David

Aardsma

Aardsma has a 5.59 ERA in 20 appearances this season, but he’ll help more than Glendon Rusch, especially since there’s no chance that manager Dusty Baker will ever have him start a game.

Aardsma had a 2.18 ERA and a 23/6 K/BB ratio in 20 2/3 innings for Iowa. He’ll be tried in middle relief again.

Aardsma will be an extra arm in the Cubs’ bullpen. His fantasy value is zero.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports that it’s a major-league deal worth $500,000. Aardsma is currently working his way back from Tommy John surgery last July and likely won’t be ready to contribute until mid-season. The 30-year-old posted a 2.90 ERA and saved 69 games for the Mariners from 2009-10, so he could be a savvy addition.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News was the first to report the terms of the contract. Aardsma isn’t expected to return until the second half of the season following Tommy John surgery, but the former M’s closer could end up paying big dividends down the line. This is your classic low-risk/high-reward move.

The move was made in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Eric Chavez. Aardsma, who signed with the Yankees last week, is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and could be a factor during the second half of the season.

Aardsma was activated from the 60-day disabled list and passed through waivers unclaimed. The 29-year-old was going to be non-tendered after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July, but today’s transactions allows him to enter free agency sooner. Seattle bypasses his final year of arbitration. Aardsma saved 69 games for the M’s during the 2009-10 seasons. We probably won’t see him again in the big leagues until late-2012, but someone will undoubtedly take a chance on him with an incentive-laden deal.

Aardsma allowed two runs in two innings today in his lone appearance during his latest stint in the majors.

The Giants don’t have much faith in Aardsma right now, so expect him to work mostly at the end of games that have already been decided.

It’s not a surprise, as Aardsma will likely miss at least the first half of 2012 following Tommy John surgery and, in his final year of arbitration, would receive a raise from his 2011 salary of $4.5 million. It’s possible he could wind up re-signing at a lesser rate. The 29-year-old saved 69 games for the M’s during the 2009-10 seasons.