K-Rod Signing Good for Tigers?
By Blake VandeBunte • Dec 9th, 2008 • Category: Brian Fuentes, Francisco Rodriguez, JJ Putz, Kerry WoodReports all over the baseball world say that closer Francisco Rodriguez is close to signing with the New York Mets. The deal is said to be for three years and worth around $37M. This is significantly less than what people were saying Rodriguez would get only a few months ago.
Is this good news for the Tigers? I say yes, it is very good news. Rodriguez will probably set the bar for other free agent closers on the market like Kerry Wood and Brian Fuentes. I’ve been saying for a while now that the Tigers should pursue Wood. Since it took only $4M to get a catcher and a shortstop for 2009, it seems like the Tigers have set themselves up nicely to make a run at Wood or Fuentes.
Considering Wood’s injury history and less than glamorous save totals, he should get significantly less in a deal than Rodriguez. Would a two year offer worth $20M get it done? Is it possibly that Kerry Would could be closing games in Detroit for the next two seasons?
The Tigers are also said to be considering a trade for Seattle closer, JJ Putz. There are two pretty key differences between Putz and Wood that slide Wood even further in favor. Wood was healthy for the entire 2009 season while Putz made numerous trips to the DL. Wood would cost nothing in players, just cash. Putz on the other hand is currently under contract with the Mariners and the Tigers would have to work out a trade to bring him to Detroit.
So this Kerry Wood to Detroit dream seems to be more alive than ever. Hopefully the Tigers wine and dine Mr. Wood over the next couple of days down in Las Vegas and bring him our way.
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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I would like to see them get would. Hopefully they get a couple other pitchers for the bullpen along with him.
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