Porcello 5th starter

[StriveGreatness]

Rick Porcello has won the fifth spot in the Tigers' starting rotation.

He won the spot over left-hander Drew Smyly, who will pitch out of the bullpen. Porcello has a solid 3.00 ERA and 21/0 K/BB ratio over 24 innings of work this spring. While he has been the subject of trade talk for months, the Tigers will hang on to him for now.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/4971/rick-porcello

Jason Beck ‏@beckjason
Porcello has made #Tigers rotation. Smyly to bullpen.

Some other news:

Dana Wakiji ‏@FSDwakiji 12m
#Tigers Tuiasosopo told he's made team, barring some late freak trade falling in their lap.

[LionsFan..LOL]

He pitched well enough in ST to earn it. I just hope he can keep it up.

[ahoda]

I prefer Smyly to go to Toledo tbh. But I saw this coming no matter how good Drew pitched.

[Dekker]

yeah i've been saying this all day

[rocket]

Yeah he has earned it. But as soon as he starts sucking let Drew start. And I hate Drew being in the bullpen.

[Dekker]

As good as he was out of the pen in the playoffs, that isn't where smyly is going to develop. He needs consistent time on the mound vs either big league hitters or the closest thing you can find to big league hitters in AAA

[chacha77]

Give it a month or two and someone will start selling off their stars (Miami, Colorado, Rangers; yes Rangers) we can package Porcello with prospects to get someone to help us win this year. Ilitch wants a championship within the next couple years so he does not care much for anyone not producing at the major league level. He would be willing to trade Porcello with players like Castellanos and Garcia for a star like Stanton, Tulowitski, or Andrus. Thats more likely than someone shipping a few prospects for just Porcello. Expect a deal around the deadline for someone able to help us dominate now rather than prospects for the next few years.

[ahoda]

I think Nick is the starting LF around June 1. We will trade for a bull pen arm or 2 at the deadline but other then that, what you see is what you get for 2013.

[T $$$]

Give it a month or two and someone will start selling off their stars (Miami, Colorado, Rangers; yes Rangers) we can package Porcello with prospects to get someone to help us win this year. Ilitch wants a championship within the next couple years so he does not care much for anyone not producing at the major league level. He would be willing to trade Porcello with players like Castellanos and Garcia for a star like Stanton, Tulowitski, or Andrus. Thats more likely than someone shipping a few prospects for just Porcello. Expect a deal around the deadline for someone able to help us dominate now rather than prospects for the next few years.

As good as Porcello has been this spring, it will take a Scherzer package trade to net what you are asking for...not a Porcello package.

tbh I think Ahoda is right, other than bullpen help at the deadline, what you see is what you get for 2013. I don't see the Tigs making a trade with their starters during this season...after the season, depending on the postseason outcome, we will trade someone: Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, or Smyly...one of them will not be in the rotation for 2014. It all depends on whether we win a World Series or not.

[hoog]

Like everyone else said, the kid deserves it. He manned up and won the spot. I also agree that Smyly should be in Toledo starting, so he's stretched out when someone goes down. It will be interesting to see how things have changed from the beginning to the end of the year with our rotation.

Also, I am pissed that we have Don Kelly on this roster again. Neither he nor the Samoan should be on a classy roster like we have. I think both will fall in favor of some last minute roster cuts. Also, I saw that we're trying to move Santiago. It'll be tough going getting something for him but I like the fact that they are trying to make room for Worth.

[T $$$]

Like everyone else said, the kid deserves it. He manned up and won the spot. I also agree that Smyly should be in Toledo starting, so he's stretched out when someone goes down. It will be interesting to see how things have changed from the beginning to the end of the year with our rotation.

Also, I am pissed that we have Don Kelly on this roster again. Neither he nor the Samoan should be on a classy roster like we have. I think both will fall in favor of some last minute roster cuts. Also, I saw that we're trying to move Santiago. It'll be tough going getting something for him but I like the fact that they are trying to make room for Worth.

Hoog, I agree with you 100% but at the end of the day we have to trust the Tigers front office, right?!? I really think that they should have kept Kobernus as we will need a 2B for next year but I am guessing that Tigers management would prefer Worth there than to take a chance on Kobernus...especially since Kobernus would have to be on the 25 roster all season long. When gunning for a World Series they can not afford to "waste" a spot on the 25 man roster.

[MotownWebGuy]

Tigers have other options for 2B in 2014. Same with shortstop. One will come from within - other thru free agency. Any new free agent for middle infield will probably be signed on a short contract.

[T $$$]

Tigers have other options for 2B in 2014. Same with shortstop. One will come from within - other thru free agency. Any new free agent for middle infield will probably be signed on a short contract.

I know that it is a season away and I am not trying to look past this season before it gets started but with Omar Infante's contract up...who are our options for 2B next season? Isn't Worth the only legitimate option? Who am I missing?

[rodismytiger]

good for porcello. he ignored all the bs about him being traded and has been by far our best pitcher this spring. i dont see us making another big trade either unless we are struggling again at the all star break.

[Dekker]

I know that it is a season away and I am not trying to look past this season before it gets started but with Omar Infante's contract up...who are our options for 2B next season? Isn't Worth the only legitimate option? Who am I missing?

there are a few good prospects that might be ready at that point if you're talking from within. As for free agent options, these are the ones who haven't been extended yet.

Robinson Cano (31)
Alexi Casilla (29)
Mark Ellis (37) - $5.75MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Mike Fontenot (34)
Omar Infante (32)
Kelly Johnson (32)
Nick Punto (36)
Ryan Raburn (33)
Brian Roberts (36)
Ramon Santiago (34)
Skip Schumaker (34)
Chase Utley (35)
Ben Zobrist (33) - $7MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Alfredo Amezaga (36)
Clint Barmes (35)
Willie Bloomquist (36)
Jamey Carroll (40) - $2MM vesting option with a $250K buyout
Alexi Casilla (29) -$3MM club option with $200K buyout
Stephen Drew (31)
Yunel Escobar (31) - $5MM club option
Rafael Furcal (36)
Alex Gonzalez (36)
Cesar Izturis (34)
Derek Jeter (40) - $8MM+ player option with a $3MM buyout
John McDonald (39)
Jhonny Peralta (32)
Brendan Ryan (32)

Obviously these guys won't all hit the open market