The trade: The Detroit Tigers acquire RHP Francisco Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers for Class A 2B Javier Betancourt and a player to be named.
I have to admit: If you asked me a few years ago whether Rodriguez would still be closing games in 2015, I would have said no way. But the veteran reliever has managed to reinvent himself and he saved 38 games in 40 opportunities for the Brewers in 2015, recording a 2.21 ERA.
When he came up with the Angels in 2002 and become a postseason hero, he was a pitcher with a mid-90s four-seam fastball and hard slider. He ditched the slider years ago, added a two-seam sinker and now mixes in a curveball and changeup. His fastball velocity was down to 89.5 in 2015, but he still averaged 9.8 K's per nine and had a career-low walk rate. He doesn't have the big heater you prefer from a closer, but he has remained a successful reliever. He's seventh on the all-time saves list, will pass Dennis Eckersley this season and is 39 saves away from passing Billy Wagner and John Franco.
The big fear: He gave up 14 home runs in 2014. Maybe that was just a blip, bad luck on the number of fly balls leaving the park, but it's something to worry about if you're a Tigers fan.
"We had strong recommendations from our scouts on Frankie, and he has the proven track record we targeted in our search for a bona fide closer," new GM Al Avila said.
The Tigers do obviously need bullpen help. They finished 27th in the majors in bullpen ERA although they were actually OK in holding late-game leads, going 65-2 when leading after eight innings. But Joakim Soria was traded, so the Tigers needed a closer. Alex Wilson had a 2.19 ERA, but with just 38 strikeouts in 70 innings he's probably not ninth-inning material. Hard-throwing Bruce Rondon returned from Tommy John surgery, but remains a work in progress after allowing 31 hits and 19 walks in 31 innings.
The bullpen is hardly the lone aspect of the Tigers that new GM Avila needs to fix. The starting rotation ranked last in the American League in ERA, and that was with David Price making 21 starts. Justin Verlander showed some good signs in the final two months, but Anibal Sanchez's stuff nosedived and he posted a 4.99 ERA with 29 home runs allowed in 157 innings. They will need a bounce-back season from Sanchez to have any hope of getting back to contender status. Alfredo Simon is a free agent. After that it's young guys like Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Shane Greene battling for spots. Reports have indicated there is room in the budget to sign a free-agent starting pitcher.
The one part of the Tigers that can't be fixed: This is a terrible baserunning team, the worst in the majors. That's one reason the Tigers ranked second in the AL in OBP and fifth in slugging, but 10th in runs scored. James McCann, Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Iglesias and Nick Castellanos were all among the worst baserunners in the majors. The Tigers went 74-87 in 2015. The farm system isn't rated highly. The core is old. Analysts have been predicting a hard fall for the Tigers, and 2015 might have just been the beginning.
For the Brewers, this trade looks mostly like a salary dump, depending on the player to be named. Betancourt isn't listed among the Tigers' top 30 prospects on MLB.com, hitting .263/.304/.336 at Class A Lakeland with three home runs and four steals at age 20. He played only second base, and though he showed good contact skills, he looks like an organization-type player, maybe a guy who can make it as a utility player at some point.