According to ESPN, the Tigers have signed recently acquired Dontrelle Willis to a three year contract extension worth a reported $29 million. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2009 season but is now locked up through 2010. The Tigers were able to get him signed up very quickly due to an off year in 2007 where he compiled a 5.17 ERA in 205 1/3 innings. In five years with the Marlins, he had a 3.78 ERA in 1,022 innings.
It's a little surprising to me that the Tigers moved to sign him before seeing how he looked this year. However, they could end up saving themselves some money as his value could rise substantially with a good year in 2008. The quick signing is an indication they are confident he will bounce back in 2008 which is a good sign.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tigers Extend Willis
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5 comments:
Good signing. It'll be best to keep even marginally good starting pitchers from the open market for the next several years.
I suspect this will be painted as a risky move by the Tigers due to his shaky 2007, but I think it's important to remember there's risk in not signing him too. If they wait and he returns to previous form in 2008, the cost of buying out any of his free agency years is going to go way up.
I'd still like to see how the three years shake out individually.
Note to self: Read entire post before posting a comment.
I basically reiterated your point, Lee. Sorry about that.
Again and again Tiger management continues to display guts and the bucks for a winner.
Agreed. Dombrowski has been aggressive and Illitch has been generous.
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