The Tigers announced this morning that they’ve released right-hander Zack Godley. He’d been in Spring Training and Summer Camp as a non-roster player, though he seemed to have a reasonable chance of making the club. Godley’s initial deal was worth up to $3MM after incentives and allowed him to elect free agency at season’s end even though he’d normally have been arbitration-eligible. That was surely a notable incentive for the 30-year-old, but it seems the Tigers’ thought process has changed. MLB.com’s Jason Beck tweets that Godley had an opt-out prior to Opening Day anyhow, and the team wanted to give him some extra time to find a new club.
Godley has spent the vast majority of his career with the Diamondbacks, for whom he racked up 520 2/3 innings from 2015-19. His best season came back in 2017, when he spun 155 innings of 3.37 ERA ball with 9.6 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 0.87 HR/9 and a 55.3 percent ground-ball rate. He followed that up with a career-high 178 1/3 frames and a 4.74 ERA (3.82 FIP) in 2018.
Last season, however, Godley’s strikeout rate and ground-ball rate plummeted. His sinker sat at just 90 mph after averaging 91.9 mph in that strong 2017 season, and hitters were able to elevate the ball against him like never before (11.1 percent launch angle in ’19; 3.1 percent in ’17). The end result was an ERA north of 6.00 in 76 innings with the D-backs, although he did post better results upon landing with the Blue Jays (3.94 ERA in 16 innings).
All told, Godley has experience in parts of five Major League seasons, during which time he’s pitched to a 4.70 ERA (4.13 FIP, 4.07 xFIP) with averages of 8.6 K/9, 3.1 BB/9 and 1.04 HR/9. His sinker didn’t have its usual effectiveness last year, but half the balls put into play against Godley since his MLB debut have been put on the ground. For a team in need of some rotation depth and/or a long relief option, Godley could certainly hold some appeal. With three-plus years of MLB service time, he’d be controllable through the 2022 season (barring a similar clause to the one he had with Detroit, allowing him to hit free agency early).
From the Tigers’ vantage point, Godley seemed like a long shot to make the rotation after a long delay, as the extra down time gave righty Michael Fulmer time to recover from Tommy John surgery. Fulmer will join Matthew Boyd, Spencer Turnbull, Jordan Zimmermann and offseason signee Ivan Nova on Detroit’s starting staff, though Godley could’ve given them a sixth starter/long relief type of arm early in the year. His release could open the door for another option like Hector Santiago or Nick Ramirez. Eventually, the Tigers may call upon a top pitching prospect like Casey Mize, Matt Manning or Tarik Skubal to get an audition.
MIGUEL CABRERA IS GOING TO HIT 30 HOMERUNS AND STEAL 15 BASES WHILE HAVING A 400 AVERAGE.
I love shrooms too.
YES
Cabrera hauls a trailer behind him on the base paths. He’s stolen 0 bases the last 4 seasons so it’s highly unlikely he gets 15. He did try and get one in 17 but he got hosed.
In only 30 games since he’ll be on the injured list half the time.
When your tanking why spend more money. I’m surprised Cabrera hasn’t been traded.
The amount they would have to eat just to get rid of him for nothing in return wouldnt be worth it. Just need to run him out there and hope there is some production to put people in the stands. Plus hope he can provide some mentoring to younger guys.
And as long as he’s steroid free he goes in the h.o.f. as a tiger with no bad feelings
I’m guessing there’s a good chance that he’s not PED free (no positive tests yet though). He was a somewhat skinny kid on Marlins, got on juice putting on prolly extra 30-40 lbs of muscle and became a beast, but he’s become lazy fat last 4 years or so.
Get your facts straight. He got injured. The knee will be a lingering problem, but he did lose weight and he should show more power this year.
He was 20 when he won a WS, and was only “skinny” compared to last season. Miggy used to taunt Bonds over his roiding, doubt he did them himself.
They need to create two separate leagues. One major league for teams that try and one for team that don’t. Sort of like a AAAA league. The major league should have a salary floor and a salary cap. The AAAA league should have those also, except it would be around 50% lower. Teams can opt in or opt out after the end of the season for the next season, but they can’t spend any more than 2 years in a row in the AAAA league.
This whole complete teardown rebuild thing has just gotten ridiculous. I cannot believe ans are willing to wait 5 years or more to watch teams not even trying win while trying to collect minor leaguers in the hopes that they might get lucky and win for 2-3 years before they have to start the whole process over again.
Sounds similar to the way that soccer is handled in europe. I’d support the worst team going to AAA and getting replaced with the best AAA team each year
The Tigers went on a decade long tear. it wasn’t 2-3 years.
Also they went from second worst in 2003 to the WS in 2006.
Relax and enjoy the game.
That’s awesome! So the time machine is up and working!
Look for the Red Sox to pick up Godley. They still have 10 open spots for their Summer Camp pool.
One could hope, he’s certainly good enough to fill some much needed innings for them.
Jordan Zimmerman to be released next watch for it as Tigers go full youth in this sham season
its amazing he is still on the roster
He’ll be there just to eat innings this season
Keeping Zimmermann saved the Tigers millions of dollars, since his salary now is only pro-rated. There is even less reason to release him now.
Gruß,
BSHH
A valid point.
Best case scenario is Zimmermann has a hot start and can be unloaded for a prospect who might be worth something eventually- or not.
true, good point
The Tigers better hope they play or the league could do something like extending the contracts one year. Not paying him all year has been awesome.
This is the worst news of the summer for the Tigers who have a porous pitching staff and holes elsewhere. Losing Godley, who many thought would be the ace of the staff, helps the Tigers maintain their “worst in baseball” lineup as they try for the first round pick in next years draft.
^^^ Matthew Boyd has entered the chat..
yeah gosh. i dont think Boyd will play up to his 2019 1st half self, but who ever said Godley was the ace?
I don’t know anyone who thought that Godley would even make the rotation, let along become the ACE of the staff.
This opens up a spot for maybe Parker Meadows or another young player to hang out with the big leaguers.
Boyd would be a legit all star if he’d get the HR’s under control. Big IF.
Mrs. Godley
@joefriday
With Zimmerman, Boyd, Novoa, Fulmer, Turnbull, and Norris, the best Godley could have hoped for was bullpen duty.
“source your news independently”
Funny.
What’s not accurate about it?
I’ll start being concerned for the players when one is actually hospitalized.
The press is over hyping this. It is the worst pandemic in a hundred years. But for the most part, its discriminant who it kills. If it killed indiscriminately, I’d be a lot more worried.
I think a vaccine will come out this year and by next year at this time, except for the small businesses that have closed, this disease will be a memory.
Is there an opening for a “ chat monitor “? I’m a Catholic Schools product, taught by nuns of the BVM, so I know what a metal edge ruler feels like on knuckles when a person has spoken inappropriately.
And Texas is also home to the 30 year old genius who attended a COVID party to see who could catch the disease first and the poor guy not only caught it, but he just recently died from it too. If everyone would just wear a mask and be smart, we could actually beat this monster.
Lots of “idiots” out there, they are not confined to Texas.
I’ve been advocating wearing a mask for months. I can’t believe the push back.
Considering his multiple preexisting conditions, he was a complete idiot. Darwin wins another bet in the afterlife.
If the tigers would take dexter fowler and brett cecil, and eat some money, wouldnt mind seeing Cabrera dh for the cards
If they actually play…the Tigers are going to be better than expected. They will cut Zimmerman after he goes 0-3 in his first 3 starts with a 9.00 ERA. The rotation settles in with 5-6 guys, Boyd, Norris, Fulmer, Turnbull, Alexander and Manning (will replace Zim).
Gardenhire is perfect for this kind of team.
Cabrera will be productive. Cron and Schoop will be productive. The big surprises will be Victor Reyes and Harold Castro. They will get some production at 3rd base….but it will be Niko Goodrum over there instead of Candelario or Lugo.
The outfield will be Stewart, Reyes and Maybin. Castro is the super sub. Jacoby Jones the 4th OF’er.
Biggest weakness will be the Tigers still won’t get any offense from behind the plate.
Regardless of what they do in 2020, they have to find out who’s going to play what for 2021. With their rotation’s potential they could be movers and shakers this offseason along with, maybe, a Torkelson callup next May. Tigers could be a team on the rise. Could.
Will be a team on the rise, … post Jacoby Jones.
And whatever the return will be for Boyd.
With the Tigers getting close, it’s not time to be trading away established young talent, like Boyd. It’s time to look at extensions.
By the time you’re close it’s 2022. People think Boyd has upside and he’s a 3 or 4 on a good team. You deal him at his peak and make a killing. Keeping him would be a big mistake and Avila should be replaced if he can’t get a deal done.
I like the way you think warnbeeb
With all this horse ka ka around there has to be a pony nearby!
@warnbeeb
Goodrum will be the SS, because they don’t really have any other impactful option. Candelario and Lugo will get first shot at 3B as they are running out of chances, and it would be better to let Paredes take over next year. Romine will be better at C than last year’s group. JaCoby will be the CF with Reyes in RF and Maybin and Stewart platooning in LF. It will be a make or break year for Stewart and JaCoby, as well.
The offense will still be weak, but improved over last year. Starting pitching will have depth, but after Jimenez there is no sure thing in the bullpen. Just looking for steps in the right direction.
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