Jason Grilli all set to pitch in the ninth – MLB News
The move was anticipated since it had some inevitability.
The trade talks involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox have assumed significance considering the changes they are expected to bring to the former. One of the players who is to be traded in it is the current Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan.
At a time when the Red Sox have Andrew Bailey as their closer, acquiring Hanrahan elicits curiosity, if not raising multiple questions over why the need to make the move. Nonetheless, the Red Sox are said to be looking for increased competition for the upcoming
year.
On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Pirates have their own set of calculations. When they signed the reliever Jason Grilli for another two-year, there were already numerous suggestions that the Bucs were considering using him as the closer.
It, then, turns out that the Pirates really had that in mind. With reports of acquiring four players by sending two to the Red Sox, including Joel Hanrahan – Bucs closer for 2012, the Pirates have effectively made their intentions clear.
It would now be Grilli to assume that role. Even though he has only made 10 appearances as closer in his career, MLB `13 will be an altogether different opportunity for him to close many games.
In 64 games that he made appearances in, Grilli posted 2.91 ERA with 32 HLD, which was indeed quite impressive. Add to it his 90 strikeouts in 58.2 innings, surrendering only 20 runs and 45 hits.
That he performed up to the mark had provided an insight into what the Bucs would do in the offseason. The first thing they did, unsurprisingly, was to sign him for another two year, cementing his place in the team.
Hanrahan had also foreseen the Bucs move considering the quality performance that Grilli put on display in the past season – suggesting that the latter would start pitching in the ninth.
"[Grilli] really turned his career around last season, and we made a pretty good eighth-ninth combo," Hanrahan said. "If I'm not there, I'm sure he will be taking over the ninth inning."
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