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Jarrod Washburn trade could come back and really haunt the Tigers
At the time, not long before the trade deadline in 2009, it seemed like the perfect move. The Tigers were in first place in the American League Central. They were in need of another quality starting pitcher. Jarrod Washburn, a veteran left-hander with pennant race and postseason experience, was having one of his best seasons and was available.
So Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski pulled the trigger on a trade that brought Washburn to the Tigers from the Seattle Mariners. In return, the Tigers sent soft-tossing left-hander Luke French and hard-throwing, but low-level minor league left-hander Mauricio Robles to the Mariners.
French is a classic 4-A left-hander (9-12, 4.99 ERA in the major leagues). It's Robles who may come back and haunt the Tigers.
He will turn 22 this weekend and had a big advancement year in 2010 in the Mariners' organization. He evnetually made five starts for Triple-A Tacoma last season, going 3-1. He throws in the mid-90s, and while there are still command issues, he is a top fight prospect who has struck out 481 hitters in 442 minor league innings. Baseball America recently rated him Seattle's 6th best prospect.
Washburn? He went 1-3 with a 7.33 ERA for the Tigers. He hasn't pitched since and has, at various times, said he is retired as a player.
So Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski pulled the trigger on a trade that brought Washburn to the Tigers from the Seattle Mariners. In return, the Tigers sent soft-tossing left-hander Luke French and hard-throwing, but low-level minor league left-hander Mauricio Robles to the Mariners.
French is a classic 4-A left-hander (9-12, 4.99 ERA in the major leagues). It's Robles who may come back and haunt the Tigers.
He will turn 22 this weekend and had a big advancement year in 2010 in the Mariners' organization. He evnetually made five starts for Triple-A Tacoma last season, going 3-1. He throws in the mid-90s, and while there are still command issues, he is a top fight prospect who has struck out 481 hitters in 442 minor league innings. Baseball America recently rated him Seattle's 6th best prospect.
Washburn? He went 1-3 with a 7.33 ERA for the Tigers. He hasn't pitched since and has, at various times, said he is retired as a player.
posted by Pat Caputo at
11:44 AM
10 Comments:
I can't criticize this one. I thought acquiring Washburn and Aubrey Huff were great moves that season. Not.
Larry Baker,
I liked the trade at the time, too, but we were both wrong. And it be very wrong if Robles becomes a top-notch major league pitcher.
Caputo
I also thought it was a fine trade. It was definitely clear that Washburn's super ERA had been kind of illusory (Seattle being a pitcher's park and his peripheral stats were right in line with his career numbers), but it definitely seem like a safe bet that he'd come in and be solid.
Just think: If he'd just pitched better in one of his starts, then the Tigers would have (theoretically) made the playoffs.
Robles probably won't be a great player (though you never know: Johan Santana just sorta found himself in 2003 from outta nowhere), but I'm sure it'll be a net loss for the Tigers, no doubt.
But, again, this isn't something that could've been forecast, because it seems impossible to have known that Washburn was gonna stink so bad and Robles was gonna mature into a productive major leaguer (assuming that does indeed happen). So it was a gamble that I don't think Dombrowski can be blamed for.
Yeah, both the Washburn and Huff deals blew up on Dombrowski, which was really bad luck you gotta admit. I expected one or both to bear fruit, and with just one or 2 more pieces of fruit they woulda made the Playoffs.
If the Tigers are in contention again this year, late season, I'd make similar moves. You got to.
David Brennan,
Washburn got hurt, too. It was just a disaster. It's hard to tell on Robles. There is a definitely a high end there, from what I've been told from a scout who saw him last year. Lefties who throw that hard are unusual to get to Triple A 21 and have success says a lot. But command is an issue. He walks a lot of hitters, and in the major leagues, those hitters are even more picky.
Caputo
Anonymous,
Well, that's what you play for - to get into contention. You should go for it. What sometimes happens with these deals, though, is that it will be a big-name for just some minor league player. And that minor league player sometimes - although the percentages are low - becomes a star. Could that be happening here? Just thought people would want to know the latest on it.
Caputo
There are plenty more pitchers where Robles came from. All those young pitchers the Tigers draft and sign, they're expected to be used as trade bait when needed
BEN: "All those young pitchers the Tigers draft and sign, they're expected to be used as trade bait when needed"
See: Miller, Andrew.
Remember when he was the next big thing?
I remember when they traded him, this phony tough guy called into 97.1 and goes, I know he's great, I SAW him in college. He threw just ONE pitch and I turned to my buddy and went, 'Game over.'" The caller and a certain host of a certain noon-hour talk show then proceeded to say that Andrew Miller was the next Randy Johnson. I called in and went, "Yeah, except for the 97 mph fastball, the 5 Cy Youngs, the perfect game, the World Series MVP, and ever producing in the majors, he's Randy Johnson all right."
The hosts and subsequent callers mocked me, so I only ever called into Caputo's show after that (and just sparingly).
Ben,
The Tigers do have a couple guys. Andrew Oliver, certainly. Casey Crosby has a real good chance. But 22-year-old lefties doing as well as Robles in the high minors while throwing in the mid-90s do not grow on trees.
Caputo
David Brennan,
Yeah. You never know when these guys will be the next Andrew Miller or the next John Smoltz. Does make trading you pitchers with strong arms precarious business.
Caputo
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