The Tigers are nearing a three-year deal with reliever Joaquin Benoit, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi tweets that the contract "is in [the] final stages of discussion."
Benoit signed a minor league deal with the Rays in February and was one of baseball's best bargains. The righty posted a 1.34 ERA, 11.2 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 0.9 HR/9, and 38.9% groundball rate in 60 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old was available cheaply because he was coming off rotator cuff surgery performed in January of 2009. This time around, the Tigers had to pay full sticker price.
Well, I guess the Tigers are actually being serious about this playoff thing.
“Playoffs?! Don’t talk about playoffs! Are you kidding me? Playoffs?! I’m just hoping we can win a game, another game!”
You deserve a cold beer!
Nice… been saying he’d be a great addition, but didn’t really think it would happen!
Hurts to be a Rays fan today…
Not trying to be a dbag(not sure if you’re a Rays fan or you’re just saying it), but it’s going to be a rough offseason for them.
Choke artist…..
I love this. Thank you DD for actually deciding that Joel Zumaya was not going to be a feasible option for a setup guy!!
This makes a lot of sense. Not too expensive for what your getting, shouldn’t be too long of a contract and a great bullpen arm. Seeing as how the bullpen only needs some minor adjustments and tweaking this would be another step in the right direction for the offseason.
Good signing by the Tigers, anything reliever that doesn’t cost them a pick makes sense since they will likely go after one of the big bats.
This is a great addition for the Tigers. Now they need to start looking at some bats and another arm or two.
Too bad… I thought we could atleast keep him if nobody else and make him the closer 🙁
Nice addition to the bullpen… now let’s trade for Justin Upton!
Pass on Upton. The Dbacks are gonna ask the world for him, I don’t know about giving up Turner and Oliver and a couple other quality players for a guy we can just buy on the FA market (Crawford/Werth)
This could be good or bad depending on the details. If its cheap, no doubt its a great deal. This is bonafide shutdown reliever. If its a large multiyear deal, then the Tigers might make a mistake. I know they lost plenty of relievers but I would figure they’ll go after Vmart first.
The big name FA’s won’t start signing till after the deadline for arbitration has passed. I think its around NOV 24th?
Good job Tigers. Now go out and get a quality lefty reliever and the BP should be pretty solid.
Closer: Valverde
RH Setup: Perry & Benoit
LH Setup: TBD
Lefty special: Schlereth
Righty: Zumaya (if healthy)/Weinhardt
Long Relief : Whoever dosen’t make the rotation next year, thinking Galaragga if the Tigers aquire a starter and move Coke to the rotation.
It would be nice if Oliver or Furbush emerged in ST to earn a spot in the rotation, leaving Coke in the pen. I still hold out hope that Crosby will find his mojo and become a part of the Tiger rotation by 2012 along with Turner. Sign Dunn, resign Maggs to an incentive laden contract with easy reachables and possibly toss some cash at V-mart and this team is looking good. I have a feeling that one of Wells, Boesch, or Strieby will emerge to take the LF spot. The offense would be pretty good; however, it will need to be because the defense will be hurting lol.
This smells like a Scott Linebrink contract waiting to happen.