Monday, December 07, 2009

Tigers Trade Rapada, Sign Brad Thomas

It's not the big move move some are expecting but the Tigers have traded left-handed reliever Clay Rapada to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later. They also signed 32 year old southpaw reliever Brad Thomas and out righted reliever Zach Simons to Toledo.

I always thought Rapada had promise as a situational reliever but he never seemed to be a favorite of manager Jim Leyland so I'm not surprised that he was moved along. Thomas spent the last two years pitching in Korea and has not pitched in the Majors since 2004. He has a 9.89 ERA in 11 career appearances for the Twins. However, Tigers GM Dombrowski feels as if will contribute in the Majors as a reliever in 2010.

The fact that Simons was taken off the 40 man roster could mean that the Tigers are planning to participate in this week's Rule 5 draft. There is also the possibility that they are clearing up space for an imminent trade or free agent signing. Billfer has more on Rapada/Thomas/Simons.

There are lots of Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson rumors floating around but it sounds like media hype at this point. Nothing even close to solid as of yet. The good news is that the asking price for both is apparently "very high" as it should be.

The Tigers and Pirates are both interested in signing Adam Everett. He wants a two year deal but I doubt he'll get it. I suspect he'll sign with the Tigers for about one year $2-3 million.

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