Saturday the Detroit Tigers bolstered their rotation and bullpen with the acquisitions of Doug Fister and David Pauley from the Seattle Mariners. In exchange the Tigers gave up highly regarded lefty Charlie Furbush, outfielder Casper Wells, top third base prospect Francisco Martinez and a player to be named later.
According to Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, that player to be named later completing the deal may be announced on or before August 10th, however the questions will be asked, who will the Tigers give up?
Reports out of Seattle and right here in Detroit suggest that the player to be named is a top three pick from the 2010 Tigers draft class.
According to James Schmehl of Mlive.com, prospects drafted in 2010 cannot be traded under a professional contract for at least a year. The top three prospects drafted in 2010 include first-round draft pick Nick Castellanos, second-round pick Drew Smyly and second-round pick Chance Ruffin who signed on August 16.
Schmehl goes on to write that it is unlikely that third baseman Nick Castellanos would be part of the deal considering the Tigers just traded a third base prospect in Martinez. So that leaves the liklyhood that either Smyly or Ruffin gets dealt.
Tigers fans had a chance to witness Ruffin pitch with the big club in two games in the month of July. He had 17 saves and 55 strikeouts in 43 innings for Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo this season. Smyly, a left-hander was promoted to start for Double-A Erie on Sunday made an unscheduled start Saturday after top pitching prospect Jacob Turner got the call up by the Tigers.
Source: Mlive.com, Fox Sports