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Erik Swanson is a 29-year-old right-handed reliever.
The Blue Jays picked him up in a trade from the Mariners, along with minor leaguer Adam Macko, in exchange for Teoscar Hernandez. I have always hated trading everyday players for relievers, but such is life.
Hernandez played 160 games for the M’s, hitting .258/.305/.435 with 26 home runs. Baseball reference has him at a 2.1 WAR last year. Now he’s a Dodger.
Macko made 20 starts for the Vancouver Canadians. He had a 4.49 ERA, with 76 hits, 40 walks and 106 strikeouts in 86 innings.
Swanson became an important part of our bullpen. He pitched in 69 games with a 2.97 ERA, 4 saves and 29 holds (leading the team). Batters hit .217/.280/.358 against him. And he was pretty much as good against LHB (.610 OPS) and RHB (.660 OPS).
He threw a splitter (47.5% of the time), four-seam fastball (93.7 mph, 34.6%), slider (14.8%) and a few cutters (3.0%).
Unfortunately, Erik had a slow start to spring training when his son, Toby, was hit by a truck. It looks like his son is recovering. Fortunately, Erik doesn’t have to build up to throwing 6 innings at a time. He’s thrown 1.2 innings in spring games, allowing 1 hit and 2 walks, with a strikeout and a balk.
PECOTA figures he will pitch in 52 games, with 20 holds and a 3.90 ERA (I’m taking the under).
ZiPS: 61 games, with a 3.60 ERA.
Steamer: 64 games with a 3.83 ERA.
Poll
Who will lead the Jays in holds this season?
This poll is closed
-
2%
Genesis Cabrera
(4 votes) -
6%
Yimi Garcia
(11 votes) -
15%
Chad Green
(26 votes) -
21%
Tim Mayza
(37 votes) -
1%
Yariel Rodriguez
(3 votes) -
52%
Erik Swanson
(90 votes)
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