Tribe Signs Reliever Julio to a Minor League Free Agent Deal
Tribe makes a roster move today - grabbing former stud relief pitcher Jorge Julio off the scrap heap. Julio is another classic case of trying to find a diamond in the rough for the bullpen. Here is the presser from Bart:
CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed RHP JORGE JULIO to a minor league free agent contract with a non-roster invitation to Major League camp in Winter Haven, FL.
Julio, 28, spent most the year with the Colorado Rockies, posting a mark of 0-3 with a 3.93 ERA in 58 appearances (52.2IP, 50H, 23ER, 20BB, 50K) for the NL Wildcard entry. He began the year with Florida, having been acquired by the Marlins from Arizona at the end of spring training, and appeared in 10 games for the Marlins (0-2, 12.54ERA). His combined 68 appearances in 2007 were a new career-high as he limited left-handed batters to a .227 (22-97) mark for the season with 0 HR allowed. His ERA in Coors Field in 2007 was 2.86 (32G, 28.1IP, 23H, 9ER, 9BB, 27K).
The Caracas, Venezuela native owns a career Major League record of 13-33 with 99 saves and a 4.35 ERA in 411 relief appearances with Baltimore, New York-NL, Arizona, Florida and Colorado (419.2IP, 395H, 203ER, 199BB, 401K). His 99 career saves are 3rd among Venezuelan-born relievers as he recorded 20 or more saves over three straight seasons from 2002-04 as the closer for the Baltimore Orioles. His 36 saves in 2003 were 4th in the American League.
Julio had his best years with the Orioles in 02, 03 and 04 with 25, 36 and 22 saves. He’ll be a late-innings guy for sure.
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
