The Philadelphia Phillies have signed former Boston Red Sox closer Edward Mujica to bolster the 2016 bullpen.
The 31-year old Mujica is a 10-year veteran of Major League Baseball. The righthander has pitched almost exclusively in relief that entire time, and has pitched for six different organizations.
Mujica was originally signed in October of 2001 as a 17-year old amateur free agent out of Venezuela by the Cleveland Indians. He made his big league debut with the Tribe in 2006, and pitched there for three seasons, finally becoming a regular member of their bullpen mix by 2008.
On April Fool’s Day in 2009 it was no joke, Mujica was really dealt to the San Diego Padres just as the season was set to open as part of a conditional deal. He pitched in a career-high 93.2 innings that season with the Friars, including making the only four starts of his big league career.
After two seasons, San Diego dealt him away along with Ryan Webb to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Cameron Maybin. In Miami, Mujica enjoyed arguably his best season in 2011. He had a 9-6 record with a 2.96 ERA, allowing 64 hits in 76 innings, with a 63/14 K:BB ratio.
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At the 2012 trade deadline, the Fish sent Mujica to the Saint Louis Cardinals for a minor league prospect, and he got to appear in the first nine postseason games of his career that fall for the Cards.
In 2013, Mujica became the Cardinals’ closer. He saved 37 games with a 2.78 ERA and a 46/5 K:BB ratio that season, and appeared in one game each in that year’s NLDS and NLCS.
In December of 2013, Mujica signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. He pitched with Boston until being traded to the Oakland Athletics in May of last season. He then became a free agent once again last month.
Mujica throws a four-seam fastball and splitter, mixing in a two-seamer and a slider occasionally, with lefties receiving a diet of splitters. He has appeared in 494 big league games, allowing 551 hits in 546.2 innings, with a career 423/89 K:BB ratio.
Earlier today, the Phils announced the signing of former A’s closer Andrew Bailey. He and Mujica are now added to a recently signed group that includes David Hernandez, James Russell, and Ernesto Frieri as experienced big league relief pitchers as GM Matt Klentak continues to make low-risk moves in hopes of improving what was one of a number of 2015 liabilities.