Sayonara Figaro

2009 Topps Alfredo Figaro Silk

File this under "news that doesn't really matter, but I'm going to write about it anyway because it's short and I need to keep this blog active and I have a cool card of Alfredo Figaro that I need post or I'll never have a reason to show it again and oh, this does happen to open up a roster spot just in case the Tigers decide to make a move at some point."

Anyway, Alfredo Figaro has decided to play the 2011 season in Japan for the Orix Buffalos on a $500,000 contract. Not too bad for a player ticketed for Toledo this season.

This comes from Twitter, where the Tigers have also been linked to Josh Willingham, and I have had fun making fictitious deals out of other teams' news like: A Tom Gorzellany & Kosuke Fukudome package that fills two holes for the Tigers while clearing payroll for the Cubs, or how about getting in the mix on a Carlos Beltran trade with the Mets?

Ahh trade rumors.

Hello, Goodbye

In the game of musical chairs that is the Detroit Tigers roster these days, one is back in...

2009 Topps: Gold #UH116 Alfredo Figaro RC

and another is out...

2010 Topps Pro Debut #16 Robbie Weinhardt

Of course, none of this is significant compared to the potential roster earthquake that is currently brewing:

Heard this: Johnny Damon and Brandon Inge are currently passing through waivers. They were placed on waivers Thursday.

Which leads me to a few things:

1. Why were they just placed on Waivers yesterday? As if that Thursday afternoon loss was really the nail in the coffin that the Tigers just weren't going to cut it this year? Shouldn't this have been done weeks ago? Having waited this long the Tigers likely reduced the value of Inge, who could have gone to a St. Louis Cardinals team that sorely needed a third baseman. Unless they figured that the Reds would have blocked that move. Still, it makes you wonder.

2. I have no problem* with letting either player go for something in return. Get a prospect or two and then if you really want them back re-sign them in 2011. I'd be thrilled to have Damon back. I'd be fine with Inge back, provided his salary is in line with his ability. In fact, Trade Inge with a "wink wink, nod nod, we'll sign you in the offseason" type deal behind closed doors. Or grab Adrian Beltre. Either way.

3. *The only problem I do have is this hangs Miguel Cabrera out to dry so much that it isn't even fair. The Tigers have offense problems. Removing two important offensive pieces will make this team more of an embarrassment than they already are.

So do what you've got to do, Dave Dombrowski. If you can get a good return on Damon and Inge take it (see: NOT Kyle Farnsworth for Pudge Rodriguez). We Tigers fans will understand. Then pull out your wallet, because free agency isn't going to be cheap this year.

The Alfredo Sounds Good

2009 Topps #CHR25 Alfredo Figaro RC

With yesterday's rainout and Dontrelle Willis' on-again, off-again illness, it seems like the Tigers wanted an extra arm that they could deploy as necessary. Bless You Boys tipped us to this last night, and then pointed us to the Tigers' twitter feed this morning, which gives us the 140 characters of detail. To wit: Alfredo Figaro IN, Ryan Raburn Optioned OUT.

So there it is.

2009 DAV #154 Ryan Raburn

Raburn, shown here in one of his few (only?) 2009 cards, was batting a sweet .213, but with five doubles and a triple making up six of his 10 hits. He produced well for the Tigers last year, but with the Brandon Boesch show stealing our hearts since Carlos Guillen's injury, Raburn, and his current struggles, were expendable.

As for Figaro?

In 5 games with the club last year (of which he started 3), he was 2-2 with a 6.35 ERA, a .324 BAA, a 1.94 WHIP, 16 strikeouts and 10 walks over his 17 innings. Yikes. On the plus side, the 25 year old has been solid in AAA this season. He's 4-1 in his six starts, sports a 2.55 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, and in his 35.1 innings has struck out 27 and only walked 10. Mmmmm. Seasoning.

It remains to be seen how Figaro will be deployed--he had been starting in AAA, but I don't see much room in the Tigers rotation at the moment--so it is possible that he is a bit of doubleheader insurance and will stay on the roster as a long reliever/spot starter until Carlos Guillen returns from the DL.