OT- Tigers trade for Joakim Soria

Submitted by nerv on

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.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24634960/report-tigers-to-acquire-joakim-soria-for-two-pitching-prospects

Michigan4Life

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^

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.

MGoBender

July 23rd, 2014 at 11:21 PM ^

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.

Sam1863

July 24th, 2014 at 8:48 AM ^

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!)

Naked Bootlegger

July 24th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^

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.

ca_prophet

July 24th, 2014 at 2:55 PM ^

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.

Quailman

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^

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. 

BlueCube

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^

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.

LSAClassOf2000

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^

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. 

Unicycle Firefly

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^

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.

Moleskyn

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^

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.

French West Indian

July 23rd, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^

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).

YakAttack

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^

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.

WMUgoblue

July 23rd, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^

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. 

Moleskyn

July 24th, 2014 at 12:43 AM ^

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.

NorthSideBlueFan

July 23rd, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^

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.

Generic MGoBlogger

July 23rd, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^

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.

Rodriguesqe

July 23rd, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^

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...

 

Generic MGoBlogger

July 23rd, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^

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.