Zumaya for Sizemore, it might be worth the risk
Written by Greg Piatt, Wednesday December 01 2010
Are the Detroit Tigers about to non-tender the fire-balling Joel Zumaya?
Once Detroit’s closer of the future, Zumaya, known as Zoom, burst on the scene in 2006 striking out 97 batters in 83 1/3 innings. The right-hander notched a 1.94 ERA in the Tigers’ World Series year, throwing his fastball over 100 mph.
But injuries, some his fault others not, have limited him to less than 31 appearances per year from 2007 to 2009. He had 31 appearances in 2010, while posting a 2.58 ERA and was probably the best setup man in the American League in the first half in 2010. But Zoom ended his season when he fractured the olecranon in his elbow throwing a pitch on June 28 against Minnesota.
Since 2006, he has spent 450 days on the disabled list, a frustrating time for Zoom, the Tigers and the team’s fans when one of the quickest fastballs in the game is ailing. In that time, Zumaya has spent 278 days on the active roster.
Zumaya made $915,000 last season and is about to enter his final season of arbitration eligibility, still cheap, but recent moves by Detroit may indicate he could be non-tendered.
The Tigers, who are looking to add to their bullpen this off-season, signed this last week, Rays setup man, Joaquin Beniot, the best 8th inning man in the American league last season, for $16.5 million for three years.
So have the Tigers’ front office grown tired of an annually wounded Zoom. If he isn’t offered a contract, a team will surely take a chance on a guy who can hit 103 mph on the radar gun.
His trade value is nil because he is recovering from that arm injury. But if he is healthy in the spring he could be dynamic on the mound.
Here’s a hair-brain idea, since he doesn’t have value, why don’t the Tigers try to trade him for another guy who doesn’t have any value, someone like a Grady Sizemore? Both Detroit and Cleveland would be taking a big risk.
Sizemore, who has been hurt the last two seasons, is recovering from microfracture surgery on his left knee.
Sizemore is due to make $7.5 million in 2011 and a $9 million option with a $500,000 buyout for 2012. Cleveland is looking to clear payroll off its books and needs bullpen help.
Detroit, on-the-other-hand, is looking for a big bat for leftfield – a position which might help Sizemore pull up instead of throwing himself all around centerfield and getting hurt.
Sure this a big risk that both come back to form, but this trade better suits both teams and might be worth taking the risk instead of not offering Zumaya a contract and letting him bolt.
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