Could there be a new arrival from Triple-A Toledo in the Detroit Tigers' bullpen this week? Perhaps a Taiwanese import?
According to the East Windup Chronicle, reliever Fu-Te Ni will be called up by the Tigers. The report by Jackson Broder (who's also an international scout for the Minnesota Twins) says Ni will join Detroit's major league roster "early this week," which should mean that he'll join the Tigers during their series in Oakland.
This season with the Mud Hens, the left-handed Ni has pitched in 24 games, compiling a 3-0 record and 2.60 ERA, with 32 strikeouts (versus nine walks) in 34.1 innings.
It's something of a curious move for the Tigers, given that they already had the opportunity to call Ni up when they sent Ryan Perry down to Toledo, yet opted instead for Freddy Dolsi. Is this an indication Detroit is already having second thoughts about the move? Or might Ni give the bullpen another situational left-hander, a role that Nate Robertson has shown no capability of filling in his recent appearances?
Maybe we'll find out after today's game.