MLB News: Indians let go of Matt Carson and Lou Marson
December 2, 2013While We’re Waiting… Waxing poetic on the Buckeyes plus a few good reads
December 3, 2013Major AL Central news again occurred Monday night, as the Detroit Tigers traded starter Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals. High schooler Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish was the first to report the news. Both teams have now confirmed the deal.
In the trade, which FanGraphs has already labeled a “steal” , the Nationals are sending back lefty starting prospect Robbie Ray, lefty reliever Ian Krol and infielder Steve Lombardozzi. The top player of the bunch is regarded to be Ray, who was 11-5 with a 3.36 ERA between High-A and Double-A this past season and is the fifth-best prospect in the Nats system, per Baseball America.
Overall however, it appears to be a light haul for the 29-year-old Fister, who was 32-20 with a 3.29 ERA in 70 games for the Tigers over the last 2.5 seasons since being traded from Seattle. Combined with Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez, he helped give Detroit perhaps the most dominant four-man rotation in baseball. He is not a free agent until after the 2015 season. He now gives Washington one of MLB’s best rotations alongside Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann.
It’s a curious move for Detroit, who also made a big splash in the Prince Fielder-Ian Kinsler swap two weeks ago. The two deals will likely save the team about $15 million for the 2014 season and countless more in years to come because of Fielder’s massive remaining contract.
But without the juggernaut rotation that led the Tigers to 93 wins and an AL-best 3.44 ERA as a unit, there’s possibly an opening for the Indians to move up in the division in the near future. I wouldn’t expect Detroit to be done with major moves this offseason, however.
[Related: How crazy would it be for Indians to consider trading Michael Bourn?]
7 Comments
That likely takes the Nats out of the Ubaldo sweepstakes, but big-spending Detroit Little Cesar’s are now in line to overpay him as well as Scherzer.
The Tigers had 6 starters because of Smyley coming back, so they’re not in the Ubaldo sweepstakes either most likely. Weird trade though. Not because it was Fister, but because they didn’t really get much for him. It’s possible they really think one of those guys is going to turn into something special, but still, Fister has been pretty great for the last couple of years and the Nats are getting him at a relative bargain. (probably around the same price over the next two years as Kazmir is about to get from Oakland)
What the heck? Did Mike Ilitch finally run out of money?
The playing field is being leveled
sad that we think that when their 4th best starter gets traded away. baby steps I suppose (though I still think they won the Kinsler trade).
Fister definitely was a nice get for them at the trade deadline 2 years back though and I’m surprised they didn’t get more in return. I am happy he is gone.
those cardboard pizzas aren’t moving as well now that the economy has improved a little and people can afford pizzas made out of actual dough.
Not happy times in Detroit, I’m sure. If I were a TIgers fan, I’d grudgingly accept the FIelder trade if it meant the club would add more payroll, not drop it further.
It would be even better if their next competitors, the Tribe and Royals, made some big signings to turn up the heat even more but not holding my breath on that one.