The Tigers have confused the baseball world by signing Armando Galarraga to a 1 year 2.3M deal (non-guaranteed as he is still an arbitration elligible player) and then DFA’ing him the next day. To me this move makes sense to many perhaps not so much. Offering him this contract keeps him out of the arbitration process and makes him an attractive trading chip for 10 days. After that if he is placed on waivers the Tigers may still be able to net something through trade from the claiming team. If he goes unclaimed and ends up back in AAA then I would bet he does not receive the entire 2.3M. Also the Tigers would then have the option of releasing him and only owing him termination pay if they make that move before the season starts. In other words it clears a 40 man spot for the Tigers regardless and yet still gives them an attractive trading chip.
Now, with the Mets rotation seemingly full, why would they be interested?
Look I am not one to say that Galarraga is gold. Actually he is a bit overrated because of that no-no hitter that he was part of. In3 seasons with Detroit he has produced mostly back end of the rotation results. 4.58 ERA, 1.344 WHIP, Pelfrey like K’ totals and only a 1.62 K/BB ratio. However, he is only 29 years old and healthy. He has consistently averaged around 91 on his FB and his velocity was actually up slightly last year. Over his career he has also shown to have a decent slider to complement his FB. He is a flyball pitcher producing a 49% fly ball percentage. He has also averaged 6 innings per start.
With two health concerns slotted for the rotation, I see no reason not to try and bring in Galarraga and get a good look at him during spring training. You can always release him in March or look to trade him again then.
So what would it take to get him from the Tigers during these 10 days? Perhaps a guy like Evans and a lower level prospect. Someone they too could look at and see if there would be a role but also not be locked into a salary. After looking at their roster I find myself not having a damn clue what they need so uh… you make the call.
13 comments
kingman 26
1/19/2011-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
Eh, hard to say…if they can get him for very little dollars and prospect-wise, maybe.
Detroit sure does do some wacky things…they often spend money like a drunken Omar in Las Vegas.
TRS86
1/19/2011-8:42am at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
LOL,
See I understand completely why the Tigers signed him and then DFA’d him. It was purely to make him more attractive through trade and also keeps them out of the arbitration process regardless while still giving them the opportunity to release him for basically nothing in March.
As for dollars, if we trade for him we would be on the hook for the 2.3 as I would think the Tigers would not chip in any money. However, we would still have that same option to dump him in March. I can’t see the prospect demand being more than throw away players or a guy that might not make our team due to options.
metsfan4decades
1/19/2011-9:08am at 9:08 am (UTC -4)
I was wondering what that was all about when I read it last night. Still not sure I understand the Tigers mindset.
Anyway…If we did trade for him and we could cut him in March, not owing him more than say a 1/5 of what we signed for him, it might not be a bad move. Especially with the health considerations for some we signed.
I think it would all depend on what the Tigers would be willing to take in a trade. Don’t think he’s worth one of our top prospects. We certainly don’t have many pitching prospects so if that’s what the Tigers are looking for, we’re kind of out of luck.
TRS86
1/19/2011-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
Yeah I have no idea what they would be looking for. Perhaps a SP that has options left that they could stash away? A utility player that could make the team?
As for what we would owe him I think it’s only 1/16 of his contract.
As I said above to me it makes perfect sense what the Tigers did.
njstuckintx
1/19/2011-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Is their (the tigers) 40 man maxed?
TRS86
1/19/2011-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
My impression is yes that they did it to make room for Penny.
njstuckintx
1/19/2011-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Hmmm… I was just thinking of whom would be options for Galaraga, and that would stop Evans for being an option.
TRS86
1/19/2011-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
Unless they see a role for him over someone they already have.
njstuckintx
1/19/2011-9:41am at 9:41 am (UTC -4)
Anything is possible, I guess.
TRS86
1/19/2011-9:46am at 9:46 am (UTC -4)
Like I said I have no idea if they need a RH utility player or not.
TRS86
1/19/2011-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
Just looking, it appears that most of their current utility options are LH.
njstuckintx
1/19/2011-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
Well… You have 2 starting pitchers in your rotation that are major injury concerns. Based on that alone, stockpiling starting pitchers would make much sense. And with Capuano having incentives for being in the BP, you have some flexibility there as well.
Now, other than the no-no he threw, his stats are Misch like. I’d tend to believe that it may be best to hold onto prospects vs. trading for a pitcher the Mets already have.
Hmmm, quite the conundrum. With the above 2 points I made bringing me into a stalemate, there must be something to swing the needle one way or another. That factor would be the 2.3 MILLION DOLLAR SALARY. That should keep the Mets from trading for him with their current financial situation. Would I trade for him? Sure, but I live in a world of no financial constraints, the river is made of chocolate milk and never-ending-gobstoppers are wanted by competing candy makers.
stickguy
1/19/2011-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
it’s depth, but at least healthy depth. Not quality of course, but still young enough to have a couple of career type years before fading away.
So, if they could get him for nothing of particular importance, worth the shot. Like Real said, they could always end up flipping him or just eat the money . and Capuano into the pen to start is not that bad of a result.