Left-handed relief pitching was highly touted as a need for the Red Sox bullpen and a well-seasoned veteran is now a free agent – Tony Sipp. The 35-year-old Sipp is coming off a 3-year, $18 MM deal with the Astros and had arguably his finest season in 2018 appearing in 54 games, tossing 38.2 innings, and having a very respectable 1.86 ERA/2.41 FIP.
Sipp is viewed as a situational lefty meaning just that – a specialist for left-handed hitters, but for his career lefties hit Sipp at .221 and righties at .216 with corresponding associate numbers being similar. For a negative Sipp has a career 34.1 GB% and that one pesky nuisance – a 4.0 BB/9 (3.0 BB/9 in 2018).
Sipp mixes up three pitches – a fastball (91.8 v), slider, and change. In 2018 Sipp had a 13.7 SwStr% (swinging strike) and for comparison, Kelly posted a 10.8%. And then the price tag. Sipp was paid $157,000 per inning – Chris Sale was paid $76,000 per inning.
Just what will the market offer for Sipp? Relief pitching is certainly valued and Sipp is coming off an outstanding season for a great Astros team – a perfect fiscal storm for Sipp. That said I would be hesitant on signing Sipp despite the fact he would certainly be a suitable addition since his 2016-17 performance scares me off.
VERDICT: Pass