Baseball Musings: Doing Something Right

November 18, 2004

Doing Something Right

The Tigers must be doing something right. Troy Percival met with the team management, looked around the city and signed on the dotted line.

The whirlwind courtship caught even Dombrowski by surprise. Percival stayed Monday night at Birmingham's Townsend Hotel, ate breakfast with manager Alan Trammell, Hall of Famer Al Kaline and owner Mike Ilitch on Tuesday morning, and by Tuesday afternoon was taking a precautionary physical to prove his various ailments -- past shoulder surgery, a hip ailment and last season's forearm injury -- were fine.

"I'm as good right now as I've ever been," Percival said.

By dinner with Trammell, Dombrowski and upper management, Percival was sold, telling the brass to call his agent and make the deal. According to Dombrowski, the agreement came somewhere in the middle of the entrée and while Percival's agent -- also surprised by the news -- was on his way to a Los Angeles Clippers game.

"I know what I want when I want it," said Percival, who said he turned down more money elsewhere to sign with Detroit.

Only time will tell how big a deal this becomes. The Tigers now have insurance if the tragedy in Urbina's life keeps him from pitching in 2005, and depth if Urbina can pitch. UU strikes out more batters, but Percival walks fewer. No matter who is used in the setup/closer role, the Tigers have a good chance of reducing games to 7 innings.

The other benefit of signing Percival is that he may bring in Troy Glaus.

The Percival benefits are far-reaching. Not only did the closer discuss his desire to lead the bullpen and help the younger pitchers, but he has a strong friendship with one of the Tigers' other free-agent targets, Anaheim third baseman Troy Glaus.

Close enough that the players speak daily. "We may have our best salesman in the closer," Dombrowski said, smiling.

When the Tigers were putting up the worst record in 40 years, I wondered if Dombrowski had lost the magic that worked so well in Montreal and Florida. It looks like he's gotten the owner to open up the purse strings, and while I doubt we'll see a 30-game improvement this year, even a 15 game surge will put the Tigers in contention.

Posted by David Pinto at 09:16 AM | Management | TrackBack (0)

Comments

I'm sorry, Dave, I just don't share your enthusiasm for a team that opened up its pursestrings for an over the hill "closer." If he nets them Glaus, terrific. But otherwise, what's the point? The Tigers have glaring holes all over the diamond (everywhere but catcher, first, and short by my count), and a dearth of starting pitching after Bonderman. If you're willing to pay $6 million/year, why not go after someone who'll give you more than 35 innings a season? Yes, Percival is now their best reliever, but I've never met a reliever who netted a team 15 wins in a single season.

Posted by: Daniel at November 18, 2004 11:05 AM

Percival strikes me as worth a 2-year deal in the $8 million or so range. $12 million is paying him to be an elite or near-elite closer, and he's just not.

Posted by: Crank at November 18, 2004 12:29 PM

Two weeks ago I would have said $12 million was too much for Percival. Given how things have gone so far (Vizquel, Guzman), it almost seems to be in line. I guess time will tell - maybe I missed what the spending is going to be like this offseason.

Mike H.

Posted by: Mike H at November 18, 2004 01:01 PM

I've read that UU might be traded (from the San Gabriel Valley Tribue via the Toledo Blade). Don't know what you'd get for a guy who might not pitch next year (let's hope his mom gets released/rescued quickly). There were some decent arms down in AA for the Tigers, they'll probably pitch the first half in Toledo next year, then move up to Detroit after the All Star game; leaving us with another disappointing second half.

Posted by: Robert at November 18, 2004 01:05 PM

This seems diastrous for the Tigers unless they get Glaus. $10 million tied up in two aging relievers. Even if they trade Urbina, they'll get little in return and then have an injury risk with declining skills at $6 million. The Tigers holes at 3B and in the outfiled are much more urgent. The cost of fixing an admittedly poor bullpen should be your smallest expense when you have other needs.

Posted by: Man of Leisure at November 18, 2004 05:24 PM

I think the enthusiasm comes more from the fact that players will talk to Detroit now, without Detroit having to ridiculously overpay (Fernando Vina, Jason Johnson). The Tigers bullpen was abysmal last year, and with this signing they are instantly better. Is 12 over 2 too much for the level of performance you'll get out of Percival? Probably. However, is it out of line with the market for quality relievers? That remains to be seen. It would be great if the Tigers had a young cheap alternative so they won't have to spend FA money to get a closer, but that guy isn't there.

Also, by what Illitch is saying, this signing doesn't preclude them from upgrading 3b and OF as well. This is the same owner that has the "Yankees of hockey." Detroit isn't a small market team, and I think Illitch thinks he's close enough to open up the wallet and turn the corner.

Posted by: billfer at November 19, 2004 03:41 PM