OT: Tigers Trade Scott Sizemore for David Purcey

Submitted by AAB on

From where I'm sitting, this seems like a pretty terrible move. Sizemore, to this point, has been a thoroughly mediocre (at best) second baseman, but he's young-ish, and the Tigers have no talent at second.

David Purcey is a 29-year-old lefty reliever with a career ERA of 5.17, a career FIP of 4.49, and a career xFIP of 4.79 in 162 innings. His career k/9 is 6.00, and his bb/9 is an ugly 4.2. I know the bullpen has been bad, but Purcey isn't actually good, and the Tigers gave up a potentially useful piece at a thin position to get him.

OMG Shirtless

May 27th, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^

"All the noise in Ann Arbor Detroit is, 'Is Denard Robinson Scott Sizemore going to stay or leave?' I'm like,'Hey, if the kid wants to go, don't let the door hit you on the way out. You looked fantastic for five games against nobody. That's what you did.'  I'm not going to deny his talents, but, 'You ain't won nothing in Ann Arbor Detroit, son! Not so much we need to worry about if you're going to be here next year or not.' "

Starko

May 27th, 2011 at 5:30 PM ^

Is there something else going on here?  Based on the relative quality of the players, there doesn't seem much reason for the Tigers to make this trade, unless they are going to make another, stronger move for bullpen help and this is just supplemental.

AAB

May 27th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^

(he was like 16th on Sickels top 20 Tigers prospects list at the start of the year), and Brennan Boesch has been worth exactly 0.0 wins over a replacement level player so far this year (he was worth about a half a win over a replacement level player last year).  

If the Tigers go after David Wright, I have to imagine the Mets are going to demand Turner.  Wright is a perennial 4+ win player.  

bronxblue

May 27th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^

I'd be astonished if the Mets made that trade.  He is the face of the Mets along with Reyes, and while that might not mean much, it would take more than some minor-leaguers and Boesch to get him to Detroit.  Well, unless the Mets just don't field any other offers and Bernie Maddoff represented the D in negotiations.

maizeandblue21

May 27th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^

but the owner of the mets just called him out saying he wasnt a star, he hasnt been that good since 2008, he cost 16 mil, and is only under control for next year. they wont demand turner and the only player that the tigers would give up turner for would be king felix or maybe longoria

AAB

May 27th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^

in 2010 he was worth 4.  That's not as good as the numbers he put up in 2008 (7 wins), but it's on par with Victor Martinez (when Martinez was playing catcher, which boosted his value) and it's better than anyone else the Tigers have outside of Cabrera.  

bronxblue

May 27th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^

To be fair, Wilpon is a complete idiot.  He basically called out his entire time and either said they were overrated or just sucked.  So no, the fact he doesn't love Wright means very little to me in terms of evaluating his value.  And yes, I don't think he is the player he was a couple of years ago, but he is still far more valuable than a couple of non-elite minor-leaguers and an okay ML player.  

BlueRoses

May 27th, 2011 at 5:35 PM ^

Maybe they are going to trade another reliever for an infielder (third baseman)?  Otherwise, this doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

 

bronxblue

May 27th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^

Sizemore isn't that much younger than Purcey (26 to 29), so it's not like this is a total youth-for-experience trade.  And for as much promise as Sizemore has shown in spurts, he's also struggled hitting at the major league level whenever he's received significant time, and I'm not sold that he'll ever be better than a repalcement player given his lack of pop.  This feels like an apples-for-apples trade, but that bullpen has struggled at times and you can't expect AA and Benoit (and I guess Coke if they keep him in the pen) to be the only real options between the starter and Valverde.  My sense is that Dombrowski will make another move and get a legit 2B, but I'm not shedding a tear over this trade.  

AAB

May 27th, 2011 at 5:50 PM ^

that I pretty much always hate trading something of value for relievers.  There's nothing Purcey brings to the table that you can't get from someone who is already in your system (he's essentially a replacement level player).  Sizemore hasn't been remotely great, but he at least plays an every-day position and has some potential.  To trade that for something you could have gotten just as easily by promoting a guy from AAA frustrates me.  

bronxblue

May 27th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^

I agree, but my sense is that the organization has seen enough from Sizemore to know that he might never be able to hit well at the major league level, and so getting a lefty reliever probably isn't the worst trade possible.  They've tried to work a 2B through the system for what seems like eons (I can't even think of the last one from the system), and so maybe it is time to cut their losses and sign someone as a FA or trade.  

And maybe Purcey will work out better than people think - it is a pitcher's park in Detroit, and I rather take a flyer on a guy who is in the ML than call up a kid who might not be ready from the minors (and I'm not sure there are any more ML-ready pitchers in the system right now) to be knocked around.  I agree that if there are good options in the system then call them up, but based on my limited knowledge of Erie and Toledo, Purcey is a better option.

Calvin

May 27th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^

This seems like an "eh" move. Sizemore was not fantastic and did not seem like he was going to be otherwise. I've been pretty sick of the Schlereth and Thomas show. Both have been pretty awful. Maybe Purcey will be better.

I'm pretty sure we just went from having no 2b prospects to having no 2b prospects.

UMMAN83

May 27th, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^

This is a non-trade at best.  How about re-signing Polanco, putting Johnny at 3rd, trading Inge and a whole cast of non-producers for a shortstop and a LF.  Time to start dreaming about the 2012 season.  Glad I haven't wasted any money on a game this year.  Come on Michigan football.

jawsMD

May 27th, 2011 at 8:59 PM ^

 What team would be willing to trade a capable shortstop or outfielder for a cast of non-producers? Quantity over quality doesn't work in pro sports.

The Sizemore trade really illustrates that they lost faith in his potential. This trade will only look bad long run if Sizemore pans out. Right now, Rhymes and Sizemore are both hitting around .220. Worth, who is known for being an average hitter, could and should likely contribute similar offensive numbers but with much improved defense. Where does that hurt the Tigers in the short-term?

BillyShears

May 27th, 2011 at 11:19 PM ^

By whom is Danny Worth known for being an average hitter? The guy hit .253/.320./355 in 1300 plate appearances. That's really bad for a major league hitter. Except those are his minor league numbers.

pdxwolve

May 27th, 2011 at 7:09 PM ^

We traded our top two prospects to get him (and absorb Willis); two "can't miss" prospects. Thus far, both have missed. Scott Sizemore has been average with the glove and a poor hitter. This is a trade of a middling middle reliever for a middling prospect who wouldn't be playing in the majors if we weren't thin at second.

Just give Ramon Santiago the job already.

 

Lloyd's Boy

May 27th, 2011 at 8:49 PM ^

He wasn't flashy, but I think he was easily a top 5 Tiger during his time in Detroit. One of the most consistent hitters in the game, a good glove, and struck out once for every 15 of Inge's.

MH20

May 28th, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^

I am so goddamn sick of Brandon Inge.  He is worth nothing more than replacement level value, but Detroit has consistently overvalued him because of his supposed plus defense.  Get somebody, anybody, to replace him and send the overrated defender packing.