What do you think of Rick Porcello?

[Goober]

Reports are that the Detroit Tigers have been shopping Rick Porcello around. With his salary expected to be over 4 million, apparently he is no longer needed as a 5th starter in Detroit. So do you think he is a worthy pickup for another team? Certainly he's good enough to justify that salary, this year. And he still has three years of team control left, however his salary will be a lot higher after his third and fourth trips to arbitration.

At first glance, Porcello's 2012 season is pretty ugly, in fact his career stats are pretty ugly. An ERA in the high 4's and a low strike out rate. But Porcello also has one of the highest ground ball rates in the league, and his BABIP was God awful (.344), it would appear that his BABIP, and ERA are due to Detroit's fat ass 3B who belongs at DH. With a better infield defense, I would expect Porcello's numbers to improve (so a move to literally any other team would do him good).

It's unclear how much Detroit is asking for in return for Porcello. They tried to include him in a three way deal with the Cubs and Orioles, that would have netted Detroit JJ Hardy. The team needs a SS, RP, and an OF. Would you trade for Porcello, if so, for how much?

[Guest]

I wouldn't move Hardy for Porcello. I would need to get back more in return for the Orioles.

That being said, I do think he's improved his k/bb rate, and he's playing behind a pathetic infield defense. If he's playing for a strong defensive team like Baltimore, I would expect him to perform better.

Honestly, I wouldn't move much more than a RP prospect for Porcello. If I was trading for Porcello, I would be pushing for a deal similar to what the Orioles and Diamondbacks came to two years ago, David Hernandez for Mark Reynolds. Or I could trade them a comparable prospect to Hernandez at another position.

[Villain]

I don't know what to think of his numbers. Strikeouts and K/9 hit career highs last season and have been trending favorably. He also allowed slightly less walks so there's a career-best K/BB ratio. He has also given up less home runs every season. Sounds pretty awesome for a 25-year-old.

Then how do you explain that he gave up more hits than anyone in the league? His WHIP has gone up every season. Detroit isn't known for having good defense, but can you really blame that amount of hits on the 7 guys behind him?

Anyways, 1.5+ WHIP and 226 hits isn't great, but there has to be a decent amount of value in a 25-year-old with 3 more years of team control.

[Villain]

Oh and to answer the question in the OP, as a Dodger fan: of course not. Pitching isn't a need in the slightest right now. But maybe a team like San Diego who's got stellar defenders can afford to make a deal for him.

[PG24]

Porcello is a solid back-end rotation pitcher, that is improving each and every season. That being said, I agree 100% with what TT just said about not moving too much value in return for him. He's just one of those guys that could become something special, or he could stay as a back-end rotation guy. Hardy would be WAY too much value for him. A solid reliever or a solid prospect would be enough.

[Villain]

Porcello is a solid back-end rotation pitcher, that is improving each and every season. That being said, I agree 100% with what TT just said about not moving too much value in return for him. He's just one of those guys that could become something special, or he could stay as a back-end rotation guy. Hardy would be WAY too much value for him. A solid reliever or a solid prospect would be enough.

[MVPete]

Would love if the Orioles move Hardy for him for fantasy reasons , but I think the Tigers should move him regardless and get Smyly in there. Porcello stinks, I don't give a shit how you dissect his fucking numbers. The guy is not good, and he's a Boras client(@JonHeyman). You'd still need an insurance guy in case one of the starters go down or gets fatigued but move Porcello now if you can get something decent in return.

[MVPete]

Tigers don't need an outfielder either, no clue where that is coming from. A platoon of Dirks and Garcia in left is better than what most teams have out there, Leyland is just an old hard head that doesn't like young guys. They could also throw Adam Everett at short and still have tons of pop in their lineup. Not to mention if Leyland had a clue about shifts that might help their large group out.