Ok, I understand the Yankees motivation for acquiring a catcher to finish the season with. And I’ve never been a big fan of Farnsworth, ever since his flameouts with the Cubs way back when, but I acknowledge he’s had some low ERAs, including this year, so I can understand the Tigers wanting to shore up the bullpen.
But someone seriously explain to me how this trade leaves the Tigers better than they were before the trade??? They are only 5.5 back in their division; it isn’t like they should be throwing in the towel and looking to next year or anything. Do they seriously think they don’t need Pudge’s production, or his abilities behind the plate (Inge???).
Knowing the Yankees were needy, I’d have held out for at least some good minor leaguer to go with the deal. Thoughts?
I’ve read that Pudge wanted out. Perhaps the Tigers know something about his work ethic or state of mind that we don’t. I can’t imagine Pudge pulling a Manny, but maybe he’s doing just that. Locker room trouble maker and all that.
Also, isn’t Pudge a free agent after this year? Having Inge catch & adding Farnsworth (who’s been good this year) might look like a net gain for the Tigers.
If you think that Inge is a solid starting catcher, and Farnsworth is a good reliever, this makes sense. You get rid of a bottleneck at catcher, you don’t really need two catchers who are solid starters, and add a good reliever. I can see it being a net plus for the Tigers. It’s also a net plus for the Yankees, since they had a bottleneck at reliever, and no legitimate starting catcher.
I don’t know if this is such a good move for the Yankees. Pudge is still a good catcher, so with Posada out he’s a needed addition. But they’ve already moved Jobba to the rotation, so now losing Farnsworth makes their late-inning relief even more questionable (until you get to M.R. of course).
The Tigers dumped a little salary. Maybe 2 million in all, as each player will be free agents at the end of the year.
The Tigers desperately needed a reliever and liked Farnsworth the last time he was a Tiger. They think he might even close for them. (I think Yankees trade Farnsy while he was at his maximum value.)
Pudge asked to be traded, I did not hear why. The Yankees hated having a very easy out in the line-up and in an interview I heard last week, Molina actually sounded over-matched to be a everyday starter and the Yanks were worried about him playing everyday.
The Yanks actually had a small need to move a reliever as Bruney is ready or just about ready to return. Farnsworth had no value to the Yanks beyond this year. He was unlikely to be part of their plans in the future and they used him to fill a hole. Additionally, few fans trusted Farnsworth in a big game and I am sure many Yankee executives felt the same.
The Tigers got a reliever they really needed and saved some cash in the deal. A win for both teams.
Jim
BTW: Hawkins was traded to the Astros for a 22 year old single A second baseman.
The Yanks bullpen is deep right now, they just added Marte and have Bruney returning. Bruney was their likeliest 8th inning guy before they got hurt when they were talking about moving Joba into the rotation part way through the season. Additionally the Yanks of a younger guy, Jose Veras that has been better than Farnsworth all season.
I thought Molina was playing well, but he’s no Pudge. And Farnsworth was finally pitching well, or at least he had lately, after several inconsistent years. But I don’t mind giving him up. I think it’s hard to rely on a guy who has struggled the way he did, and they picked up Marte in the Nady trade last week.
Griffey Jr to the White Sox.
Pudge has hit a weak 290. He does not bring fear to the opposition any more. He wanted to play more. he was giving up time to Inge. Inge has more pop in his bat now. Pudge was apparently unhappy and would have walked next year.
Todd Jones is on IR . He has lost it and may be done. Rodney can’t be depended on to throw strikes. He will open a close game 9th with a walk or 2. Tigers are 5.5 back. It is not over.
Farnsworth had troubles when he was in Detroit a couple years ago. They were never in the open, but why would they want a guy who was unhappy here before.? This does not add up.
Ok, well, some of what y’all have said makes sense, but I still assert that the Tigers should have gotten more from the Yankees than just Farnsworth. Maybe that’s my personal dislike for Farnsworth biasing my opinion (I remember how we had such hopes for him with the Cubs, and how generally unreliable he was). But in a year in which most clubs who moved players who frankly wanted a better chance to contend (THAT, I believe, is really behind the Pudge trade; he has no confidence in the Tigers getting it done) managed to get some good compensation, I think the Tigers are dueling with the BoSox for who is riding the ragged edge more with their decisions.
I mean, it’s not like the Yankees don’t have a minor league system full of possible compensation trade bait.
Oh, and I might point out that Pudge, while not having great stats for the season, apparently was hitting well into the .300s for the last 31 games. So he’s hot right now, and I doubt that Inge can match that.
Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski has a terrific history of fleecing the Yankees. In 1998 he got Mike Lowell who has had a good career for Ed Yarnall a d a few others who did nothing.
In 2002 he got Jeremey Bonderman and Carlos Pena while giving up Jeff Weaver in a three way deal with Oakland and the Yankees (who gave up Ted Lilly)
In 2006 he got Gary Sheffield for a group of minor leagues who haven’t made it. The prize pitching prospecet Humberto Sanches is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
I think it was a case of wanting to unload Ivan Rodriguez who was wanting a trade and realizing the Tigers needed a reliever and Farnsworth was the best available. I don’t think too many other teams needed Pudge. The Yankees needed a catcher and felt Farnsworth is always a threat to regress.
