Kyle Farnsworth is like the Fanny Pack. He was popular for a little bit in the 90′s, but then everyone realized it was a bad idea to have him around.
Then, just when you think he is going to fade out, someone breaks it out again in full force.
That’s Farnsworth to me. Just when you think teams wouldn’t invest in him, he keeps getting good contracts and now not only is he getting good contracts, but his responsibilities may increase.
Farnsworth signed a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays that includes an option that could earn him up to $6 million.
If you thought that contract was interesting, then you might find the fact that Farnsworth could possibly be closing games for the Rays in 2011 flat-out astonishing.
If you take a look at the Rays’ bullpen as of today, Farnsworth appears to be the most logical choice to close games in Tampa in 2011. Right now, their bullpen consists of guys like Adam Russell, Joel Peralta, Jake McGee and Mike Ekstrom.
I could see Russell being the dark horse to close for the Rays in 2011, but it appears Farnsworth is the man right now.
I don’t care what his peripherals say over the last couple of years. If a team has Farnsworth closing games, they are telling their fanbase they really aren’t serious about winning in 2011.
He sucks out loud.
The Rays might still bring back Grant Balfour to close or they may bring in Brian Fuentes to close in 2011.
However, if the Rays are going to pay a bullpen guy $3 million, which is like $10 million in big-market team dollars, I have to believe he is going to be doing something more than pitching the seventh inning.
Watching Farnsworth pitch the ninth inning trying to protect a one-run lead at Fenway Park has to be a scary thought if you are a Rays fan.
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