Could the Detroit Tigers trade Galarraga to Baltimore?
Written by Greg Piatt, Wednesday January 19 2011
Are the Detroit Tigers about to trade for a left-handed bat? Or do they get a utility player, who can catch?
After the Tigers announced they added starting pitcher Brad Penny, Detroit announced that pitcher Armando Galarraga was designated for assignment to make room for Penny, paving a way for a trade.
This was odd because only hours earlier the Tigers avoided arbitration with Galarraga by signing the right-hander to a one year, $2.3 million deal.
At closer look this isn’t odd unless Detroit’s front office is working out a trade for Galarraga, known for the near perfect game last year against Cleveland, and the club didn’t want to deal with an arbitration hearing.
The Tigers now have 10 days to trade him or if Galarraga clears waivers he could be sent to Detroit’s minor league team in Toledo.
But with the Chicago Cubs finalizing a trade with Washington for Tom Gorzelanny, the market for back-end starters like Galarraga is ripe.
On Monday, The Detroit News’s Lynn Henning wrote that the Penny trade could lead to the Tigers adding a left-handed bat. Could the Galarraga DFA be the first shoe to drop in this transaction?
The Tigers also need a utility guy, who can catch, play several positions and come off the bench and pinch hit with power. Newly acquired Victor Martinez will be designated hitting much of the time and Alex Avila will catch, leaving no real back-up if Jim Leyland needs to pinch hit the left-handed Avila or in case of an injury.
Leyland’s only options in an emergency would be Brandon Inge, who doesn’t want to catch; Ryan Raburn, who is slotted for left field; and Don Kelly, who hasn’t caught a major league game.
Baltimore has had interest in Galarraga and in the “utility man” and Henning’s “left-handed bat” scenarios the Orioles seem to have what the Tigers need.
If it is Galarraga straight up for a player, that player could be Jake Fox, who plays catcher, the corner infield and outfield spots. The former University of Michigan player fits the bill in what Leyland looks for in a utility player. The right-handed hitter also can come off the bench and hit for power, much like a Marcus Thames did.
Now, if Detroit wants a left-handed bat, the Tigers could package Galarraga off with one of their young outfielders, possibly Brennan Boesch, for Luke Scott. Baltimore is looking for a young outfielder and Detroit has been trying to get Scott at trade deadline for several years. Scott could pair well with a platoon with Raburn in left field.
Right now it appears the Tigers match up well with the Orioles in a trade that includes Galarraga. Will Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski explore this route? Only the next 10 days will tell.
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