Posted June 1, 201015 yr Marlins among teams interested in Willis Tigers designated Willis for assignment Saturday MIAMI GARDENS - The Florida Marlins are among the teams that have expressed interest in acquiring left-hander Dontrelle Willis, who the Tigers designated for assignment Saturday. The Tigers have 10 days to trade or release Willis, who won two games since his arrival in Detroit from Florida as part of the December 2007 Miguel Cabrera trade. Before he ever threw a pitch for his new organization, Willis signed a three-year, $29 million contract. To trade Willis, the Tigers likely would have to eat all but the prorated minimum of the roughly $8.2 million still owed Willis in 2010. A free agent after this season, Willis would be free to sign with any team for the prorated minimum if the Tigers ultimately release him. The Marlins and Tigers discussed Willis at one point during spring training. They eventually agreed to a trade that sent Nate Robertson and cash to the Marlins for minor league left-hander Jay Voss. The Tigers are picking up $9.6 million of Robertson's $10 million 2010 salary. Robertson was encouraged by what he saw from Willis in spring training. "Overall he threw the ball very well," Robertson said. "It's been documented he's had his troubles, but I thought for the most part he was getting out of that. It's not that he's pitched terrible this year. From what I understand it was a call made because they didn't know any given start what they were going to get." Willis this season was 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA, 29 walks and 33 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings over nine appearances (eight starts). Three times this season he completed six innings while allowing two earned runs or less. He also had three starts where he gave up four runs in five innings or less. "I still think Dontrelle can get it figured out" Robertson said. "He still has the ability. It's not like he's hurt or coming off major surgery. It's all about getting comfortable with his mechanics and getting in a place he's comfortable." Willis no doubt would be comfortable with the Marlins. He won the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year and a World Series with this organization. In addition, he established the single-season club record for wins (22) in 2005 and finished second to Chris Carpenter in the NL Cy Young voting. If the Marlins do acquire him, they initially could let him work with special assistant Mark Wiley – Willis' 2005 pitching coach — before deciding whether he's better off in the major league bullpen or starting in the minors. Wiley saw plenty of Willis during his spring training scouting rounds. "This spring he was topping out at 94," Robertson said. "Left-hander throwing 94, his stuff is still there. It's just a matter of getting comfortable with what he's doing mechanically and letting it all come together for him. He cares a lot. That's why I know [sunday] morning was probably a very difficult morning to wake up to. He's a positive guy, and he'll search for the good out of it. "He did everything the organization asked him to do. It was a very difficult process. He took a lot of criticism, especially from fans and everywhere he went. He was a professional about it and stayed as positive as he could. With his attitude, he'll be fine."… * I wonder if maybe its worth a shot for him to work with someone in the organization and see if we can get him going. Of course he wont be taking anyones spot in the rotation right now.
June 1, 201015 yr He needs to clear first. We can't grab him on a DFA, we'd have to put him on our 25 man roster. Already reports Dbacks working a trade for him. But as with every player in baseball, I am cool if it's a minor league deal. Absolutely no harm.
June 1, 201015 yr Reading this article really makes me hope we can get him somehow and stash him in the minors with Wiley. Not only do I think that would be great for us, I think it would be great for Willis figuring things out, and I'd like to see that as much as the former.
June 1, 201015 yr Don't expect the Marlins or Mets to pursue Dontrelle Willis. As Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post (via Twitter) and Andy Martino of the New York Daily News report, neither NL East team is interested in the former Rookie of the Year. The Mets have an expensive, struggling left-hander of their own in Oliver Perez, so it's not a surprise to hear that they aren't interested in Willis. Martino reports that the Mets are not interested in Nelson Figueroa, either. The team apparently prefers its own pitchers to Figueroa or Willis. The D'Backs, however, are looking for pitching depth and are interested in Willis.
June 1, 201015 yr It should be noted that Mark Wiley is still part of the Marlins organization and maybe he can pull something out of D-Train, if not sign and send him to minors to become the next Rick Ankiel.
June 1, 201015 yr I think it's worth a shot if we give him a minor league deal and have Wiley work with him. Obviously, Wiley helped him out with his mechanics and such in 2005. The fact that the guy still throws in the low to mid 90s suggests to me he could be a decent pickup if he can work out his mechanical issues. I've seen him pitch a couple of times this year and it seems like he's either on or off. When he's on, he'll give you a quality start. When he's off, he walks a ton of guys. It's not like hitters are smacking him around. His stuff is fine, but his control is an issue. It's worth a shot to try to get him to regain his control.
June 1, 201015 yr Assuming for the moment that the Tigers are unsuccessful in trading Dontrelle and he is released some things to consider are: (BTW I don't know the status of the first two) * He and his wife are homeowners here * Her law practice if active is here * Florida does not have state income taxes which on $8+ million (or a portion of it depending if he is playing out of state) is not an insignificant number. another tidbit, this could be related to where the Tigers have spring training - "Willis' agent said the pitcher and his wife already had been in the process of buying a house in Arizona before the Tigers cut him loose, so the D'backs would be an ideal fit. " I mention these as unrelated to baseball factors that may play some part in his decision where to sign if released and on his own.
June 1, 201015 yr Why are we always ready to back track and pickup players who once play for the team, i think it is time we move ahead, if he can't get it together there why are we so sure it will happen here.
June 1, 201015 yr Why are we always ready to back track and pickup players who once play for the team, i think it is time we move ahead, if he can't get it together there why are we so sure it will happen here.
June 1, 201015 yr Personally, while Nate Robertson may be speaking for media consumption, his positive comments and reminder that 94mph lefties are not exactly a dime a dozen, convinced me that if he were released there was enough of a risk/reward to possibly sign him and see what Wiley can do with a goal of having him contributing by the end of July or August. Normally I'm not a big fan of bringing every guy who was ever in the organization back for a second try or signing every player cut by someone else especially for lack of production, but there are exceptions, and for me, Willis might be one of them.
June 1, 201015 yr Personally, while Nate Robertson may be speaking for media consumption, his positive comments and reminder that 94mph lefties are not exactly a dime a dozen, convinced me that if he were released there was enough of a risk/reward to possibly sign him and see what Wiley can do with a goal of having him contributing by the end of July or August. Normally I'm not a big fan of bringing every guy who was ever in the organization back for a second try or signing every player cut by someone else especially for lack of production, but there are exceptions, and for me, Willis might be one of them. For reasons already stated, I'm in the same boat here.
June 1, 201015 yr Joe Capozzi who reported the Marlins weren't interested in Willis, now is repoting they are and so are the Mets. joecapMARLINS I'm told interest in Dontrelle Willis from at least 4 teams: Dbax, Mets, Brewers, #Marlins
June 1, 201015 yr Capozzi is so terrible at his job. Nah, he's okay. Obviously he just reported what one source told him and it got to another source that filled him in.
June 1, 201015 yr Capozzi is so terrible at his job. Nah, he's okay. Obviously he just reported what one source told him and it got to another source that filled him in. Bleh. He's like two steps above Frisaro.
June 1, 201015 yr I think Joe's first "source" was our fave agent Matt Sosnick, who it seems said definitively the Marlins had no interest. It appears later, Capozzi had the opportunity to speak with people inside the organization who opined there was an internal debate going on (I would assume among Fredi ,front office personnel and possibly Wiley) about whether to move on Dontrelle and when. Obviously Capozzi went with what he had (Sosnick) until he had a better, more credible source (anyone still breathing and with Admin Beinfest's blackberry number)..
June 1, 201015 yr I think Joe's first "source" was our fave agent Matt Sosnick, who it seems said definitively the Marlins had no interest. It appears later, Capozzi had the opportunity to speak with people inside the organization who opined there was an internal debate going on (I would assume among Fredi ,front office personnel and possibly Wiley) about whether to move on Dontrelle and when. Obviously Capozzi went with what he had (Sosnick) until he had a better, more credible source (anyone still breathing and with Admin Beinfest's blackberry number).. lol Good Pot.
June 1, 201015 yr There's no way Marlins2003 tokes up. Maybe back in the day, but not anymore. If you only knew... :hat
June 1, 201015 yr Capozzi is so terrible at his job. Nah, he's okay. Obviously he just reported what one source told him and it got to another source that filled him in. Bleh. He's like two steps above Frisaro. Capozzi is one of my favorite reporters.
