It’s Coffey Time! Dodgers Sign Todd Coffey

Here is some Hot Stove news in February Dodger fans. The Dodgers have signed pitcher Todd Coffey. According to Ken Rosenthal on twitter Kem Rosenthal Tweet The deal is for one year worth 1.3 million dollars and includes a club option for 2013. As you may or may not know, Coffey is the big relief pitcher that sprints out of the bullpen. He pitched for the Nationals last season, and every time he was called into pitch he is well known for sprinting out of the bullpen, most of the time to the WWF’s Ultimate Warrior song.

Remember there is one or possibly two spots open in the Dodger Bullpen. Blake Hawksworth just had surgery on his elbow, and he may not be ready by April, and with Ronald Belisario‘s 25 game suspension that he must serve, the Dodgers felt they could use an extra reliever. This is actually not a bad pickup. Coffey has put up decent numbers over the years.

Todd Coffey is 31-years old, and was originally drafted by the Reds in the 41st round of the 1998 draft. Coffey is a right handed pitcher, and made his MLB debut on April 19, 2005 for the Reds as he pitched two innings and gave up two runs against the Cubs. Coffey has pitched for three teams: the Reds, Brewers, and the Nationals last season. He pitched with the Reds from 2005-2008. Then he was claimed by the Brewers and pitched in Milwaukee from 2008-2010. Finally he pitched for Washington last year. Coffey is a big man, and could even match up pound for pound with former Dodger Jonathon Broxton. Coffey is 6’5 and 240 pounds, and was born in Forest City, North Carolina.

Coffey has always put up decent numbers over the years as a reliable late inning reliever. He has pitched in 69 games over the last two seasons, and has pitched in as many as 81 games. He has a 24-18 career record and a 4.08 ERA. He has 11 career saves, a career strikeout rate of 6.7, and a decent walk rate of 2.8. Coffey has some terrible splits though. He is great against right handers, but he is awful against lefties. Rightys have only had a career .725 OPS against him, while lefties an .859 OPS. Coffey has a good fastball that can reach the mid 90’s and a good slider that helps him get a lot of ground outs late in games. Coffey had a good year with Washington last season pitching in 69 games, posting a 5-1 record, a 3.62 ERA, and whiffing 46 batters in 59 innings.

I’m liking this pickup, it’s a good depth move. The Dodgers want to have as many options as they can have in the late innings. Coffey is respectable and quite entertaining. Apparently when he was pitching for the Brewers, and when he would sprint out of the bullpen, they would post this graphic up on the scoreboard…..

Nice move for the Dodgers, acquiring a serviceable middle reliever for cheap. Can’t complain about this kind of move. It’s nice to hear about some hot stove moves a few weeks before spring training begins. So if the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup, then the next time you pour your morning Starbucks…..tip one back for Todd. Someone better hide the doughnuts in the clubhouse, Todd is a large man. It’s Coffey time in 2012 Dodger fans! Go Blue!