On Saturday, the Tigers designated Dontrelle Willis for assignment (to make room for Max Scherzer), and since the pitcher was unlikely to accept the Minor League option, it meant Detroit had 10 days to either trade him or put him on waivers. On Tuesday, Willis learned his fate: according to a source, he has been traded to the Diamondbacks (pending a physical, of course).
Report: Dontrelle Willis Traded From Tigers To Diamondbacks
It was a rumored move that first bubbled-up late Monday night, when it was reported that the D-Backs were "Willis' first choice right now." The 2003 Rookie of the Year winner has struggled in Detroit, which made him expendable. He made just seven starts in both 2008 and 2009, and while he has been somewhat improved far this season, he's still just 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA and a WHIP of 1.78. In all, Willis has made just 22 starts for the Tigers since joining the club in 2008, and all he has to show for it is a 6.86 ERA over that time.
So will things be different in Arizona? The Diamondbacks fan certainly hope so. After all, it can’t get much worse.
It really comes down to an issue of control, where Willis' skills evaporated entirely after the move to Detroit. Over five seasons in Florida, he walked an average of only three per nine innings pitched, but in only 101 innings for the Tigers, Dontrelle handed out no less than 92 free passes. That's what hurt his numbers - opponents hit a much more respectable .270 off Willis, and his SLG was only .415. To put that into context, the Nationals' John Lannan over the same time has a .264 BA against, and a .416 SLG, but his ERA is 4.03.
The good news for Willis, and the D-Backs, is that he’s moving back to the National League, where he originally had his success. And Arizona could use any help it can get -- their team ERA of 5.89 is the worst in MLB.
Read more at Bless You Boys and AZ Snakepit.
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