The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed reliever John Axford off of waivers from the Cleveland Indians, reports Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Axford has been a successful pitcher in the past, but that is not the case at all this season. Axford has pitched 43.2 innings this season, and has a whopping 30 walks in that time. Axford’s control is very inconsistent, and it is the number one reason for his struggles this season.
This is a risky pickup for the Pirates, as Axford’s numbers are worse this season than his career averages. His ERA is 3.92 this season, while his career ERA is 3.38. His WHIP is also lower this season than his career average, as it is currently 1.47 while his career WHIP is 1.35. This pickup has the potential to be good in the future for Pittsburgh, but at this moment it simply is not a good claim by the Bucs.
What makes this move even more questionable is that they’re taking two guys off of their 40-man roster, and the active roster just to make room for Axford. Second year First Baseman Matt Hauge has been DFA’d, getting him off the 40-man roster, and pitcher Stolmy Pimentel is going onto the DL with “lower body soreness.” It’s doubtful that that injury is really legitimate, but nonetheless that’s how the Pirates have made room for Axford on the active roster.
Getting Axford off of waivers is a very risky move for the Pirates, but it’s a move they’re clearly willing to commit to. Moves have been made to get Axford on the team, and now he needs to buckle down and improve this season if he wants his new team to believe that their gutsy move was a success.
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