OT- Tigers trade for Joakim Soria
They gave up two minor league pitching prospects. I'm by no means a good source of minor league knowledge and have exactly zero knowledge of either prospect.
Soria will be a seriously welcome addition to the bullpen. In 33 1/3 innings he is currently rocking a 42:4 k/bb ratio. That will be a nice change of pace from can't-locate-my-fastball Nathan. That said, I believe Ausmus starts Soria out as the setup guy, bumping Joba to the 7th and keeping Nathan as the tentative closer on an extremely short leash.
from the Bulls?
lebron joins the bulls. then and only then does espn up vote this comment
That's awesome!
gave up their #3 prospect, Jake Thompson, and #5 prospect, Corey Knebel.
A risky move considering that Soria have one year left in his contract this season plus club option for next season. It's a move that DD had to make but giving up two of the top pitching prospects is a steep price.
I found it funny -- but by no means a coincidence -- that the free press ran a piece on Thompson just this morning. Anyone else think the front office asked the local media to talk up the value of one of their chips in what was at the time a developing trade?
If I were a Rangers fan I would be pretty worried if my team was scouting for prospects by using the Free Press.
...seriously, does anybody read the Free Press anymore? What a rag.
But I would want my fans to come up with a praise-filled piece when they Google the name of the prospect they've otherwise never heard of.
I agree totally, it's way too steep a price, but that seems to be what it takes nowadays to get good bullpen arms. Just hope Thompson doesn't become the ace many expect or this will come back to look like the John Smoltz trade.
Andrew Miller, Jair Jurrgens say hi. For every John Smoltz there's 20 prospects moved in trades that don't even become regular MLB players.
I hate when people bring up John Smoltz as an example or reason to not trade prospects. If your most recent example of a traded prospect that went on to have a HoF career is 25 years ago, then I think we can safely say it is a pretty rare occurence.
Exactly just saw Maybin got suspensed 25 games for drug use I will gladly give up prospects for a proven player.
I've been so tired of the "What about John Smoltz?" crying for years, because the people who bring it up so often conveniently leave out the other half of the story: Doyle Alexander was a terrific addition to the 1987 staff. 11 starts, 9-0 record, 3 shutouts, and a 1.53 ERA in a season where they won the division by ONE game. Sure, the Tigers traded a HoF pitcher, but name one person at the time who could have accurately predicted Smoltz's future success. Most trades aren't steals - you have to give up something to get something. In the Smoltz trade, the Tigers got exactly what they wanted and needed.
If it weren't for the damn Twins ... (I still hate that team!)
Doyle Alexander was the key cog that gave us a chance at the playoffs in 1987. And remember that is was more difficult to make the playoffs in 1987 than in 2014. Th
Smoltz is one of very few examples - in recent Tigers history, at least - where a future HOF player was traded for a short term rental. Albeit, a very valuable short term rental.
Before Montreal and Boston. The flip to Boston as part of the Clemens deal was the way you want those deals to go - like the Alexander trade, really.
Of course, relievers are volatile, so trading for one is all about gut feel. Soria has a good track record, and is pitching well this year, but he's also a two-time Tommy John surgery victim, and that's gotta worry people.
I like the deal, becuase the Tigers need to win now. If Thompson becomes an ace in four years, we won't really be in a position to leverage him, because we'll be struggling under the decline years of Verlander and Cabrera. As long as Soria stabilizes the bullpen this year, and pitches OK next year, we should be able to live without those prospects.
Jake Thompson and Core Knebel are the prospects. Both pretty highly regarded in the organization. A pretty hefty price. Here's hoping Soria is helping shut down a NL team in late October.
NL teams don't scare me nearly as much as the A's and Angels currently do
...probabl because you only need to worry about NL teams if you actually make the World Series. And even then you've only got to deal with one of them.
are 5-1 vs the A's
2-2 vs the Angels with 4 this weekend.
5-2*
Kind of amazed we parted with Thompson. Both names are higher-level prospects. But it's win now, baby. DD never stands pat.
Ken holland take note
need to win now. I thought Thompson might be looked at to replace Scherzer. Losing him and Knebel makes me wonder who the fifth starter will be or if they go all out to keep Scherzer.
Regardless, they don't have much longer before age is going to create other problems. They need to go all out now.
Scherzer, not Thompson.
Yeah like the poster said above, its Robbie Ray's spot to lose, and if they don't like what he's done then its probably to the free agent pool for a 5th starter.
I can get behind it. Not my favorite deal but we have to win now and we all know what is holding them back.
It's a move that needed to be made - a healthy Soria is a pretty dominating late-inning pitcher, but then I saw the names that we parted with to get him and, because of how highly regarded they were, I admit to wincing a little bit. I like the move and the emphasis placed on being successful in the present, but it was a hit on the future potentially.
Soria's present deal, so everyone knows, was a 2-year, $8 million contract with a club option for a third year and $7 million. There was also a $500,000 buyout in the last contract as well.
Soria has 16 saves in 17 chances this season, while posting a 2.67 ERA with 40 strikeouts and only four walks in 30 1/3 innings.
Just compare that to what they have now. Had to happen.
Steep price, but I don't care. Pay it. Pay it now. The window is closing, the Tigers haven't won the series in my lifetime, and the time to go all in is now before the rest of the roster is too old.
Yes they were highly regarded in our farm system, but our farm system blows, so it's not saying much. Knebel has spent time in the majors and hasn't done much. Thompson may prove to be a solid pitcher in a few years, but may not. Soria has proven to be a successful pitcher. I like the move.
By most accounts the talent in the Tigers farm system is mediocre at best. They could give up their top ten prospects for all I care as long as it helps the big league club.
If anything, I was concerned that they wouldn't be able to find any bullpen help because of their general lack of attractive prospects (and the possibility that other might outbid them).
Their farm system is so desolate that these would be borderline top 10 prospects for most organizations. I remember wincing at the prospects give up in the Sheffield trade to never hear (much) from them again.
It's quite a hefty price, but this team has World Series aspirations so I guess it's necessary. Giving up Thompson is ok, but I really really hoped to keep ahold of Knebel who really has good stuff.
In baseball the window to compete for championships can be narrow so it was probably a worthwhile gamble.
In about 3-5 years, the Tigers are really going to suck.
You probably said that when we traded Cameron Maybin (who was just suspended today for roids!) and Andrew Miller for Dontrelle Willis. And some other guy...
actually, he was suspended for amphetamines...a small molecule CNS stimulant...whereas roids are cholesterol-like molecules that change/alter developmental programs
actually, he was suspended for amphetamines...a small molecule CNS stimulant...whereas roids are cholesterol-like molecules that change/alter developmental programs
The Tigers will win the WS and then slash the payroll, I think you're on to something.
About the Tigers front office, it's that they're not very good at scouting prospects. Of the contributing players on the team, only Verlander and Porcello came up through our farm system. I guess Avila falls into that category too, but you're stretching the definition of contributing by including him.
In the rest of the league, is there anyone that we traded away from our farm system who's contributing to their new teams? Granderson comes to mind, but he's really dropped off in the last couple years. Garcia still has a lot of potential, but he's hurt. Anyone else?
Dombrowski has done a fantastic job of cashing in on prospects' future potential for guys who can contribute now. If I was a GM for any other team, I'd immediately say “no thanks“ if Dombrowski offered me a trade package including prospects.
Castellanos, and Suarez say hello.
Your point still stands though, as Matt Joyce, and Charlie Furbush are the only guys I can think of that are contributing to their respective teams.
Though admittedly Santiago is with the Reds doing the same thing he did for Detroit. In any case both of them pre-date the current Tiger front office.
Should have included them. Castellanos moreso than Suarez, but you're right. I'm not convinced that Suarez will end up being anything special.
I'd add Drew Smyly.
They need to win a ws before victor and miggy are too old, Verlander fully becomes a back of the rotation guy, kinsler comes back to earth and then add in if we were to lose Scherzer and that recipe means that they definitely have to win now.
This is VMart's last season under contract, and I doubt DD will be willing to throw huge money in a guy who is getting into his upper thirties... Next eight days should really show us how badly Illitch and DD want this one because I honestly think we need one or two more solid arms in that bullpen.
GET. ER. DONE.
in dd we trust. next to beilein, hes the most trusted sportsfigure in this town as far as im concerned.
this franchise was throwing away a golden shot at a title if they didnt make a major upgrade in the bullpen. lineup is great and starters maybe could be too. bullpen was trash.
how many stud prospects has dd slang over the year? hwo mnay do we regret?
thompson sounds interesting, based mostly on progression vs age. ray is the guy though.
also, i figured verhagen was being showcased. maybe he didnt impress...
But he just went on the DL today or yesterday.
I'm kinda iffy on giving up two of our best pitching prospects, but I have faith in Dave. I haven't heard of one prospect that we have traded away (other than Jurrjens) who has been immensely successful in these past few seasons. This was most definitely needed, but I feel like we need to get one or two more solid arms in that bullpen for me to feel safe.