In the Rule V Mix

Just when you thought the Indians bullpen couldn’t get more confusing, the Indians went and selected a pitcher in the Rule V draft.  In order for the Indians to keep this player, they have to keep him on the Major League roster all year long or offer him back to the Diamondbacks for $25,000 (half of the $50,000 they paid for him).

Hector Ambriz is a 25-year-old RHP that has pitched in the Diamondbacks organization since 2006.  He was drafted out of UCLA in the 5th round of the 2006 Amateur Draft.  At UCLA, he was teammates with current Indians pitcher David Huff.  The Diamondbacks have had Ambriz work strictly as a starter and he has steadily moved up in the system over the past four years.  In 2008, Ambriz pitched a full season at AA, posting a 5-13 record, a 4.89 ERA and 118 Ks in 152.2 IPs.  The Diamondbacks started him back at AA to start 2009, where he simply dominated the competition through his first 5 starts.  After this, he was promoted to AAA where he struggled.  With a WHIP of 1.60 and his worst K/9 of his professional career (7.26), he was lucky to come away with a 9-9, 5.57 ERA season.  This is why the Dbacks chose not to protect him.

The Indians have scouted him and feel he has the chance to be an effective reliever because of his excellent fastball and splitter.  Ambriz also throws a slider and a curve, but you only really need two pitches to be an effective reliever (or one, in the case of Mariano Rivera).  I can understand why the Indians took this gamble, particularly with the lack of available talent in this draft.  However, it makes their bullpen even more confusing.

We know Kerry Wood is going to be the closer.  How the Indians manipulate his role so that he doesn’t get near his 55 games finished clause to lock in his 2011 option is still to be determined.  They can only hope he pitches lights out so they can trade him for something – anything.

Tony Sipp figures to have a spot based on his 2009 performance (and his left-handedness), but he still has options and could be sent down to start the year if he struggles in spring training.  The fact that Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers and David Huff are all left-handed doesn’t help.  If one of those three doesn’t make the rotation, they could end up in the pen and put Sipp’s job in jeopardy.  Of course, all three are also still on their rookie contract and could be sent down as well.  Lefty Rafael Perez is arbitration eligible, but had an awful 2009.  The Indians hope he can return to form.  Would it make sense for the Indians to carry three lefties in their bullpen?  Maybe, if one is the long man.

From the right side, Jose Veras was non-tendered, so he’ll only be in the picture if the Tribe chooses to offer him a contract.  Notice that no one’s jumped at the chance to sign him.  Someone will, though, and it probably won’t be the Indians.  Joe Smith and Jensen Lewis are under club control.  Both were adequate last year, but neither are true set-up men.  Perhaps this is the role that they hope Ambriz can fill.  Young Chris Perez has the potential to crack the pen with a good spring.  He posted an average ERA (4.32), but had excellent supporting stats including a 1.08 WHIP, a 10.3 K/9 rate and a 3.17 K/BB rate in his 33 innings with the Indians last year.  Even more impressive numbers when you consider he’s only 24.  Finally, there’s Jess Todd, the reliever that had much minor league success in 2008 and 2009, but couldn’t translate it after coming over from St Louis in the Mark DeRosa trade.  He also could break with the club if he has a good spring.

So adding Wood and Ambriz makes six right-handed relievers and the veteran Wood is the only one over the age of 26.  With five starting pitchers, Wood and Ambriz, two lefties and a long reliever, there will only be room for one or two of the righties.  That’s the bad news.  The good news for the Tribe is that they’ve got a lot of depth in their bullpen, which is important.  Pitchers get hurt often or sometimes go through periods of ineffectiveness.

Just ask Hector Ambriz.

Tags: Ambriz, bullpen, closer, relievers, Rule V, set-up man