The Jarrod Washburn Era in Detroit is Over

The Jarrod Washburn era in Detroit was a total failure.  The Tigers gave up a couple of prospects to get Washburn, paid him a few million dollars and then watched him go 1-3 with a 7.33 ERA in his eight starts.  Hmm.

Somehow, after that kind of an ending, Jarrod Washburn thinks he deserves a serious chunk of cash.  The Tigers obviously are ready to move on without him. 

Washburn is 35 years old and struggled with injuries while with the Tigers.  However, the Twins reportedly offered him $5 million dollars for the 2010 season and he turned it down.

I’m a little surprised that the Twins are offering that much cash for a guy like Washburn.  However, it’s a bit like their signing of Joe Crede last offseason.  The upside for Washburn is that he’ll throw 200 innings and keep that ERA below 4.00. 

If he were to put together that kind of season, he would be a bargain at $5 million dollars.  The flipside of course is that the team that signs Washburn will get the Detroit version and he’s not worth a wooden nickel.

When another team signs Washburn, it will officially end his tenure in Detroit.  While it couldn’t have gone much worse, I still think the deal was solid.  Luke French is okay, but it was worth the risk at the time of the deal. 

Best of luck to Jarrod, I just don’t think he’s worth that much money…too risky.