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You didn’t think the Cleveland Indians were done with potentially looking into signing Matt Adams, did you? Oh, no no no sir, they are just getting started. Their latest hot stove-destroying acquisition is 34-year-old Alexi Ogando to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training.
The former Texas Ranger prospect — ranked No. 3 in the Rangers organization prior to the 2010 season by Minor League Ball — spent the 2017 pitching in Korea, and he may be looking to be stretched back into a starter. It’s a role Ogando hasn’t filled since 2013, but his best season in the majors came as a starter in 2011 when he pitched 169 innings with a 3.51 ERA and 3.65 FIP. His last stint in the majors was 36 relief appearances with the Atlanta Braves in 2016. He struck out 19.6 percent of the batters he faced with the Braves, but walked a career-high 15.5 percent.
As with all minor-league deals, this is a depth move with no real downside. The upside could be another surprising reliever in the vein of of Dan Otero and Tyler Olson.