Jean Machi

JEAN MACHI
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: February 1, 1982
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 245
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int. FA, Philadelphia Phillies, 2000
How Acquired: Minor League FA
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Machi signed a minor league deal with the Pirates for 2009, then re-signed for 2010. He’s a fastball-slider pitcher with low-90s velocity. He’s also had weight problems.

2002-05: Bounced up and down with Phillies, pitching generally well, but was lost in minor league phase of Rule 5 draft. Rays pushed him up to high A. Had a high K rate but allowed far too many baserunners.

2006: Move to bullpen worked out well, as he put up good numbers apart from high walk rate. Became free agent after season and signed with Blue Jays, who put him on 40-man roster.

2007-08: Pitched well in AA in 2007, although K rate dropped, but struggled there in 2008. May have been injury-related, as he missed most of the first half. Both BB and K rates have fluctuated throughout career, and in 2008 it was BB rate that increased sharply. Jays released Machi after 2008 struggles. Late-season altercation with manager that resulted in him being sent home may also have played a role.

2009: Was added to Altoona roster part way into season, then finished year in AAA bullpen. Had best season so far, throwing strikes and keeping runners off base at both levels. Was equally effective against LH and RH batters in AAA, but in AA, according to unofficial numbers at minorleaguesplits.com, LH batters hit .340 against him and RH only .164.

2010: Had outstanding winter ball campaign, impressing Pirates enough that he went into spring training with outside chance at winning roster spot. Pitched very poorly, though, and got reassigned to Indianapolis. Served as the Indy closer most of the year, yielding for a little while to Wil Ledezma. Had only a decent year, striking out many more hitters but struggling with control problems off and on. Had moderate trouble with LH hitters, who hit .269 against him.

It wouldn’t be a bad thing if the Pirates brought Machi back for another year, but they may want to try somebody else with a better chance of being useful in the majors.

STATS
Baseball Reference
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2010: League Minimum

    PLAYER INFORMATION
    Signing Bonus: N/A
    MiLB Debut: 2002
    MLB Debut: N/A
    MiLB FA Eligible: Eligible
    MLB FA Eligible: N/A
    Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
    Added to 40-Man: N/A
    Options Remaining: 1 (USED: 2007, 2008)
    MLB Service Time: 0.000
    TRANSACTIONS
    February 22, 2000: Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent.
    December 13, 2004: Selected by the Tampa Bay Rays from the Philadelphia Phillies with the 7th pick in the AAA phase of the 2004 Rule 5 draft.
    October 31, 2006: Signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent.
    February 2, 2009: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent.