The Marlins acquired lefty Nate Robertson and cash considerations from the Tigers for minor league reliever Jay Voss, according to a Tigers press release. The Tigers are paying $9.6MM of the $10MM owed to Robertson, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Robertson originally came up through the Marlins' system, and was traded to the Tigers in the Mark Redman deal in January of '03. The 32-year-old posted a 5.44 ERA, 6.3 K/9, and 5.1 BB/9 in 49.6 innings last year. He started the '09 season in the Tigers' bullpen and hit the DL in May with a back strain. In June, he had surgery to remove four masses in his elbow. He rejoined the rotation in September, but strained his groin shortly thereafter. Robertson had November surgery to repair that tear. With a fresh start in Florida, perhaps Robertson can chew up 175 innings with an ERA around 4.50. The trade opens the Tigers' fifth starter spot for Dontrelle Willis.
Voss, also a southpaw, turns 23 in April. He spent '09 as a reliever, posting a 2.72 ERA, 8.3 K/9, and 3.3 BB/9 at High A and Double A. Baseball America ranked Voss 23rd among Marlins prospects, seemingly projecting a future as a lefty specialist.
Your opening day pitching spreadsheet is already outdated!
That’s why this deal went down: Messin’ with Tim.
And watch: Tomorrow, they’re going to trade him back.
The Marlins are awesome!!! They are one of the best managed teams in Baseball and a trade like this will work out very well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The reason I love this trade is because the Marlins just always find a way to get what they need. They re-assigned Scott Strickland and now have two solid veterans in the bullpen and a veteran in the 5th spot of the rotation. They are just a great organization and this will turn out to be a great move. They just always find a way to get it done. They have a legitimate shot at the wild card this season and I really expect them to play well. They have the 2nd best player in Baseball, a ton of quality prospects, a good bullpen, an ace, and just one heck of a team.
Well, all I have to say to that, Span, is get used to a ton of 0-2 counts with 2 outs…that turn into walks and HRs in Miami. Because that’s all I saw when Robertson pitched at Comerica.
I’m elated because one of the three “mental midgets” on the Detroit staff is finally gone! Yipppeee!
who’s the last one? i think D-train is the worst one..my opinion
You are correct. The three mental midgets were Willis, Bonderman, and Robertson (in order of midgetry). Now one of them is gone. Hurray!
I actually do think Nate will pitch better in the NL. But the NL hitters will catch up to him quickly because he will find a way to load the bases with 2 out…and pitch himself into jams. It’s inevitable. BTW, worst Leyland move EVER was starting Nate in that last September home game last season against the Twinkies. UGH.
Excited much? I can’t tell.
Not much risk if the Tigers eat 90% of the contract, but he hasn’t shown much the last two seasons. Maybe a move to the NL can help him.
Thats what I was thinking. But knowing the Marlins, if he couldn’t turn it around I don’t think they would have made the move.
You’re making it sound like the Marlins just got Justin Verlander–we are talking about the same Nate Robertson, right?
Over-excitement aside, I do think it’s a decent pickup for the Marlins. He is certainly a better option than Clay Hensley, but I think Rick VandenHurk would provide more upside with that 5th spot in the rotation.
I disagree. I think Hensley deserves the 5th spot. He’s had a great Spring.
Are you saying that the Marlins should drop Volstad from their rotation or use Robertson out of the pen?
No. I’m saying that Robertson should be in the pen and their rotation should be JJ, Nolasco, Anibal, Volstad, Hensley.
Oh. So you think Robertson has more value as a reliever than as a starter?
Well here’s the thing, without him in the pen, the Marlins don’t have a lefty. And I think Clay Hensley deserves a shot in the rotation. I think Hensley could be the Kevin Correia of this season.
Maybe the switch of leagues well help Robertson whether he is in the rotation or the bullpen but I think he would help the pen much more.
Still, Hensley or Robertson in the rotation wouldn’t be bad at all, I just don’t think that Clay Hensley should be in the bullpen.
I agree that Vandenhurk is the best #5 option and shocked he isn’t there. He has the stuff to build on. Hensley pitched well this spring, but has to do no more to prove he deserves it based on his history.
i am a pretty big Fish fan and don’t see that great BP they had last year, in fact, it is missing the 2 best pieces in Calero, Donkey Donnelly is not in Pittsburgh and even Lindstrom who excelled before as 8th inning setup, but failed as a closer is in Houston.
I see Nunez and Pinto returning, rookie Wood and trouble.
Maybe Vandenhurk/Miller/Robertson is going to be counted on to fill out that BP, but it just does not appear nearly as deep as it did when Donnelly came back in mid summer.
Rotation should be fine, as long as Sanchez’s arm woes are behind him. Maybe that is what Robertson is for, it just appears strange here.
Exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The nate era is over in detroit, i am so excited that we finally dumped him off on someone.
This would be the end of Gum Time (for those who remember the good times with Nate).
The Tigers are really gonna roll the dice with Dontrelle.
i believe “ride the d-train” is the accepted parlance.
It’s sometimes also translated as “Paying about $20m to get a #5 starter and a AA reliever.”
to-may-toh, to-mah-to.
How about “take a daily dose of the Dontrelle”
Don’t-Ask, Don’t-trelle.
The D-Train is right on track. Choo Choo! (after he struck out Shin Soo Choo)
Say hey! say who? Say Willis. Say Hey! Say Who? striking out the side (after walking the leadoff batter) say hey! say who? say Willis. That Tigers kid is great (hopefully)
I also refer to it as “ride the Dtrain”. I’m so happy for both of these guys. Dontrelle makes it back to the bigs. Nate can go somewhere he’s actually wanted. The Tigs found someone to take him and got anybody in return. I’m really rooting for Dontrelle, but if he reverts back to his old ways we can just throw Bonine in the rotation. Nice move for both clubs. I wish Nate the best.
Nate was pitching decent this spring. I see a bounce back year for him. Dontrelle will be out of the rotation by his 3rd start.
So Nate Robertson had a decent spring = Bounce back year. Dontrelle Willis has an even better spring = out of rotation by third start.
Nate- Injured last 2 years , fianlly healthy last 2 months of last season under 4 era. Throws strikes and paints corners and has looked good. Dontrelle- Wild , when effective still wild walks as many as he strikes out or more. If you have seen any games this spring Willis has laboured and been lucky in more then a couple starts. Need any further explanation on why Robertson is a better candidate to have a bounce back year ???????
Yes I would like the explanation of why so many question marks were needed
Because the Tigers really needed another left handed reliever? WHAT ABOUT A LEFT HANDED BAT, DOMBROWSKI?!?!!?
This trade wasn’t made to improve the Tigers–Dave just wanted to hook up his old team. Sorry.
I never said it was to improve the team… esp. with the Tigers paying 9.6 million of Nate’s salary to basically free up a roster spot.
Sorry, meant that as a sarcastic remark…
Good move. Robinson has downside (and he’s an injury risk) but you’re giving up almost nothing for him. High risk high reward low cost, just like the Fish always operate.
I wonder if the Marlins could have brought back Dontrelle Willis.
No. We’re not even considering this scenario.
I’d bring him back in a heartbeat! But not as a starter. I’d bring him back as the closer where I think he’d thrive. It may also benefit him to gain his confidence back. I’ll give up Hunter Jones or Renyel Pinto for D-Train and the Tigers eating up his contract.
Nate Robertson is overpaid, and has underperformed. That said, he has looked much better since having his elbow surgury. Having watched his entire career with the Tigers, I would say he had less risk than either Willis or Bonderman. But he also lacks the upside that those 2 possess. His fastball varies year to year, from the mid 80’s to the low 90’s. Some years he has a nice slider. Others, he cant find it. Of the three, he was the only one with any trade value at all ( and very little at that ). I figure he will be able to take a regular turn, and figure a 10-12 record. What couldnt work was one of the 3 ending up in the bullpen, pitching long relief for $10 million.
The Tigers have many pitching prospects: Jacob Turner, Andy Oliver, Casey Crosby, Alfredo Figaro, Duane Below… plus Galaraga and Minor.
Its a risky move immediately, but if Willis, Bonderman and Bonine can hold the fort till the all-star break, it should work out.
Figaro is on the White Sox now.
I wish Nate well, but man, it’s a relief to be done with him. The Nate Robertson era, at least the big-contract Robertson era (’08-’09), has been suffocating. I feel like a hoarder who finally decides to start throwing away all the junk.
I love this move for the Tigers. I’m pleasantly surprised we save $400K, get a possible future lefty specialist, and most importantly free up that roster spot for someone else. I hope nate can at least be serviceable for the Marlins, but he was just not going to get it done in Detroit as ’07-’09 proved.
I see him traded again in July.
I see him traded again in July.