According to the Free Press, The Tigers have signed Nate Robertson to a three year deal worth just over $21 million. He will make $4.25 million this year, $7 million in 2009 and $10 million in 2010. He would make an $11 million in the third year if he pitches 400 innings in 208 and 2009 or 200 innings in 2009. The 30 year old left-hander would have been a free agent after 2009 had he not been signed by that time. The Tigers now have 4 pitchers locked up through 2010 - Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis and Justin Verlander (who would not be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season).
Given the market for starting pitchers, this looks like a good deal for the Tigers. Robertson posted a 4.76 ERA with a 119/63 strikeout/walk ratio in 177 2/3 innings in 2007. Robertson is not a star by any stretch of the imagination but he has reached 30 starts in each of the last 4 seasons and his performance is always pretty close to league average. It's not as easy as some think to find pitchers of his caliber.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments: