The D'Backs acquired Armando Galarraga from the Tigers for Kevin Eichhorn and Ryan Robowski, the teams announced. The D'Backs appear to be assuming responsibility for Galarraga's $2.3MM salary, though they can avoid paying the entire amount by releasing the right-hander.
Galarraga, 29, posted a 4.49 ERA with 4.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 144 1/3 innings for the Tigers last year. He made headlines in June, when he came within one out of a perfect game, lost his chance at history on a blown call and handled umpire Jim Joyce's mistake with grace.
Eichhorn, a 2008 third round selection, has a 4.80 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 105 minor league innings. When Baseball America ranked him 18th among D'Backs prospects before the 2010 season, they praised his three-pitch mix and athleticism. Eichhorn's father, Mark, played 11 seasons in the big leagues.
Robowski, who turns 23 next week, has a 4.82 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 84 innings over the course of two pro seasons. The D'Backs chose the left-handed reliever in the 16th round of the 2009 draft.
D’Backs GM Kevin Towers says Galarraga will compete for a spot in his team’s rotation. Converted reliever Aaron Heilman is a candidate to start, along with Joe Saunders, Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Zach Duke and Barry Enright.
As I pointed out this morning, the Tigers and D'Backs have exchanged a number of pitchers in the past year or so. Tigers pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth arrived in Detroit in the December, 2009 deal that sent Edwin Jackson to Arizona. Six months later, the Tigers sent Dontrelle Willis to the D'Backs for Billy Buckner. Those deals, however, were completed under former D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said he was 'confident' in the market for Galarraga soon after the team designated him for assignment.
GOOD! He was always tough against the RED SOX for some reason…glad he’s in the NL now.
Apparently DD just wants to collect pitching prospects for the farm…
If I had Penny and Coke that I was counting on for the back of my rotation, I would be collecting as many SP prospects as I could too! Good 2.3 MM dump DD!
I wish Mando all the best. His stay here in Detroit had it’s ups and downs, but for one night he was perfect in our eyes
Couldn’t have said it better.
Before the crybabies get wind of this deal, Galarraga could’ve been a FA in a couple of months, which means any team could’ve signed him and the Tigers got nothing. So despite the return being as minimal as it can get, be grateful that they got anything in return. And no, Galarraga will never be an elite starter.
Finally the move that pushes Arizona over the top, world series here we come!
What the hell happened to the snakes?! I feel like just as close as two years ago, they were competitive. Look at their roster now… it’s disgusting. I don’t know enough about their farm, but I hope they got a few talented players lined up for the future.
The injury of Webb, the struggles of Haren and Young, the loss of Bob Melvin, and so much more. That’s what happened to the Snakes in the past two years.
There is some talent in the farm, but they won’t be competitive for at least two more years. They have some pieces still, but Byrnes shipped off the wrong guys in trades. It seems every guy we send away who could go either way makes it big. And to be honest, I don’t know what KT is doing. He’s building a Petco team for Chase field, not gonna work out.
I don’t approve, I don’t disapprove, it’s kind of a neutral move.
All in all, I’m glad Detroit at least got SOMETHING for Galarraga.
Considering all they got for Willis was rid of Willis.
Exactly.
Permanent black mark on Dombrowski legacy,sighning him for so much for so long. Sort of like Dumars drafting Rodney White.
If not traded, he would have been either claimed or assigned to Toledo. Pretty unlikely he would have became a free agent.
I personally have no problem with what they got in return. A trade like this was expected.
hope these guys perform better than Billy Buckner did in Toledo.
A.G. was a good soldier for us though not spectacular. We all wish you the best Armando. You’re a class act. Be careful driving that red “no-hitter” Corvette to Arizona.
Who’s going to take over for Penny of he gets hurt?
My guess would be Andy Oliver.
Yeah I agree, Oliver or maybe Furbush
Yeah, Furbush would be a legit guess too. He’s closer to MLB ready than most in the Tigers system.
Ok, the tall lefty, thanks. I couldn’t remember the name. His numbers don’t show it from that short stint he had in the majors, but he faced the Twins twice and I thought he looked like he had potential to be a nice starter for the Tigers.
Oliver.
Eichhorn is Finkle, Finkle is Eichhorn!
OH MY GOD Einhorn is a man.. blah
Eichhorn, Robowski, Scherzer, Schlereth, Buckner… is Dombrowski trying to collect all of Arizona’s pitching prospects with mainland Northern European heritage?
Solid point. Lol are there any left?
No, the D’backs just like trading for the pitchers off of the Tigers scrap heap. Edwin Jackson, Dontrelle, Galarraga…
Since they’re taking players off of our scrap heap, do you think they could take Carlos Guillen off of D-town’s shoulders and pick up a majority of the contract while they’re at it?? 😉
Only if you ask Towers nicely, he’d probably throw in Stephen Drew too, that guy stuck out a lot last year.
Well okay…I’ll even put a little sugar AND a cherry on top just to help support the asking nicely.
Any pitcher that ca throw “an imperfect, perfect game”,like Galarraga should have signed with the Tigers.He is still young, and has an upside. Altho the heat in AZ will help him! vs. the cold of Detroit. In almost every 3rd or 4th game, you need “aalong reliever”. to come in and “stem the tide or hold the fort”. I always did picture him as the Tigers Long Reliever, when needed. “The March to the Bullpen” will be more frequent and often.
, Now who is it going to be- the Tigers; Long Reliever????
Brad Thomas or Robbie Weinhardt is what I’m hearing…maybe Albuquerque.
//Now who is it going to be- the Tigers; Long Reliever????//
Probably Brad Thomas or someone of that ilk.
I’m glad they got something for him. I’m also glad they got Arizona to take the contract.
I completely agree.
Hey, Justin, how do you feel about Scherzer starting the home opener next season??
//Hey, Justin, how do you feel about Scherzer starting the home opener next season??//
Two words: Yankee Stadium.
Hahahah, glad to see you’re keeping your eye on the bigger prize: outpitching CC Sabathia.
Just keep on doing what you do, my man.
are you the real justin verlander?
I think you know the answer to that.
The curse of Jim Joyce strikes again!
I hadn’t been paying attention to this, but saw that he had signed a deal with Detroit last week before being DFA’d. I’m sure it’s been discussed already, but was there any reason for the DFA beyond talent or something? Was it just a dumb deal for the Tigers to make? Just kind of confused on that, hope someone might clear things up.
The contract was a way to say thank you to Gala. He wouldn’t have gotten that much so the Tigers wanted to make sure he got a decent salary. This is just another sly move by DD to show any potential FA’s out there that Detroit is a good place to play because management will look out for you as a player and not just look out for themselves. Plus I’ve meet DD and he seems to generally care about baseball and it’s not just a job. How many GM’s do you know have a seat right behind homeplate (spring training) and are more into the game than you are and will stand there and talk to every fan who approaches him after the game.
I like the deal. Better than nothing!
Throw a perfect game