Kontos was designated for assignment last week by the Pittsburgh Pirates after posting a 5.03 ERA in 21 appearances this season. While these are disappointing numbers, you can’t expect much from a free agent at the beginning of June. If he was pitching well, he wouldn’t have become a free agent.
We all knew the Cleveland Indians needed bullpen help as soon as possible. The July trade deadline is still a ways away, so Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff needed to fill the gaps with smaller free agent and waiver acquisitions.
The other day the Tribe added lefty Oliver Perez to its bullpen, and now Kontos is joining the organization as well.