BP Unfiltered: The Friars Claim Neshek by R.J. Anderson

Pat Neshek became something of a sensation during the 2006 season. Neshek’s sidearm delivery sparked the allure, but his ability to retire right-handed batters in an efficient manner made him more than a novelty act: it made him into a viable big league reliever with tangible value. Through this point in Neshek’s career, he has a 3.05 ERA and 2.82 SIERA, thus contributing a little over three Wins Above Replacement Player despite only tossing about 130 innings. After missing most of 2008 and all of 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Neshek suffered from a variety of injuries in 2010, including a sore hamstring and inflammation in his throwing hand. Neshek only found his way into 11 big league games in 2010, instead spending most of his time in Triple-A Rochester. As such, Neshek has not seen significant action in the major leagues since 2007. That could be changing soon, though, as the Padres claimed everyone’s favorite vegetarian sidearmer on waivers over...