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| Mariners trade Washburn to the Tigers | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:11 am (57 Views) | |
| CinciFan985 | Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:11 am Post #1 |
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Reds 45-57
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For the third time in four years, the Tigers have pulled off a trade around the July 31 deadline. This time, they filled their need for starting pitching with a veteran left-hander on a roll, acquiring Jarrod Washburn from Seattle in exchange for left-handers Luke French and Mauricio Robles. The 34-year-old Washburn will be eligible for free agency at the end of the year. However, his contribution to the Mariners made him worth the rental price for the Tigers. Washburn owns an 8-6 record with a 2.64 ERA, third-lowest in the American League, while allowing just 109 hits over 133 innings with 33 walks and 79 strikeouts. If the Tigers needed any more evidence how much of an impact Washburn can make, they saw it when he baffled the Tigers on July 23 at Comerica Park. Washburn pitched seven scoreless innings against Detroit that day, allowing just two hits in his fourth straight victory, before he scattered a run on five hits in seven innings against the Blue Jays in his most recent start on Tuesday. Washburn has allowed just three runs on 20 hits in 36 2/3 innings over his past five starts, all of them Mariners victories. That recent level of production appealed to the Tigers, who were looking for help in a rotation that had featured two rookie starters for the past month. While the Tigers had needs in their lineup as well as their rotation, the latter proved especially meaningful. Washburn should provide more than depth in a rotation fronted by Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson. He should be a productive left-hander to balance out an otherwise right-handed starting staff that also includes right-handers Rick Porcello and Armando Galarraga. Whether that makes Detroit an AL Central favorite remains to be seen, but it allows the Tigers to feel comfortable about their rotation heading into the season's final two months. The Mariners were reported to have interest in signing Washburn to a contract extension. Washburn is represented by agent Scott Boras, who's known for preferring that his clients enter free agency rather than re-sign. Given that, this very much reflects a short-term deal for the Tigers, but one they were willing to make given the situation. Washburn will likely make his Tigers debut early next week in Detroit, where the Tigers will host the Orioles on Monday-Wednesday. French's spot in the rotation comes up in Monday's series opener. The 23-year-old French cracked the Tigers' rotation last month following steady success at Triple-A Toledo. He went 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts and two relief appearances for the Tigers, but lasted six innings in only one of his five starts. He quickly ascended the Tigers' development ladder after being selected in the eighth round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. Robles, who turned 20 years old in March, has split this season between Class A West Michigan and Lakeland, going 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA and 111 strikeouts over 91 1/3 innings. He allowed just 79 hits in that span. This is the third time in four years that the Tigers have pulled off a deal within 48 hours of the deadline. Detroit swapped Ivan Rodriguez for Kyle Farnsworth last year, and acquired Sean Casey at the 2006 deadline in exchange for Minor League pitcher Brian Rogers. |
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7:19 PM Jul 10