John Axford
41-Year-Old
Free Agent
2024 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
Closes curtains on career
Axford announced Wednesday via social media that he has retired from professional baseball.
ANALYSIS
Axford's playing days were believed to be behind him after he underwent Tommy John surgery as a 38-year-old in September 2021, but after sitting out the 2022 season, he proceeded to pitch for the Canadian team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic last spring. The right-hander didn't end up signing elsewhere following the WBC and will now formally step away from the game. A veteran of 544 career appearances over parts of 11 big-league seasons, Axford notched 144 saves and posted a lifetime 3.90 ERA in 525.2 innings across stints with Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Oakland, Toronto and the Dodgers. He enjoyed his best season with the Brewers in 2011, when he led the majors with 46 saves and finished ninth in the National League Cy Young Award balloting.
Axford's playing days were believed to be behind him after he underwent Tommy John surgery as a 38-year-old in September 2021, but after sitting out the 2022 season, he proceeded to pitch for the Canadian team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic last spring. The right-hander didn't end up signing elsewhere following the WBC and will now formally step away from the game. A veteran of 544 career appearances over parts of 11 big-league seasons, Axford notched 144 saves and posted a lifetime 3.90 ERA in 525.2 innings across stints with Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Oakland, Toronto and the Dodgers. He enjoyed his best season with the Brewers in 2011, when he led the majors with 46 saves and finished ninth in the National League Cy Young Award balloting.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2017
2016
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2011
2010
Axford was merely a backup plan at closer for the A's in 2016. Though his control improved, his walk rate remained high (4.1 per nine) and he posted the lowest strikeout rate of his career (8.2 K/9). He hasn't posted an ERA lower than 3.95 since 2011. That tells a story of how inefficiently he's worked: To go along with his inability to stave off free passes, he got ahead 0-1 just 50.9 percent of the time. Even with all these weaknesses, his fastball average remains healthy (95.6 mph), and his 144 career saves could earn him future chances if he can convince Oakland management to focus on nostalgia. That was enough to net him 15 holds last year, which increases his value in leagues that count the statistic. Still, the A's are developing several young closer-type alternatives that likely will keep the shaky right-handed veteran out of the saves picture.
More Fantasy News
Competing in World Baseball Classic
Axford (elbow) announced Monday via his personal Twitter account that he intends to pitch for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
ANALYSIS
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Throwing again
Axford announced Monday via his personal Twitter account that he's resumed throwing for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last September.
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Moves to 60-day IL
Axford (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
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Ruled out for season
Axford is dealing with significant structural damage in his elbow and won't pitch again in 2021, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
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Lands on IL with elbow injury
Axford was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with an elbow injury, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Mounting comeback bid
Axford was working on a return to professional baseball prior to the suspension of the season, Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Axford signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays in 2019, but a stress fracture in his throwing elbow that he sustained during spring training kept him out for the entire season. However, the 36-year-old expressed interest in returning to the mound, although he's unsure whether it will be possible in 2020 due to the delayed start to the season. Axford's last major-league action came with the Dodgers and Blue Jays in 2018, when he recorded a 5.27 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 54.2 innings.
Axford signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays in 2019, but a stress fracture in his throwing elbow that he sustained during spring training kept him out for the entire season. However, the 36-year-old expressed interest in returning to the mound, although he's unsure whether it will be possible in 2020 due to the delayed start to the season. Axford's last major-league action came with the Dodgers and Blue Jays in 2018, when he recorded a 5.27 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over 54.2 innings.