The Detroit Tigers traded former first round pick Ryan Perry to the Washington Nationals for right-handed reliever Collin Balester. Both players posted inconsistent numbers pitching out of the bullpen, and each team decided it was time for a change of scenery.
Perry moved quickly through Detroit’s system after being taken with the 21st overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft. After posting solid numbers in the minors, Perry made his major league debut in 2009. During his first two seasons with the Tigers, Perry maintained an ERA 3.70 over his 124 1/3 innings.
Things didn’t go quite as smoothly for Perry last season. The right-hander only managed an ERA and WHIP of 5.35 and 1.622 over 37 IP. Perry’s SO/9 dropped to 5.8 in 2011 while his BB/9 rose to a nearly level 5.1.
The signing of Octavio Dotel left Perry without a defined role in Detroit’s pen. While this may have been the case, the Tigers knew of Perry’s role; trade chip.
In exchange for Perry, the Tigers received right-hander Collin Balester. Balester is another high draft pick, taken by the Nationals in the 4th round in 2004. After coming up as a starter, Washington moved Balester to the pen in 2010. The 26-year-old has fared better as a reliever at the major league level.
In Balester, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski sees a reliever that “has shown the ability to pitch multiple innings out of the pen”. This is the same role Balester will fill in Detroit.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo used two words to describe Perry; “big upside”.
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