Tigers Acquire Washburn

For all the fretting and hand-wringing Tigers’ fans have been doing over the past several days, waiting, hoping, in fact begging GM Dave Dombrowski to make a move to improve this club, he has responded.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Tigers struck a deal todayto bring in left hander Jarrod Washburn from Seattle.  The Mariners will receive rookie left hander Luke French and minor leaguer Mauricio Robles.

Washburn (8-6, 2.64 ERA) will be a free agent following the season, and is represented by Scott Boras, so any thought of him signing an extension is probably just wishful thinking, but he does profile as a Type-B free agent, so the Tigers would get a draft pick in compensation if they offer him arbitration and he signs elsewhere.

Considering the Yankees were rumored to be in hot pursuit of Washburn, this serves as a major coup for Dombrowski as the Tigers look to pad their roster while trying to build on a two game divisional lead.

As far as the major league roster is concerned, it’s a simple swap of left handed starters, but in terms of expected production, Washburn can be expected to be a guy that the Tigers can trust to eat innings, which in turn will help the bullpen, preventing overuse.

French goes to Seattle just months after he made his major league debut against the Mariners.  He brings along a 1-2 record, but a very respectable 3.38 ERA.