Blame it on Joel Zumaya. Blame it on Fernando Rodney. Blame it on Freddy Dolsi. But there wasn't a spot available for Denny Bautista in the Detroit Tigers' bullpen, and it appears that Dave Dombrowski thinks that's a permanent development.
Jon Paul Morosi reports that Dombrowski believes he'll be able to trade Bautista this week, after discussions with a few teams left him feeling "optimistic" toward putting a deal together.
Bautista was sent down to Triple-A Toledo when Zumaya was activated on Friday, but I figured he might be coming back once Rodney showed an inability to find the strike zone. However, the Tigers seem to think that Rodney's a salvageable project who can work out his issues with some extra throwing, and that pretty much ruled out any chance for Bautista to rejoin the Tigers in the near future. That, and Dolsi's rocket-like rise from Double-A prospect to reliable set-up man (and possible future closer, if you ask Todd Jones). And don't forget Francisco Cruceta, if Detroit feels like they need to call a reliever up from the minors.
In 16 appearances with the Tigers, Bautista compiled an 0-1 record and 3.32 ERA, with 10 strikeouts and 14 walks in 19 innings.