The Nationals have traded right-hander Collin Balester to the Tigers in exchange for another right-hander, Ryan Perry. The Tigers just announced the move via a team press release.
Balester, 25, has posted a 9.8 K/9 rate over the last two seasons but also has given up a lot of hits (8.4 H/9) and walks (4.0 BB) in that span. Balester is yet another right-hander in a Tigers bullpen that also features Jose Valverde, Joaquin Benoit, Al Alburquerque and the newly-signed Octavio Dotel.
Perry, who turns 25 in February, was taken by Detroit with the 21st overall pick of the 2008 draft. After two solid seasons in relief in 2009-10, Perry struggled to a 5.35 ERA in 37 innings last season and only recorded 24 strikeouts against 21 walks.
rfffr
meh
tycobb
They gave up on Perry already, seems like a strange trade to me. Unless this somehow has an effect on the 5th starter.
Kirk Edward Gerwin
Think it was a little soon to give up on Perry. I still think he would have developed into a decent setup man in a few years. We rushed him through the minors and he suffered accordingly.
Ryan Heilala
With signing Dotel, Perry was obviously the odd man out. Balester is a starting pitcher/reliever. in 2011 he posted a:
W-L
1-4
ERA 4.54
K 34
Walks 14
WHIP 1.46
I sure hope this is for the bullpen and not the rotation.
TheBigNice
I don’t get this trade…change of scenery for both guys I guess.
Sideline Scholars
That was my thinking exactly. That’s the only thing that makes sense in a young righty reliever for young righty reliever trade.
NatsTown
So we gave up Balester for a pitcher that is even more terrible with less strikeouts and even worse control
MattCMoore
Same thing I was thinking about us… I guess its fair then…
Hoosierdaddy92
changing the subject-you signed a pretty good deal today dude.
Hoosierdaddy92
changing the subject-you signed a pretty good deal today dude.
verlander
Yeah, congrats on that deal~
verlander
Yeah, congrats on that deal~
NatsTown
haha I guess it was fair then
mgsports
So maybe they will Trade like Storen now for Span.
Sideline Scholars
That briefly jumped in my head. But I don’t think the Nationals front office is foolish enough to give the closing reins to Perry… at least I hope they aren’t.
nats2012
If the Nationals did that Henry Rodriguez and Tyler Clippard would close before Perry and they would probably look to sign Madson.
Sideline Scholars
Excellent point, I did forget about those two.
hallwagner
balester isn’t that bad. he has really good stuff (fastball 92-96 and a good curve), but just needs more consitency. i particularly remember an outing in which he struck out 6 men in a row, then gave up a solo homer (this was a long relief outing). good potential here for both sides.
John Czech
They could of traded Perry for a pack of Juicy Fruit and I would of been happy with it. I am not going to miss this walk machine.
verlander
Not that surprised, but I would’ve liked to hang on to Perry.
nats2012
I always liked Perry, great stuff but has to learn how to control it.
inleylandwetrust
So basically, Tigers trade Ryan Perry for Ryan Perry; and Nationals trade Collin Balester for Collin Balester.
funkytime
Kind of. But Balester is older and has given up 1.67 HR/9 compared to Perry’s 0.78 HR/9.
Dave
Tic for Tac. No sense. Just a change, that might help both of them.
Carter S
Na, It makes sense for the Nats because Balester is out of options and there is a good chance they would have lost him for nothing sometime this season…while Perry is under control for another year….I dont know much about Ryan Perry, but I do know that Collin Balester is a bum
tiger313
Remember a time when Perry and Porcello were untouchable. Imagine the players we could have had if we traded them when they were.
Carter S
I’ll let you know when the Doc fixes the flux capacitor on my delorean
verlander
Halladay?
verlander
Halladay?
alphabet_soup5
I think Porcello + Perry was the asking price for Halladay back in 2009.
funkytime
I’m not liking the move from the Tigers perspective. Perry still had some potential, and if he was going to be dealt I’d much rather he was a part of a deal to fill one of our their other needs (2nd, 3rd, SP). And Balester’s FIP has been MUCH worse than Perry’s.
The Tigers are saying they did it because they wanted someone that could pitch multiple innings out of the pen, and I guess that makes some sense. But Coke or Pauley could’ve filled that role too.
Ryan Heilala
If you didn’t realize…Pauley signed with the Phillies today.
EightMileCats
That was Purcey. Similar name, different guy
EightMileCats
That was Purcey. Similar name, different guy
funkytime
Pauley is still on the Tigers’ roster. If you’re unsure about something you can at least double check your facts before trying to correct someone, can’t you?
weaselpuppy
and thus ends the stupid 2008 draft of relievers in the first 4 rounds….and we have basically nothing to show for it except 6weeks of craptastic play by Aubrey Huff that cost us a playoff entry ( actually I’ll blame that on fellow acquiree Jarod Washburn’s 8.5 ERA August/Sept for us that year)….of course we got Alex Avila in the 5th ;)….Perry? He looks like a player, his pitches look great coming out of his hand, they just never find the strike zone….and he has zero mental toughness….Balester? Cool, we need someone that is OK with being mop-up behind Big Potato, Benoit, Dotel, Albuquerque, Coke and Schlereth…lets us keep developing Smyly and Oliver, assuming Turner makes the 5 slot outta ST….oh yeah, Balester we control for 5 more years and Perry only 4? good nuff
funkytime
I’ve always felt that 08 draft was because Illitch told DD that he couldn’t spend much on the draft at all that year. And relievers sign for cheap.
That was the year they spent a ton of money in the off-season and then finished last in their division.
doyers
this means i can c Balester pitch against the angels when they play against them.He graduated from Huntington Beach high school where i played baseball and graduated from.
stymeedone
The deal makes sense from the Tigers side if they dont think they can get a starting pitcher signed. Balester was a starter in minors, and actually has shown better control as a starter than a reliever. Perry was never more than a one innning pitcher. He can compete with Below for the 5th spot in the rotation, with the other playing mop up. His HR rate has been a bit scary tho.
I would sure like to see Turner get at least a half season at AAA. When he was up for his few starts, he looked a lot more like Porcello than Verlander–and he’s been hyped like Verlander.
The_Moose
Sigh. I liked Balester.
He grows a glorious mustache, Tigers fans.
Vote4DougWilson
I suspect that’s why this team keeps falling short of a WS. We haven’t had a great ‘stache since Jack Morris left!