Rockies Acquire Hisanori Takahashi From Chicago Cubs

Among the excitement of managing a split against the Washington Nationals this weekend, the Colorado Rockies added a minor transaction to the mix in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for LHP Hisanori Takahashi.

Takahashi (47). Image: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports

Takahashi is the veteran’s veteran at 38 years old. In the past he has pitched for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his Major League debut in 2010 with the Mets in a season in which he started 12 games. Serving primarily as a relief pitcher for the Angels the following year he made 61 appearances and logged a solid 3.44 ERA. It has been downhill since then for Takahashi, with a 5.54 ERA in a 2012 season which he split between the Angels and Pittsburgh.

In 2013 he has made only three appearances for the Chicago Cubs; he struggled, surrendering a home run and 2 ER in only 3 innings pitched. For Triple-A Iowa, where has spent most of his time, he has been solid. As MLB Trade Rumors notes, he has posted a 1.99 ERA to go along with a nice 8.2 K/9 number. So all he has to do is sustain that success with the Triple-A Sky Sox and he should be called up in no time, right?

Hmm….

This is still a valuable move to make, methinks. He is a veteran and he is left-handed, the double-whammy if you want your career to last forever. The Rockies have a number of slumping arms in the bullpen, including guys like Wilton Lopez and Josh Outman who have minor league options remaining. The notion that Takahashi could provide a temporary boost while one of those guys has a minor league tune-up is not the most ridiculous idea this front office has come up with.

And if he flops, let’s just hope that the player to be named later in the deal does not become the next great Chicago Cub.