The Tigers will designate right-hander Joba Chamberlain for assignment, Kurt Mensching of SB Nation and the Detriot News first reported (on Twitter). Anthony Fenech of the Detroit News reports (via Twitter) that lefty Tom Gorzelanny will be designated for assignment as well. The Tigers have since announced the moves, adding that righties Jeff Ferrell and Drew VerHagen have been added to the roster in place of the departed veterans.
Chamberlain and Gorzelanny both came to the Tigers on one-year, $1MM contracts this offseason, and while each looked to be at least a reasonable low-cost roll of the dice at the time, neither has panned out as GM Dave Dombrowski and his staff have hoped.
The 29-year-old Chamberlain has posted a 4.09 ERA with 6.1 K/9, 2.1 BB/9 and a 41 percent ground-ball rate in 22 innings with Detroit this season. Those numbers, on the surface, aren’t entirely unsightly, but Chamberlain has been plagued by the long ball in 2015. He’s yielded five homers in those 22 innings, resulting in an FIP mark of 5.49. (xFIP, which normalizes his homer-to-flyball rate, figures the 4.09 mark is more or less represented of Chamberlain’s talent level this year.) Chamberlain’s in the midst of a particularly poor stretch, having allowed nine runs (eight earned) in his past six innings — a span of eight appearances.
Gorzelanny’s struggles have been even more prolonged. The 32-year-old has totaled just 12 1/3 innings over his past 15 appearances, surrendering an alarming 15 runs, which translates to a 10.95 ERA in that stretch. Overall, he has a 6.75 ERA this season with 7.1 K/9, 5.6 BB/9 and a 36.7 percent ground-ball rate. While he’s proven capable of handling lefties in the past, same-handed hitters are batting .273/.380/.419 against Gorzelanny in 2015. Those numbers pale in comparison, though, to the batting line authored by opposing right-handed hitters: .382/.477/.600.
Both are owed $519K through the end of the season, and neither reliever appeared in enough games to see his incentives kick in. Chamberlain, somewhat notably, was five appearances shy of earning an additional $100K.
Yankees reunion?
Other teams in the AL East are frothing at the mouth imagining that exact same scenario.
He will be useful against the Red Sox after Porcello gives up 3 HRs and Joba can come in for the Yanks and make the game interesting.
No Thanks. Boston already has Craig Breslow as a HR Prone reliever. They don’t want, nor need another one in Chamberlain.. Especially a crybaby like him.
Not quite sure where you got the idea anybody suggested that the Red Sox pick him up.. Just a random joke about the Yankees..
The only place that Joba has any chance of being serviceable would be somewhere like San Diego.. That is the only hope for home run plagued pitchers..
Joba, after receiving standing ovations during the playoffs from grateful Baltimore fans, should never have been resigned. The Detroit fans don’t forget easily, and there was always a palpable negative vibe in the ballpark whenever he pitched. Gorzellany looked like a nice signing at the start, but again, once he started getting hit, it just continued. The Tigers could really use a lefty in the bullpen. Hey Dave! I hear Chapman might be available!
Just for grins, what do you think the Tigers could give to pry Chapman from Cincinnati? I don’t see it happening, but this is a rumors site, so let’s have some fun.
How much has to be given up for a rental? Buck Farmer and Angel Nesbitt? A mid rotation starter and possible set up guy.
I went to the game on Wednesday. Eighth inning: HR HR HR. Game over.