RedFX 48 Report post Posted July 31, 2009 After looking like they were going to stand pat, the Tigers made a big splash early in deadline-day. DetNews Cleveland --Beating the trade deadline, the Tigers have strengthened their starting rotation. They acquired left-hander Jarrod Washburn today from the Seattle Mariners for two pitchers, both of them left-handers: Luke French, who was in the Tigers' rotation and highly-regarded prospect Mauricio Robles, who'd been at West Michigan. Washburn can be a free agent at the end of the season, but is a major acquisition all the same. He was 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA for the Mariners. Not only that but he's just coming off one of the best months of his career. Washburn was 4-1 with a 1.44 ERA in July. He'll turn 35 on Aug. 13 and has been the majors since 1998, with a career record of 106-106. After three tough seasons for the Mariners in which he went 23-43, he's made a significant comeback this season. The Tigers saw for themselves just how well he's been pitching when Washburn held them to two hits in seven shutout innings of a 2-1 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park on July 23. He's 4-0 in the last five starts with a 0.74 ERA. Washburn attributes his effectiveness this season to an improved sinker, but he has also developed a slow curve that he calls "The Flipper." At 70 miles an hour or slower, it has proven to be a pitch that keeps right-handers off balance. French was 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven games, including five starts, for the Tigers. Robles, a 20-year-old from Venezuela, was 4-4 with a 4.64 ERA at West Michigan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
