly two home runs per nine innings.

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While this move may seem like a dud already, a reminder that it’s simply a minor league deal. The Indians are under no obligation to keep Chamberlain come the start of the season. He’s merely Triple-A depth at this point and it can never hurt to have too many arms around.  Besides, Chamberlain did have a rather solid 2014 season with the Tigers, so not like he’s that far removed from being an effective reliever. He threw 63 innings in 69 games for the Tigers two years ago, posting a very respectable 3.57 ERA and 3.16 FIP.

Chamberlain is the second depth reliever that the Indians have added in the last week, having acquired Kirby Yates from the Rays last week.

Michael Choice Clears Waivers

When the Indians acquired Kirby Yates last week, they were forced to create a roster spot on the 40-man roster and Michael Choice was the man designated for assignment.  We learned yesterday that Choice in fact cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Columbus.  The Indians, like with Chamberlain, have also extended an invite to spring training for Choice.

Choice, originally a top prospect in all of baseball, has struggled to make the jump from minors to the big leagues the last few years, and 2015 was particularly rough for him.  Choice hit just .239 with a .702 OPS at Triple-A between Round Rock (Rangers) and Columbus this past season, a far cry from 2013 and 2014 when he an OPS north of .830. 

Next: Looking at the Bullpen Options

Choice will look to get back on track at Columbus this year where he’ll likely join James Ramsey and Tyler Naquin (among others) in the Clippers’ outfield.  Given the lack of depth on the big league roster and the injury to Michael Brantley, one shouldn’t completely rule out seeing Choice at some point.