Robertson dealt to Florida

[A.E]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP)—The Florida Marlins acquired left-hander Nate Robertson from the Detroit Tigers for left-hander Jay Voss on Tuesday.

The trade enables Robertson to start with the Marlins and assures left-hander Dontrelle Willis a spot in the Detroit rotation. Robertson started six games and also spent time in the bullpen for the Tigers last season, finishing 2-3 with a 5.44 ERA in 28 appearances.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland said Willis would take the No. 3 spot in the rotation. Leyland figured Robertson did not want to be a reliever with the Tigers.

“He probably would have not been a happy camper if it would have worked out that he was in the bullpen,” Leyland said. “He’s been nothing but a good soldier here over the years. We appreciate everything he’s done for us. I think this is a great opportunity for him and it unclogs the issue for us a little bit.”

Robertson joins a Florida rotation that includes right-handers Josh Johnson(notes), Ricky Nolasco(notes), Anibal Sanchez(notes) and Chris Volstad(notes).

“He is a left-hander, which is something we didn’t have in the rotation,” Florida baseball operations president Larry Beinfest said “And he brings experience, which is something we’re light on also.”

Right-hander Clay Hensley(notes), who had been expected to join the Florida rotation after a strong spring, will instead likely pitch out of the bullpen.

Detroit is sending Florida cash as part of the deal for Robertson, who is owed $10 million this year in the final season of a $21.25 million, three-year deal. The Tigers will pay nearly all of his salary.

Robertson has a 51-69 record and 4.92 ERA in 202 games over eight big league seasons.

The 22-year-old Voss split last season between Class-A Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville for the Marlins. In 10 games with Jupiter, he compiled a 2.03 ERA and 10 strikeouts. He was 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 30 appearances with Jacksonville.

Robertson pitched for the Marlins briefly in 2002 before being traded to Detroit for Mark Redman(notes), who helped Florida win the 2003 World Series.

SOURCE

The most intriguing aspect of this deal is Dontrelle Willis in the #3 spot of the Tigers' rotation.

 

[.infamous]

Nah Willis is 4th behind scerchzer or whatever his name thats what i heard from many sites. But Im really hoping willis gets back to his old form when he was on the marlins. And I think it was a good idea to trade robertson because he isnt that good of a pitcher anymore and willis all his problem is in his head and that can be worked out after a while.

 

[A.E]

Nah Willis is 4th behind scerchzer or whatever his name thats what i heard from many sites.

Read Jim Leyland's quote from the 3rd sentence in the article.

 

[.infamous]

Lol didnt read it but hey as I said in my previous statement I hope willis returns to old form.

 

[jarrod2323]

D-Train back in the rotation?


for how long? LOL

 

[RipCity32]

The D Train is back on the tracks.

 

[.infamous]

The D Train is back on the tracks.

Yeah i hope its stays that way also.

 

[RipCity32]

As do I. Dude deserves it, such a class act guy.

 

[.infamous]

Yeah D-Train does deserve it.

 

[elcheato]

D-Train back in the rotation?


for how long? LOL

1 Week, 2 weeks tops.

 

[.infamous]

U guys will see Willis will be dominant again. Look at Grienke same thing happened to him.

 

[RipCity32]

He had a good spring and he is confident. I have faith.

 

[Mexi]

well the Tigers seem confident with him right?
thats a good thing i guess. then again, they were confident with Gallaraga too

I think DTrain is done. he's been done for a while.
he had 1 nice rookie year, then he tailed off towards the end of it.
then he sucked
then he had a nice, Cy Young candidate year, then he's been MIA again for about 4 years

stuff happens, it's possible. look at Mark Prior
i know how you detroit people here like to hype up the littlest things

 

[Mexi]

U guys will see Willis will be dominant again. Look at Grienke same thing happened to him.

greinke was pretty good the 2 previous years before his Cy year
Dontrelle hasnt been

 

[Rios15]

greinke was pretty good the 2 previous years before his Cy year
Dontrelle hasnt been

Yeah Grienke was always a good pitcher, people just noticed for his huge season last year.

 

[The Guid]

Mexi, you said it before I had the chance to.

 

[Mexi]

about Greinke Baggs?

 

[The Guid]

The Grienke-Willis comparison

 

[elcheato]

Not to mention Greinke has dominating stuff, while Willis does not anymore.

 

[Elite]

As do I. Dude deserves it, such a class act guy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2705991

Oh yes, quite the class act.