Tigers Sign Jose Mesa

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Tigers have signed Jose Mesa to a one-year deal for about $2.5MM.  He turns 41 next May.

Joe Table switched to relief in '94 and then had some glory years as the Tribe's closer.  After that he bounced around to about eight million teams with varying success. 

With an awful K/BB of 1.08 last year, you have to think Mesa is on the brink of collapse.  No one is sure how he helps the Tigers, unless Omar Vizquel is traded to the White Sox.

Comments

[EM3]

Maybe this frees them up to explore trading Todd Jones and moving Zumaya to closer?

That's the only thing I can think of.

[bravesrule14]

my dad calls him Joe Table to lol. i dont understand y they would sign him. I mean hes not a good mentor and lefties cut him up. i just dont see y this would go down, unles like EM3 said it was to make Jones expendable and they put Zumaya in the closer role

[Shapirate]

Does Jose Mesa really make anyone expendable?

[beeniez]

Is Todd Jones really that valuable though? The Braves didn't trade much for Bob Wickman, a supposed one year rental of an ederly closer.

I guess with so many people needing relievers they could probably get a lot. But still, Todd Jones is way better than Mesa and more reliable. The difference of pay worth the trade of Jones?

[comma8]

Jose Mesa makes Jose Mesa expendable.

[beeniez]

"Jose Mesa makes Jose Mesa expendable." Haha!

How funny would it be if he leads the league in saves? Or just even make it the entire year?

[thecubsdontcatchtheball]

2.5 million guaranteed? wow, what is john franco thinking? or jesse orosco...i figured mesa was as old as those guys.

[coolpapabell]

aren'y the Tigers going to move Zumaya into the starting rotation? isn't that why they were entertaining offers for Bonderman? Maybe this move will restart the Bonderman trade rumors?

[melyrules]

DO THE TIGERS REALY NEED MESA??!??*??

[hood]

Another power arm in the bullpen used the right way he could be good. Unless they think they need a situational righty.

[melyrules]

yeah, i guess thats alright. But jones and mesa in the pen makes it very old.

[MickS]

Does Mesa have a clause in his contract that allows him to skip games with the Indians at the Jake? He might have reason to fear for his safety in Cleveland. This will lead to rumors of the Tribe trying to re-acquire Omar V.

[ZachAttack]

Why would the tigers move Zumaya into the rotation? It makes no sense. Todd Jones is old, and will be let go when he is a FA, and Zumaya is a solid RP. Also there is a guy in the Tigers system named Andrew Miller, heard of him? Well he will be joining the rotation soon.

[ZachAttack]

Why would the tigers move Zumaya into the rotation? It makes no sense. Todd Jones is old, and will be let go when he is a FA, and Zumaya is a solid RP. Also there is a guy in the Tigers system named Andrew Miller, heard of him? Well he will be joining the rotation soon.

[bamabosoxfan]

I believe that Zumaya is Detroit's closer of the future. He's got some great stuff, and with a little help will be an unhittable pitcher.

That being said, Todd Jones and Jose Mesa have been around the block a time or two. Both are still good pitchers, but a major reason to keep them is to tutor Zumaya.

I'd hardly call Jones done, either. Yes, he's old, but he's still one heck of a reliever. Not to mention that he's a Jacksonville State grad... my alma mater!

[thecubsdontcatchtheball]

i dont think there's a necessary reason to move him into the rotation. plus that 100 mph slows down in later innings, obviously. They have a bunch of options in the pen. Rodgers, Bonderman, Verlander, Miner, Miller, Robertson, Maroth...are they looking to make a deal?

[melyrules]

what about ledezma?