Indians Ink Free Agent Relief Pitcher Justin Grimm to Minor League Deal

The Indians, looking to rebuild their bullpen after losing Andrew Miller and having a number of players underperform last season, have inked free agent Justin Grimm to a minor league deal with a non-roster invitation to Major League Spring Training camp.

Grimm has plenty of Major League experience, as the 30-year-old owns a career Major League record of 20-23 with a 4.98 ERA in 306 games with the Rangers, Cubs, Royals and Mariners.

Last year he split time between both the Royals and Mariners. He also was on the team that beat the Tribe in the World Series back in 2016 as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

One of his former managers, Joe Maddon, spoke highly of Grimm when he left Chicago to ink with the Royals after bring released in March of 2018.

“He’s got a great arm. He’s got a good reputation. He’s a great teammate. So I’m happy for him and hope it works out well,” Maddon said of Grimm.

The right handed thrower was a fifth-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2010 and spent the majority of his big-league career with the Cubs. In 2016 he appeared in 68 games as the Cubs won the title.

Expect the Tribe to continue to stockpile free agent pitchers that can come in and hopefully help a pen that is going to be expected to rebound after an awful 2018.

The team has already given non-roster invites to five pitchers for spring training, including Grimm.