Detroit traded LHP Mark Redman and RHP Jerrod Fuell to Florida for LHP Rob Henkel, RHP Gary Knotts, and LHP Nate Robertson yesterday. A number of factors combined to make Redman a pitcher the Tigers wanted to move. They felt they had three very similar left-handed pitchers in Redman, Mike Maroth, and Andy Van Hekken. Of those three, Redman was the only arbitration-eligible pitcher and had the most established major league record.

Florida did not acquire a strikeout pitcher in Redman. His dominance doesn't even reach the bottom levels of what I'd like to see in a starter. However, he controls the ball well. I'm somewhat concerned that the homer problem he experienced prior to moving to Detroit will return now that he's left the spacious confines of Comerica Park, though he was able to keep his road homers in line this past season.

Redman was quite excited to pitch 200 innings last year and looks forward to having that opportunity again. We know Florida Manager Jeff Torborg will help him reach that goal. At 28, Redman's arm isn't as delicate as that of several younger pitchers on the Marlins. However, it should be noted that in 2001 he threw only 74 IP, as he had arm problems due to altering his motion to compensate for a knee injury. The large jump in workload from one season to the next, plus the injury history, and Florida environment do not bode well for his future health.

Detroit drafted Fuell out of high school in the 10th round of the 1999 draft. He finished that season in the Gulf Coast League and returned there for all of 2000. In 2001, he advanced to A West Michigan in the Midwest League and remained there through the 2002 season, despite a decent performance in his first year in the league. This past season the 22-year-old reliever compiled a 63:20 K:BB with 68 H and 3 HR allowed in 77 IP for a 2.34 ERA. I expect Florida to advance him to A+ to start the season and promote him to AA before the end of 2003. While working exclusively in relief this low in the minors doesn't look good, he has some promise and could reach the majors by the second half of 2004 if his skills follow him as he advances.

Florida drafted Henkel out of UCLA in the third round of the 2000 draft. He underwent Tommy John surgery between college and the minors, but has demonstrated a strong recovery. He split last season between A+ Jupiter and AA Portland, where he compiled a 68:27 K:BB with 54 H and 6 HR allowed in 70 IP for a 3.86 ERA. While the Tigers are supposedly giving some consideration to using him in their 2003 rotation, he needs to spend all of this year at AAA. He should be ready to start in September, but moving him any faster would be a mistake.

The talent exchanged in this deal looks fairly even, however Detroit has created a dangerous situation by trading one of the two anchors of their pitching staff. Steve Sparks is now the only real veteran on the staff, and if he continues to struggle as he did at the end of last season, the Tigers may not leave him in games very long. Two projected members of the rotation, Andy Van Hekken (23) and Mike Maroth (25), made their major league debuts in 2002. Nate Cornejo (25) and Shane Loux (23) are expected to compete for the last spot in the rotation. Cornejo debuted in 2001 but has been back and forth between the majors and minors the last two years, and Loux, like Van Hekken and Maroth, saw the big leagues for the first time in 2002.

Detroit currently expects, Gary Knotts to complete this rotation. Florida drafted Knotts out of Northwest Alabama Community College in the 11th round of the 1995 draft. Knotts joined the Marlins early in the season and when he was demoted in May I commented on the fact that he might be hiding an injury after experiencing shoulder problems the year before. Despite demonstrating promising skills as a starter prior to the 2002 season, he pitched poorly as a reliever at both AAA and in the majors last year. While I think his skills could rebound, I'm still concerned about a potential injury and I question the 25-year-old's capacity to immediately move back into a starting role.

Detroit has said they're willing to pick up a veteran starter, but they seem committed to only signing such a player to minor league deal with the intention of making them earn a job in Spring Training. The Tigers have some good pitchers in their bullpen, but many of their relievers are also young. Without another established starter, the team could easily wind up overworking both ends of their pitching staff, especially since they won't have a strong offense behind them. Detroit saved some money by trading Redman and they should use that to sign one of the several free agents available at a discount this off-season.

The final pitcher acquired by the Tigers was Nate Robertson. We discussed Robertson in some detail when he received a September call-up. Although he pitched well at AA, he's had no AAA experience. He shouldn't be ready to compete for a job in the Detroit rotation until at least September and they have several better prospects.