Tiger Geist

Detroit signs former Arizona and Houston closer Jose Valverde to a two year deal, with a third year option.  Numbers are floating around… sounds like 2 years for $14 million, with a $9 million option for a third year.  Detroit forfeits its first round draft pick this summer (#19 overall).

I’m not a fan of the deal personally, but its probably a wash:  Kurt has a nice breakdown on the value of a closer like Valverde vs the value of the draft pick.  So you’re probably for it or against it, and it’ll take a few years to figure out if Detroit made the right move.  I like the idea that, if you’re giving up a draft pick, you get the third year option.  That third year seems quite high for a position Detroit seems poised to replace internally in 10 months, so I don’t understand that one at all.  It probably won’t kill them, unless John Smoltz Jr. is available at #19.

Here’s the interesting part:  The Tigers suddenly aren’t declaring chapter eleven.  Money?  Found some.  Maybe even over-paid a guy that you question if they even needed.  Did someone see Mike Ilitch in Vegas last weekend?  Maybe he bet it all on the Cardinals.

The latest move, along with some discussion that Detroit’s still looking for free agents, brings up these thoughts:

1) As fans, we might now have to come to grips about the possibility that Detroit really didn’t want Curtis Granderson around, or at least that he wasn’t worth his contract.  As of Wednesday this week, you could assume the Granderson move it was a salary dump.  Signing Valverde to a two year deal may signal otherwise.

2) Dombrowski must really have felt like he was selling high on Edwin Jackson.  Or he really likes Max Scherzer.  OR:

3) Detroit is nervous about the starting rotation.  This I can believe;  their system is NOT built around starting pitchers.  Bolstering the backend of the bullpen and the middle-relief corps could free Zach Miner to a starting spot.  I’m not convinced that anyone knows who will have the better year… Jeremy Bonderman or Eddie Bonine.  The rotation is a tossup.  Miner doesn’t do anything exceptionally well, but he does provide depth.  A good argument could be made that there are starting pitchers better then Miner available, for the same price or even cheaper then Detroit spent on Valverde.  Yes… so:

4) Dombrowski isn’t taking chances with “Glass” Joel Zumaya, green Ryan Perry, or some combo of rookies at the back end of the bullpen.  While Detroit seems to have a decent crop of relief pitchers coming up, this provides the Tigers the ability to not rush anyone.  Perry had a decent year in 2009, but you hate to see young players go up and down mid-season.

5) Detroit still has some holes to fill in their infield for 2011;  Brandon Inge’s replacement may not be in their minor league system… the jury is still out at shortstop.  Dombrowski might see some openings to trade pitching talent for some gloves.  I’m not exactly buying this one either, but I’m concerned that Detroit seems pretty well off in 2011 (for both pitching, payroll, and a top-5 talent in Miguel Cabrera) but they have a lot of holes in their farm system elsewhere.

6) I’m just going to say it now:  If Detroit can’t find the money to sign Justin Verlander to a long term deal, I’m going to be pretty pissed about this Valverde contract.  I’m ok with them waiting (long term contracts to pitchers aren’t always a good idea… right Dontrelle?) but if they end up $14 million short on a Verlander deal, there are going to be some pissed off fans.

7) What are Detroit fans going to do without the need to scream at their closer?  Valverde isn’t the best closer ever, but he should be more stable then Todd Jones or Fernando Rodney.  Say what you want about the contract and the draft pick, but as a closer, Valverde isn’t a bad option.  The Tigers have a closer… the Lions have a starting quarterback.  Joe Dumars better watch his step.