The Tigers are still pursuing Brad Penny as they look to add depth to their starting rotation, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Morosi reported last month that the Tigers were considering Penny, who missed most of the 2010 season with a right shoulder strain. Later that day, GM Dave Dombrowski explained that the Tigers are comfortable with their pitching staff, but open to additions.
Penny posted a 3.23 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in 55 2/3 innings for the Cardinals last year before going on the disabled list in May. The 32-year-old has spent nearly his entire career in the National League and his one stint in the American League went poorly. The Red Sox signed him before the 2009 season and he posted a 5.61 ERA in 131 2/3 innings for Boston.
Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Phil Coke will likely start for the Tigers, who appear interested in providing Armando Galarraga with some competition for the fifth rotation spot. Dombrowski recently told Tom Gage of the Detroit News that the Tigers are keeping an open mind about free agent starter Jeremy Bonderman.
Gross
dont do it. Let penny stay in the NL he is not an AL pitcher. Run away Tigers run…..
Why is he not “an AL pitcher”? It would be nice if these writers or clueless baseball “fans” would mention that Penny had an ERA at 6.27 the season before with the LA Dodgers. Or the fact that Fenway was the only hitters park he was ever a home pitcher for. Instead they toss out the the typical AL bias nonsense. These writers should know better.
my reference was to his turn around as a giant. yeah i know his AL stats are limited but as a starter he only pitched in the NL(minus Boston stint) i think he would do better in a situation where the pitcher is a gimme out and then a weak 7 and 8 hitter. so by default the NL would be a better place to pitch. not saying he was ever a great pitcher minus 2 seasons in LA which you then brought up tanked the next yr. So all i was saying was that the tigers need to be careful. so clueless not a fair assumption on your part. Cause you assumed i didnt know any of his stats that he has only 4 seasons with a winning record. a 108 and 88 lifetime record and a 4.41 era. So no bias just a statement of my opinion for the Tigers
The last time the Tigers took on a NL-lifer minus a stint in Boston, it had a terrible outcome (Edgar Renteria). As a Tigers “fan”, I shudder at the memory and will forever remain leery of a player that has solid years in only the NL with a bad cameo in the AL. Well, at least with non-superstar players. That Cabrera guy worked out well for us.
Saying Penny pitched poorly in the AL and looking at his ERA is a little misleading. He had some really good games (almost pitched a shutout against the Yankees) a lot of OK games and a few really bad ones that inflated his earned run average. Not saying he’ll be any good this year but I wouldn’t throw him under the bus just yet. Prob be better to stay in the NL though.
There was times while Penny was in Boston I thought he was going to turn it around. One solid outing, then an OKAY outing then an awful one. He was inconsistent but I think another trip around in a different division would be fine for him.
Tigers need a lefty starter not another righty. They should have invested the big bucks in Cliff Lee.
I think Lee made it more that clear with his final decision that the Tigers wouldn’t have even been in the race for his services.
They could have tried to get him, but I think the Tigers would have been a distant 4th (at least) in the bidding. He obviously wasn’t very motivated by money and wanted to go to a place where he was comfortable.
I realize they would not have gotten him. I’m just saying with some great righty pitching talents in Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, and even Turner on the way, a great lefty talent would have been just what they need, other than hoping that Phil Coke/injury-prone Casey Crosby can become that guy.
I realize they would not have gotten him. I’m just saying with some great righty pitching talents in Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, and even Turner on the way, a great lefty talent would have been just what they need, other than hoping that Phil Coke/injury-prone Casey Crosby can become that guy.
I feel like this lefty/righty starter stuff is overblown. Why does it matter?
I wouldn’t mind seeing a run at Pavano. That guy absolutely kills the Tigers.
I wouldn’t mind pursuing Penny and/or Pavano.
If the Tigers can get Pavano for a decent price, they have to do it.
I haven’t yet understood their hesitance towards Pavano. Only thing I can figure is they don’t want to give him longer than a one year deal as they have guys coming up in 2012 theoretically.
It never hurts to have too much pitching. I hardly think the organization would allow Carl Pavano to stop them from allowing Turner, Oliver, or others to grow. I’d offer 2yr/$25M and see if he takes it.
That would be a huge over payment for Carl.
He is a bit better than Galarraga most years. Seriously look it up. In the last 10 years he has had only 2 years with an ERA under 4 and four years with an era over 5.
He will be 35 next year and he is coming of his second best year ever? Last year has every indication of being a fluke year.
I would gave him 1 year, with an option for a second year and only 3 or 4 million guaranteed, the rest in incentives based on performance.
Pavano isn’t an elite pitcher by any stretch of the imagination. His ERA in 2009 was inflated by a few bad starts. His FIP, xFIP, and tERA were all right around 4.00, which was consistent with his 2010 stats. And dare I say it, he’s been rather durable over the past 2 years, totaling 420 IP. There’s talk of him getting 3yr/$30M range (if you believe it). A 1yr/$3M would be enough to get you Bonderman at this point. Overpay at 2yr/$25? Probably, but you have to pay a premium for SP. And I’d feel much more confident with Pavano than Coke or Galarraga.
I have doubts that he gets 25 mill over three years, much less two, though I hope the twins overpay and he does to them what he did to new York. Were waiting on turner and Oliver- who’s numbers were ugly but who’s stuff is anything but. I seem to recall another highly touted pitcher getting a bit roughed up in his limited first stint in Detroit, in 2005. He has figured it out well since then…
Admittedly, it’s an overpay. I think he’ll end up around 2yr/$20M with the Twins. If it takes a little bit more, then I’d do it.
Oliver’s numbers in the majors were understandably ugly, but his numbers in the minors were quite good considering his age and experience.
Oliver’s numbers in the majors were understandably ugly, but his numbers in the minors were quite good considering his age and experience.
I have doubts that he gets 25 mill over three years, much less two, though I hope the twins overpay and he does to them what he did to new York. Were waiting on turner and Oliver- who’s numbers were ugly but who’s stuff is anything but. I seem to recall another highly touted pitcher getting a bit roughed up in his limited first stint in Detroit, in 2005. He has figured it out well since then…
It never hurts to have too much pitching. I hardly think the organization would allow Carl Pavano to stop them from allowing Turner, Oliver, or others to grow. I’d offer 2yr/$25M and see if he takes it.
I haven’t yet understood their hesitance towards Pavano. Only thing I can figure is they don’t want to give him longer than a one year deal as they have guys coming up in 2012 theoretically.
And it would keep him away from the Twins.
As a White Sox fan, I would certainly welcome Brad Penny to the Tigers.
Sign Penny for one year only, no more. Why not??? Can’t hurt the staff and it may motivate Ragga to stop pitching like a little girl.
I think that is essentially what the tigers are doing. I would love to see Penny have a good year in Detroit but I’m not gonna hold my breath.
Basically the competition for the 5th spot right now is Galarraga, Oliver, Turner(Maybe), and Albuquerque.
Unless Turner really shows something, Gally has the early edge.
I don’t see how any team needs to “pursue” a guy like Brad Penny. Just call up his agent and offer him a deal and that should do it.
There isn’t a whole lot of difference between Pavano, Penny and Bonderman except that Pavano has traditionally had more success against the Tigers. I guess I’d put him as most desirable of the three, but we still need a left starter.
Penny is probably the most likely to get hurt due to his questionable fitness regimen or lack thereof. Although it may be too soon to let Pavano shed his fragile reputation he gained in NY.
So by default, I would consider Bonderman the most desirable of the three, especially when you consider that Pavano wants a multi-year deal.
I can see why the yankees arent in on him
Because he didnt pitch well in boston BUT…He’s the best fit for any team tryna get a medium or high rewarded pitcher. MUCH better in NL tho
As a Red Sox fan I love this idea. I would love to see Crawford steal six bases in a game again.
Uhhh when did Phil Coke become a starter?
When they announced he would be converted to a starter at the end of last year. He’ll be stretched out and evaluated in Spring Training.
hes #5 or depth, who cares? give it a go. if hes not the best he wont start. no different than Albequerque and no one really cares about him do they?
I think Penny owes the Cardinals for 68% of a season. 🙂
I think Penny owes the Cardinals for 68% of a season. 🙂
This is a very good report, get a hold of penny,,,put galagara in the bull pen and have him develope a 100mph fastball.. Just maybe we can develope a pitching staff that can go against the B.O sox an the twinkees.
Coke was a slightly above average set up guy, who says he can’t start. DD is saying if they signed Penny/Pavano that Galarraga would get the boot