Maroth traded, probably?

So Ken Rosenthal says Mike Maroth was traded to the Cardinals. The Tigers deny the story. Then the St. Louis Post Dispatch says that league sources confirmed the rumor. According to the article it was for a player to be named later. The old PTBNL makes it hard to evaluate the trade. But I’ll update as more info becomes available.

This really doesn’t come as a surprise, it was more a matter of what they got in return.

I feel for Maroth who became the odd man out in a rotation crunch. He suffered through baseball hell in 2003, missed out on being on the playoff roster due to his injury, and now he’s going from a first place team to a team that is 5 games under .500. I wish Mike the best of luck with the Cards.

UPDATE:
A couple notes on PTBNL: The transaction has to be completed within 6 months. So it wouldn’t be a recent draft pick, because they can’t be traded for 12 months after signing (it could be someone drafted last year). It could be a player currently on the disabled list. DL’s players can’t be traded without permission from the league, but they can be included as PTBNL. This could give some credibility to the Braden Looper being said player because he’s currently on the 15 day DL.

UPDATE: Tiger players have confirmed that Mike Maroth has been traded.

UPDATE: It will be a minor leaguer. The teams have agreed on a list of potentials and the Tigers will make their selection later this summer.

I’ll reserve judgement on this trade until we find out who the PTBNL is. I’d caution that just because it is a PTBNL doesn’t mean that it won’t be someone of value. It won’t be a premiere prospect of course, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see it be someone near the bottom of the BA top 10 prospect list either.

Now the deal does nothing to help with the bullpen, but I really do think the Tigers are still waiting to see if Eulogio De La Cruz can be helpful and if Fernando Rodney can regain 2006 form. There’s still plenty of time until the trade deadline if those options don’t work, and the Tigers have been lockstep with the Indians and holding on to the wild card lead so there’s no need to panic.

31 thoughts on “Maroth traded, probably?”

  1. Sounds good to me. Whatever we can get for him is good because he had no spot here.

  2. I would be bummed. I remember watching him pitch many Sunday afternoons when the Tigers were horrible. I had hoped he could be part of the team now that they are good.

  3. I wonder if the PTBNL is a guy the Cardinals just drafted, like when DD traded for Bonderman?

  4. As much as Bonderman is surrounded by good Karma right now, Maroth seems to have a black cloud over his head. I wouldn’t mind a rematch in the World Series with Maroth on the mound! I just hope the Tigers win all the games he doesn’t pitch.

  5. Kinda sad to see him go. I did want to see him play more of a roll in the team’s resurgence. I hope he pitches well in the NL.

  6. Jeff weaver & Karma owed the tigers b/c Garner played Craig Paquette in right field who misplayed a fly ball in the 8th inning to land for Weaver’s first hit of the night. (its a stretch) The Tigers are certainly getting minor league talent/prospects for Maroth.

  7. I called my son on the road and gave him the news and he was very disappointed about this trade. He said Maroth “had a lot of heart”.

  8. I like this trade. Clears space in our rotation and gets rid of our worst starter. Next in line: Nate Robertson.

    Also, I’m not sure if getting Looper back in a deal for Maroth straight up is possible. Maybe it is and I just undervalue Maroth but that doesn’t seem like equal value to me. I’d really like to land their Double-A Catcher, Bryan Anderson who’s hitting: .325/.385/.459, hits left-handed, has a 20:27 BB:K ratio, and isn’t even 21 until late december. But that’s very unlikely.

  9. So we don’t have a time table on when the player we get is announced? Or we will see when Looper comes off the DL?

  10. Mike R:

    I believe Anderson is the Cardinal’s most valued prospect so I agree it is not likely. The Cardinals really dont have a very good minor league system right now. One possibility is Joe Mather-25 year old 1st baseman. He just got called up to AAA. He is a former 3rd round pick who was a late bloomer but is very big (6’5)and has big power. Check out his AA stats from this year.

  11. Man, I hope it’s not Looper. He did really well as a starter this year for the Cardinals, but to my memory, he hasn’t been so good as a reliever. But I think most of that recollection is him as a closer, which he obviously wouldn’t be in Detroit.

  12. Unrelated question: Is the game tonight on TBS or whatever it is called now? That is for the people outside of the Detroit market.

  13. No, as far as I can tell, it’s not on TBS. The good news is that tomorrow’s game is on Fox and Sunday night is of course on ESPN.

  14. This trade benfits Maroth too lets not forget. Now he gets to pitch in the NL and bat which is somthing he obviously enjoys doing. But soft tossing lefties do much better over there.

  15. it’s hard to believe that a player to be named later is the best tigers could get for
    maroth he may not be the most reliable pitcher in the major leauges but he does have a 5-2 W-L record,eventhough ERA
    a little elevated,but come on.

  16. Jon: My top 3 for the Cards system goes: Colby Rasmus (5 tool OFer, will start in CF in either 08 or will be starting in 09 after spending 2nd half of 08 with the Cards), Jaime Garcia (LHP), and then Anderson. But he’s one of their biggest commodities and won’t be dealt, I agree. Just A LOT of wishful thinking.

    And is Joe Mather really an option? His career minor league numbers are on par or worse (save for his power, which he has more of) with Jeff Larish. I think he’s an option, but I’m not exactly thrilled. But this is for a league average to below-league-average pitcher, so I guess that could make sense.

  17. Not sure why this trade comes as a surprise to any one. I mentioned Maroth’s impending trade a few days back. It confirms my source for sure. I’m sure my source will know in a day or two who the Tigers will be getting. I’ll try to post that info ASAP too.

  18. For all those who thought we could trade Maroth or Robertson or Durbin for relief help: here’s your answer. A servicable #5 pitcher gets you in return: a minor leaguer in 2008, a toaster oven, and some discounted tickets for Cedar Point.

  19. Cheers to Mike Maroth! Sad to see him go after all of his ups and downs in Motown. May he have great success in the future (except against the Tigers of course).

  20. Regardless of what this means to the Tigers this year and in the future, I still have to sit back and admit sadness seeing Mike go. I don’t need to rehash his career; I’ll just simply say he was a class individual (in an era where that seems to get overlooked in the rush to report endlessly about jerks) on and off the field. I don’t know the man personally, but professionally he is admirable; he is what you would hope any child would grow up to become. I will miss him and will continue to wear my Maroth jersey with pride.

  21. I’m also sad to see Maroth go. I think the trade makes sense for the team, (even without knowing whom we get in return) but really, anyone who wasn’t rooting for Maroth has no heart. 21 losses in ’03, missing most of last season with an injury, he deserves some good luck now. I wish him the best in St. Louis.

  22. Can someone give a list of names that could potentially be on the list of players to be named later. Ed, check your ironclad source, see what he/she says.

  23. Ed: I’d hardly call Robertson a 5th starter. The numbers he posted in the AL means he’s a #3 starter in the majors, in my opinion. And he + Monroe would net us our biggest return, not including any minor league arms we would throw in the deal.

  24. Mark: I spoke with him yesterday and he believes, as Billfer pointed out, that it’s for a minor leaguer. But he added too that it looks somewhat possible that three MiLB players will be part of the trade. At any rate, I’ll see about getting the scoop for us early.

    Mike R: Dude, um, I never said anything about Robertson. Maybe you were confused as to whoe you were responding?

  25. Mike R:

    I agree Mather is not necessarily better than Larish…who I am not sold on either.

  26. okay, hope people see this.

    Here’s the word on the street about teh Maroth trade. The Cards have given the Tigers a list of 3 MiLB pitchers from which to choose. They have until September to choose one of them. The top prospect on the list is rumored to be Dennis Dove who can pitch consistently in the 90s. I think he’s also on the 40 man roster already.

    I’m sure Billfer can find out more of the details later for us.

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