11:32pm: The Marlins have "mild interest" in Willis and are debating bringing him back to Miami, according to Capozzi.
9:00pm: Don't expect the Marlins or Mets to pursue Dontrelle Willis. As Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post (via Twitter) and Andy Martino of the New York Daily News report, neither NL East team is interested in the former Rookie of the Year. The Mets have an expensive, struggling left-hander of their own in Oliver Perez, so it's not a surprise to hear that they aren't interested in Willis.
Martino reports that the Mets are not interested in the recently-designated Nelson Figueroa, either. The team apparently prefers its own pitchers to Figueroa or Willis. The D'Backs, however, are looking for pitching depth and are interested in Willis.
Should start making the: Dontrelle Willis Rumors: (Day of the week)
Shame does not look like Will could be headed to Florida, but as far as Lowell for Willis.. Forget that.. At least Lowell has some value as a hitter and can play some semblance of defense (short term) at 1B and 3B, mentally stable and a team leader, while Willis is libel to fall apart at a moments notice. Boston does not need another Milton Bradley type (tad less) on the roster. Let him work on a low pressure situation so he does not deteriorate and become a problem and hopefully find himself again with a small market and hopefully NL team.
Did you really just compare a total nut case to a nice guy who just can’t find the plate?
Just as far as being unstable. Did not say he is not a nice guy. Remember Willis quite fondly from his days as a member of the Fish, but once he got to detroit, he had a pile of mental problems, just not the serious kind that seem to afflict bradley.
He would probably be a better investment at this point then Pedro Martinez, he could go back to the NL and put up some decent stats
Joe Capozzi just reported that the marlins have a MILD intrest in willis. link to blogs.palmbeachpost.com
Willis coming to the marlins is one of those…..eh? ideas… the marlins do need lefty reliever help, but detroit has already sent us a lefty and is paying their salary (Robertson)…do we trade Robertson back? i hope not, he’s been a solid #5. Miller and West are rehabbing in A and AAA….so the rotation could be crowded. But if Willis wants to come back as a reliever lefty i think i would work, he loved miami….but would he want to relieve? It would all be a trick to sell tickets since he is beloved here in miami….so its a good idea if we fall out of contention in the crazy NL East.
love the idea of the D-Train back in Miami!!!
Bring him back to the Marlins… if for nothing else then to put some people in the seats!
I know everyone is hot on the idea of Willis resurrecting his career because you can take a flyer on the guy for the league minimum, but he’s done. He was done before he signed the deal with Detroit (not sure what they were smoking on that deal) and he’s done now. IF he’s ever gonna figure it out, it’s gotta be in the minors or on a team that doesn’t care what he does to the scoreboard, cause it’s gonna get ugly. REAL UGLY. I think he’s done for good and even the flyer is a waste of money.
I can see why the Fish might be interested in taking a chance on him, and glad the Mets are not, but it’s a waste of time and money. He’s done.
Whats the deal with his leg kick? That seemed to be happening when he was successful and then it went away….i have a hard time believing that a pitcher that was once so reliable can turn into such a waste….no one? Not one scout or coach can fix him?
Detroit is infatuated with that loser Inge who is only good for his defense. I don’t really see anywhere else Lowell can play because you have one of the best players in the game at first, and Boesch and Damon in the DH spot. I’m not sold on Willis contributing to Boston right away, he still walks way too many and would need some time getting comfortable out of the pen. Good thought, but I just can’t see it happening.
Doesn’t make sense at all. You have any idea how patient the AL East hitters are? Willis would come into the game, walk a few batters, and leave without recording an out every appearance. Boston brass is smarter than to make a deal like this.
Plus, the D Train should make stops at NL Teams only.
If he can crank up the velocity, control won’t matter as much. Just hurl it in at 95 and hope it’s in the strike zone, and he could be stuck out there for one inning.
I would love for Detroit to get Lowell for Willis, if they would only be willing to try Inge at SS. He played SS his whole life including in college before switching to catcher in the minors, and certainly has the defensive ability and athleticism to play the position. Plus with his huge arm, I could see him making some sweet plays in the hole between short and third and gunning the runner down at first, and he’s not nearly as big an offensive liability if he’s playing SS and hitting 8th instead of 3b hitting 6th or 7th.A 6 thru 9 of Guillen, Lowell, Inge, Avila/Laird is a hell of a lot better than what we had with Inge, Sizemore, Avila/Laird, Everett/Santiago not too long ago. It would at least be a quick fix until Detroit has a chance to spend some money this winter.Not sure I really can see why Boston would have any interest in Willis though.
No, that’s the thing: it’s usually NOT in the strike zone. He isn’t struggling with COMMAND, which is where power pitchers have a greater margin for error. He’s struggling with CONTROL – he can’t even reliably throw strikes.
That’s not even mop-up role stuff; it’s minor league material.