Fister Traded, now is retiring from baseball

[biggunsbob]

WTF DD

I just do not understand this deal...:/ :/ :/ :/

 

[biggunsbob]

apparently lombardozziaozzio is top 5 in grit factor

lol

 

[Thumb]

I'm already disappointed in 2014 and the calendar has yet to turn.

Why don't we see if we can trade Cabrera for Juan Pierre now, that's the way things have been going.

 

[biggunsbob]

From Keith Law at espn.com:

The Washington Nationals seemed like a good bet to go after an undervalued starter for the back of their rotation -- I guessed Brett Anderson, who was originally drafted by Mike Rizzo in Arizona, in a post earlier on Monday -- and they did just that, sending some quantity -- infielder Steve Lombardozzi and lefties Ian Krol and Robbie Ray -- to the Detroit Tigers for Doug Fister, who'll give Washington one of the best rotations in either league for 2014.

Detroit may fill some minor holes, but I don't think they got full value back given the market for starters right now and how effective Fister has been the last two seasons.

The Nats get Fister for the next two years before he hits free agency, coinciding nicely with their main window of contention, as Jordan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, and Tyler Clippard are all scheduled to hit free agency after 2015 as well. Fister has been quietly effective since Detroit acquired him from Seattle for the baseball equivalent of a wad of used chewing tobacco in 2011, shifting his pitch mix to throw more two-seamers and generate more ground balls; that, combined with plus-plus control, means he can be extremely valuable (averaging more than 4 WAR over the last three seasons) without big velocity.

He's been fairly durable, with one significant injury in those three seasons, a costochondral (cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum) strain, meaning he's had no arm trouble. The Nationals could be looking at 400-plus innings from him over these two years and 9 WAR, all for maybe $18-20 million total if he just goes through arbitration twice.

Fister's arrival gives the Nationals a potential surplus in the rotation, with Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan, and the injured Ross Detwiler all candidates for the fifth spot; Detwiler could move to relief, as the Nationals just traded Ian Krol, the only left-handed reliever in their bullpen, or prospect Sammy Solis could ease into the majors in a relief role to fill that void. They don't have any obvious needs at this point other than that left-hander in the pen, which as needs go is a minor one. This is a stacked team if they can stay healthy.

I can't believe the Tigers couldn't get more total value than this for Fister, who is easily a top 25-30 overall starter in the game; they may have traded more to fill needs than to maximize their return. Krol flourished after a shift to the bullpen, going from 86-89 mph as a starter to 92-95 in relief, with an above-average changeup and fringy curveball; he's underutilized in a lefty specialist role but I like him as a potential seventh- or eighth-inning guy given more time to adjust to short relief.

Lombardozzi is a backup second baseman, lacking the stick to play there every day, and has played just 22 games in pro ball at shortstop, meaning it's unclear whether he can even be a utility infielder in the era of the four-man bench.

Ray is the prospect, a potential back-end starter who shows four pitches but has nothing plus, although there's some upside here if the Tigers can get him to lengthen his stride. His sharpest pitch is his spike curveball, but like most pitches of that type it usually ends up out of the zone, and his changeup is fringy enough that he's had trouble finishing off right-handed hitters. He's a project, a guy with some value but who could use some mechanical adjustments.

Drew Smyly, who was superb in relief for Detroit in 2013, takes Fister's spot in the rotation but won't be able to match that production.

A lefty reliever, a backup at second, and a non-top 100 prospect is just not a good return for two years of one of the top 30 starters in baseball.

He said "Nats fleece Detroit"....

 

[firehim]

So for us to get a number 2/3 pitcher and a journeyman secondbasemen (Sanchez/Infante) the brilliant DD gives up phenom pitcher Turner and a solid catching prospect. Then when he trades our number 2/3 pitcher (Fister) he gets us a bench player and two non prospects. This is the worst move in a series of bad moves for the Tigers. The Fielder trade was a wash thanks to throwing in 30 million dollars. We let Peralta go without getting a draftpick, and now if we get a player to replace him we are going to have to lose our draft pick.

If they wanted to cut payroll then they should have traded sanchez or Scherzer. Fister was one of the best deals in baseball, and we give him to a large market team for a box of balls. Hughes just got 8 million from the twins, and DD thinks that he is going to get a Fister quality pitcher for less than 7 million. He seems out of touch.

 

[biggunsbob]

Jason Stark says it is mostly about money..

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10070747

 

[Mitchrapp]

For a moment I thought we traded Fister for garbage. Thankfully it was just a dream.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Jason Stark says it is mostly about money..

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10070747

When did Detroit ever start worrying about money?

 

[turok]

Gnats getting Porcello for these 2 RPs + a scrub UT would still be lopsided in their favor. IMO.

 

[biggunsbob]

When did Detroit ever start worrying about money?

I guess because Max need 3 dump trucks filled with money..

 

[Mitchrapp]

I get it now. Making this shitty trade, keeping Coke, keeping Kelly - he's going to be the new Commissioner and doesn't care. He's gone.

 

[firehim]

I read the headline on ESPN that we traded Fister to Washington and I thought that we were getting back Zimmerman for sure. That would have made sense. This trade makes absolutely no sense.

 

[Thumb]

Jason Stark says it is mostly about money..

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10070747

How can it be about money? Fister wasn't making that much, even with Arbitration he was an incredible value in terms of performance vs. cost.

Is Mr. I no longer holding the purse strings?

 

[UMRules06]

Fister really was a shot in the arm when the Tigers acquired him in 2011. They made the playoffs all 3 years he was on the team, and he was a big time contributor. This is just very upsetting to me.

 

[firehim]

I get it now. Making this shitty trade, keeping Coke, keeping Kelly - he's going to be the new Commissioner and doesn't care. He's gone.

Maybe Leyland is going to be the next GM. Now it is making sense.

 

[grandy]

When did Detroit ever start worrying about money?

Time to gossip,



Illitch hasn't been seen in public with the team for a while now (source 1,source 2). I wonder if his kids aren't as gung-ho with baseball money as Mr. I has been. Getting rid of Fielder's contract, getting rid of Fister before they have to pay him. The timing just seems a bit funky to me. This is purely speculation on my part.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Its as good as any, Grandy. I mean Lombazzaozzio, I mean come on.

 

[manchild98]

Just doesn't make sense to get rid of a very good starting pitcher for players who just provide some depth.

 

[grandy]

Its as good as any, Grandy. I mean Lombazzaozzio, I mean come on.

The Detroit Royals

 

[Thumb]

Time to gossip,



Illitch hasn't been seen in public with the team for a while now (source 1,source 2). I wonder if his kids aren't as gung-ho with baseball money as Mr. I has been. Getting rid of Fielder's contract, getting rid of Fister before they have to pay him. The timing just seems a bit funky to me. This is purely speculation on my part.

Actually I was thinking the same thing.

He looked near death or at least at the end of his wits during the 2012 ALCS celebrations, I'm guessing the kids or Marion have stepped in to handle the Illitch holdings. I believe one son (oldest I think) had said before he did not have his fathers passion for sports franchises.

Maybe they are looking to dump payroll while keeping big names like Verlander, Cabrera and maybe Scherzer with the franchise to appeal to prospective buyers?