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Best Part About Signing Valverde: The Tigers Are A Better Team
In many different ways, signing closer Jose Valverde didn't make sense for the Tigers.
It didn't improve their lineup, which is feeble and lacking punch from the left side of the plate.
He is relatively expensive - $7 million each of the next two seasons.
But he is an upgrade from Fernando Rodney, who likely would have had trouble repeating his success last season.
It takes the Tigers' bullpen and moves everyone down a slot, making it stronger overall. It may allow the Tigers to use Phil Coke as a starter. The Tigers should have a very good pitching staff, but they did last year as well. They need to score runs. And trading Curtis Granderson and letting Placido Polanco get away hurt them badly in that regard.
It didn't improve their lineup, which is feeble and lacking punch from the left side of the plate.
He is relatively expensive - $7 million each of the next two seasons.
But he is an upgrade from Fernando Rodney, who likely would have had trouble repeating his success last season.
It takes the Tigers' bullpen and moves everyone down a slot, making it stronger overall. It may allow the Tigers to use Phil Coke as a starter. The Tigers should have a very good pitching staff, but they did last year as well. They need to score runs. And trading Curtis Granderson and letting Placido Polanco get away hurt them badly in that regard.
Labels: Jose Valverde Phil Coke Curtis Granderson Placido Polanco Fernando Rodney
posted by Pat Caputo at
5:45 PM
6 Comments:
Dombrowski's master plan is a bit confusing, isn't it? On the other hand, it is more exciting as a fan to see the team add major league talent than to lop off payroll. Leyland's usually pretty good at sorting out his set-up and middle relief pitching, and suddenly he has lots of legitimate options. But there sure are some question marks in the field and throughout the batting order.
I am not sure I quite get what the Tigers are doing at this point. They keep saying they tend to be very competitive thsi coming season. They got a ton of pitching now. Grant it I would like to see of us went out and maybe signed a Ben Sheets to a cheaper deal if I could... to reinsure in case Bonderman or Sherzer don't work out. I wouldn't mind us trying to package some arms if possible now and going and getting a solid hitter. I hear rumors of Johnny Damon. Yeah that would of been nice 2 or 3 years ago. But now... to me don't make much sense..
SO it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I personally wanted us to just give the nod to Ryan Perry or if Healthy Zumya. But its done with so now you got I think a solid bull pen. Really only 3 pitchers that u can count on. Cause there is no gurantees with Bonderman, Willis, Robertson, and Gallaragga.
TO me the issue is hitting and hearing rumors of Johnny Damon.. to me just doesn't make sense. I'd rather us signed a vladmir Gurrero if we were going old fart here or saved that deal for Velverde for a Holiday or something. I got a feeling a deal or 2 more will be made before the season starts, but as of now you have to be scratching your head some if you are a Tiger fan.
Hey Pat, lots of people do not like this trade but I do not know why? If he is healthy you got a wonderful arm with closer experience. Sure we gave up the 19th overall pick which would affect other MLB teams more than the Tigers. Tigers are drafting high school talent like players such as Crosby and Fields or terrific upside potential that carry a lot of risk such as Oliver, so therefore having two supplement draft picks and a second rounder fits their protocol. I like way the Tigers are drafting but they could do better. I do not like Coke as a starter but he would be better than Nate. Tigers should trade one of their lefties, Raburn or Ramirez and reliever prospect to acquire a young left hand hitting outfielder and be above average fielder. Tigers have to make a decision on Raburn either use him or get off the pot. Raburn is a good outfielder beside the odd play that makes him look bad. Raburn and Thomas both need 400 ABs to see what they can do. Tigers could sign Damon but you have 3 DHs in the line-up but it would put pressure on Maggs to produce.
It's good to have a solid bull pen - but Dombrowski's off season moves seem more like a person struggling with a Rubik's Cube - and having trouble getting all the orange on one side. Last year he had the green and yellow and half the blue but the orange was all screwed up. Now all the other sides have been retwisted and the orange lines up.
In short - I don't know what the hell is going on and trading Granderson and letting Polanco go makes less sense.
I'm not against it - I just don't get it!
If the Tigers do go after and get Damon, I'm gonna buy Dave a Rubik's cube cheaters guide.
This offseason is almost as hard to watch as August through September of last years season.
Maybe it will make more sense to me when the boys get to Lakeland next month. But right now - I have no idea who the 2010 Tigers are or where they sit in the AL Central.
This is a terrible move in my estimation for a team that should be trying to maintain as much salary flexibility as possible going forward in what appeared to be a rebuilding effort.
If the Tigers think they can compete in the division next year, it would have made much more sense to keep Granderson than to spend money on a good (not great) closer. Giving up the #19 overall draft pick as well, which would mean acquiring a top-5 prospect in the organization makes this even worse.
I don't trust Dombrowski to make the right moves to retool the Tigers for the long-term. Yes, Valverde make the Tigers better next year but its not worth it for a team with so many other holes. Relief pitchers are notoriously risky as well, I would have much rather tried to develop an option from within than resources on a luxury item.
To make it short and sweet, Dombrowski has no clue what he's doing.
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