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Joe Blanton has defied the norm for relievers

Last year, there was a reliever who made two more appearances than Dellin Betances, threw more innings, and had a lower ERA. That reliever wasn’t given a qualifying offer this offseason, but he’s still a free agent with spring training underway. The pitcher in question is 36-year-old Joe Blanton, a former starter best known for being on the 2008 World Series champion Phillies. Despite pedestrian career numbers and pedestrian stuff, Blanton has been a dominant reliever for the last two seasons, with a 2.65 ERA, 9.2 K/9, and 2.4 BB/9.

When we think of relievers, we tend to think of pitchers who have 100 mph fastballs and/or wipeout secondary pitches.