http://www.blessyouboys.com/2013/12/7/5183390/bless-you-boys-podcast-95-doug-fister-rrade
Bless You Boys Tigers Blog Podcast 95: HookSlide's enemies list.
Topics:
? Doug Fister was traded to the Washington Nationals for either spare parts and a prospect or spare parts and Robbie Ray, the next member of the Tigers' rotation, scheduled to arrive in 2015.
? Taken in a vacuum, was the Fister deal a good trade or bad trade? When looked at in a larger context in concert with other moves, does the trade start to make more sense?
? Many are playing the "In Dave Dombrowski we trust" card, saying he's the smartest guy in the room and must know something about Fister, Ray, Ian Krol and Steve Lombardozzi others don't.
?The trades of Prince Fielder and Fister cleared a great deal of salary. Is it possible owner Mike Ilitch has told Dombrowski the Tigers have reached the upper limits of a self-imposed salary cap?
?The trade was made in part to move Drew Smyly into the rotation. Is asking Smyly or Rick Porcello to replicate Fister's numbers too much to ask?
? Everyone out of Washington is claiming Steve Lombardozzi is gritty, blue collar, and a winner, yet no one is saying he's talented, having hit .264/.297/.342 in 705 career at bats. Could Lombardozzi be the next dividing line in the war between Detroit's traditional fans and those who believe in advanced metrics?
? The Tigers have their closer, inking 39-year-old Joe Nathan to a two-year, $19M contract, with a club option third year worth $10M with a $1M buyout.
? Are there concerns in giving an aging Nathan huge money, even if contract was at a market rate?
?From all accounts, the Tigers' first choice as closer was Brian Wilson, but talks broke down. Wilson re-signed with the Dodgers for one-year at $10 million, with the second year a player option at $10M. Did the Tigers end up with the right closer?
?Fallout from all the moves include Dombrwoski confirming Miguel Cabrera will move back to first base and Nick Castellanos to third, Joaquin Benoit won't return and Bruce Rondon is being heavily counted upon to step into the setup role.
?Don't expect Shin-Shoo Choo to come to the rescue in left field, especially when he's going to command a long-term contract worth well over $100 million. But there's always Andy Dirks...
? Robinson Cano and Jacoby Ellsbury have agreed to what are sure to end up as albatross long-term contracts. Ten years for Cano, seven for Ellsbury? ARE MLB GMs NUTS?
?Speaking of possible albatross contracts, are the Tigers now set up to give long-term extensions to Cabrera and Max Scherzer?
?HookSlide is apparently podcasting from a submarine, Kurt endorses Chris Cotillo for your baseball scoops and Al reminds fans Brad Ausmus is a work in progress and we should hope he ends up as being as good of a skipper as Jim Leyland.
?Fahrvergn?gen!
?Froinlaven!
