Jason Isringhausen is 36 years old, and had some injury issues last season with the Cardinals. But injury concerns, along with a long time away from the game, didn't stop the Rays from signing Troy Percival to a deal. And it's not stopping them from signing Isringhausen to a minor-league deal, as they did on Friday night.
The ironic part of it all is that Isringhausen could be the guy to replace Percival as the closer in Tampa, if the low risk of signing him reaps a high reward. But whether he's the closer or not, signing Isringhausen is a shrewd move either way.
Most likely, Isringhausen will turn into a serviceable middle innings guy. But it's nice to have a guy who knows how to close on the roster now that their most reliable closer of the '08 postseason (David Price) is going back to his original calling of starter. And when you figure that Percival will most likely battle those nagging injuries again, the closer job is going to be there for the taking whether Isringhausen will be the guy, or whether the likes of J.P. Howell will be given a shot.
Perhaps Percival and Isringhausen together can make one good, and healthy, closer.
The ironic part of it all is that Isringhausen could be the guy to replace Percival as the closer in Tampa, if the low risk of signing him reaps a high reward. But whether he's the closer or not, signing Isringhausen is a shrewd move either way.
Most likely, Isringhausen will turn into a serviceable middle innings guy. But it's nice to have a guy who knows how to close on the roster now that their most reliable closer of the '08 postseason (David Price) is going back to his original calling of starter. And when you figure that Percival will most likely battle those nagging injuries again, the closer job is going to be there for the taking whether Isringhausen will be the guy, or whether the likes of J.P. Howell will be given a shot.
Perhaps Percival and Isringhausen together can make one good, and healthy, closer.
Source: Fanhouse.com