Anyone Up For Another Tigers-Braves Trade?

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 20, 2008 11:10 AM EDT in News Comment 5 comments

The Freep's Jon Paul Morosi suggests that tonight's Tigers-Braves game could be worth following (though it's only available on MLB.TV) to check out several Atlanta relievers that are out of options, and thus possible trade candidates. The Braves have two openings for their bullpen, and four pitchers competing for those spots.

Here are the names Morosi listed, along with their pertinent statistics:

RHP Tyler Yates: 2-3, 5.18 ERA; 69 strikeouts in 66 innings; 2 saves

RHP Blaine Boyer: 4-3, 4.30 ERA; 62 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings; 2 saves (AAA)

RHP Chris Resop: 1-3, 4.57 ERA; 39 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings (AAA)

LHP Royce Ring: 5-2, 3.05 ERA; 58 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings (AAA)

So does anyone catch your eye there? The Tigers and Braves have done quite a bit of trade business over the past few seasons. Could they keep that streak alive this year?

David O'Brien has more on the Braves' bullpen logjam in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He mentions that Resop has been clocked at 99 m.p.h., while Ring is very good against left-handed hitters and Boyer has a fastball/curveball repertoire. One big red flag with Boyer, however, is the 50 walks he issued last season.

Meanwhile, Braves Journal predicts Yates and Boyer to draw the short straws for the final roster selections.

UPDATE: MLB Trade Rumors picked up the story, as well, and suggested several more relievers that could be or might already be available.

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Comments

What about Miner?

You have to question what the point would be of getting a guy like Yates or Boyer. Jones, Bautista, Grilli, Seay, Byrdak, (presumably) Bazardo aren't going anywhere since they're out of options. That means in order to put one of Atlanta's garbagemen in the pen we'd have to send Miner to Toledo. I don't think Miner would do any worse than these guys and I don't think it's worth picking up relievers just because they're available. The pen isn't quite that bad.

by amcondor on Mar 20, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

That's a great point.

Miner did pretty well when Leyland put him in a set-up role last season, and deserves a shot to pitch some important innings for the Tigers this year.

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 20, 2008 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We're probably more OK than we think

There were a couple of compelling points over at the Detroit Tigers Weblog today. My favorite:

"Bull pens are always unpredictible. I will wait until the all star break to be seriously worried about ours. I just want the season to start."

Amen. There is no way the pen is going to knock us out of contention by June. And any deal we can get now, we're sure to get in July. Furthermore we might be able to get a better deal since teams may be a bit more desperate then as opposed to two weeks before the start of the season.

Someone else pointed out that if Rodney and Zumaya come back healthy than we might have one of the best bullpens in the league.

Overall I think it's kind of a non-issue. We won't know how good or bad the pen will be until it starts losing games. Plus it's not like Bautista, Miner and Bazardo are batting practice coaches.

by amcondor on Mar 20, 2008 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right now, you build a team to get to July

I can't remember if it was in 'Moneyball' or not, but I recall Billy Beane saying the team you come out of Spring Training with is not the team you'll take into October. You spend the first four months of the season figuring out what kind of team you are and what you'll need to compete further. That's what the Tigers are doing.

We have no idea (though we can make some educated guesses) as to which relievers will be available right now. Teams fall out of contention, reach stalemates in contract negotiations, etc.

There are going to be nights when things look disastrous. Someone will blow a lead or a ballgame, and we'll panic. That's when we have to take a breath and remember that it's a LONG season.

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 20, 2008 5:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

tonight

Ring and Yates both pitched tonight. Ring had and 1-2-3 inning facing Santiago, Jones, and Thames. Nothing impressive. Yates had trouble, walking three. So yeah, I second (or third) the wait until June mantra.

by from the copa on Mar 21, 2008 12:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs