Speculate about the Tigers closer here

[Pauly]

We've all heard about the huge question mark that is Rondon and the rest of the end of the Detroit Tigers bullpen. Jim Bowden just reported that the Tigers tried to get Huston Street or Luke Gregerson from the Padres in exchange for Rick Porcello but were turned down. They've thought about bringing back the train wreck that is Jose Valverde.

So who do you think they should be targeting via trade? Porcello has been awesome this spring...he might be worth acquiring for a few teams.

Personally, I drafted Drew Storen in the end-game of my NL only with the thought that Soriano would fail/get injured or that he just might end up in Detroit (I would get to keep him for his AL stats til the end of the year).

Care to speculate?

[Stephen]

My personal prediction is that on Sept 29 when the Tigers finish their last game of the season the man on their roster with the most saves and a strong hold on the closer job will be this guy:

[revo]

I think it will be an internal candidate besides Rondon -- namely either Alburquerque, Coke, Benoit or Dotel. When all is said and done, I think Dotel has the job by May.

[TranaGreg]

I'll put a nickel on Benoit.

[cavebird]

I'd bet a two cents that Albequerque gets the job and promptly goes back to the DL where he usually resides.

[dave_dewit]

Throwing a couple bucks on Chris Perez. I like his long odds--could pay off big.
Procello for Perez would make some sense, especially if the Indians start the season poorly.
Cleveland has loved the high ground ball guys in the past...

[Fresno Bob]

My personal prediction is that on Sept 29 when the Tigers finish their last game of the season the man on their roster with the most saves and a strong hold on the closer job will be this guy:

Has Wilson thrown a pitch in anger yet this year?

[Sour Masher]

Jim Bowden just reported that the Tigers tried to get Huston Street or Luke Gregerson from the Padres in exchange for Rick Porcello but were turned down. They've thought about bringing back the train wreck that is Jose Valverde.

Am I understand correctly that the Padres turned down a young, solid back of the rotation arm with upside for a middle reliever? I know Porcello has been a bust in relation to expectations, but he is still just 24 and showing signs of improvement. I'm surprised his start has fallen to the point that a swap for Like Geregerson was shot down.

[Stephen]

I'm not surprised. Huston Street is such an injury risk and Gregerson has been pretty fantastic the past few seasons.

If I were the Padres I'd rather send them Street than Gregerson.

[axman]

Either way. San Diego should have taken either deal.

Got a feeling Coke gets first shot at saves if they can't bring someone in. And we thought Valverde made things interesting.

[cardboardbox]

wouldnt a benoit/coke duo work well to keep benoit from pitching many games back to back?

[Bodhizefa]

They have a billion good arms in that pen all capable of closing (Benoit, Alburquerque, Dotel, Villarreal, and Rondon). I'll maybe roster one of them as an MR for good rates and hope I hit the jackpot, but overall I think it's pretty much a crapshoot for this year. I could see any one of those guys leading the team in saves by year's end.

[Pauly]

Rondon sent down to AAA today...kind of surprising. Rotoworld says the four-headed monster of Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke, Octavio Dotel and Al Alburquerque will share closer duties.

I cant remember a true contending team that went with the committee strategy (maybe the 2010 or 2011 Cardinals?) They have got to make a move, no?

[popeye]

I don't find it surprising, at all. Rondon did not pitch in a manner which would inspire confidence and needs seasoning.

[dave_dewit]

I cant remember a true contending team that went with the committee strategy (maybe the 2010 or 2011 Cardinals?) They have got to make a move, no?

The Giants went committee during the second half of last year instead of trading for a "proven closer" at the deadline. Maybe the Tigers will implement the old "if you can't beat'em, do what they did when they beat you" strategy.