I like this.  McClung was considered for the Devil Rays' closer job this spring, but got sent down ... If I remember correctly, McClung's agent didn't tell him he had an option remaining, so McClung was really upset when he got word he was being sent down.

we have our future closer?

McClung seems to have yet to get the little green fellow's advice. 68 BB to 59 Ks last year in the bigs is admittedly his worst figure (after being rushed into service), but this year in AAA, despite his stellar ERA, it's not great either - 43/68.

Still, his ERA in AAA is (perhaps deceivingly) below 2, his WHIP's a respectable 1.38, and he's only given up 3 gopher balls in 58+ IP. He's having his best year yet above A+ ball this year, so perhaps he's found his rhythm. I like the trade.

On his list of similar pitchers at Baseball Reference, you can find Nashville stalwart R.A. Dickey in the #5 slot.

Perhaps more interesting is the ninth guy on the list of similar pitchers through age 25: Cuddles Marshall. It's kind of cool that the top four guys on that list went on to have pretty decent careers as relievers. It's not so cool that the next six, well, didn't.

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that is discussing the Gagne trade, the Yankees were ready to pounce if we released Ball-4.