Detroit Tigers Trade Perry To Nationals

The Detroit Tigers continue to make minor tweaks to their pitching staff, particularly the bullpen. Today they traded reliever Ryan Perry to the Washington Nationals for reliever Collin Balester. Both pitchers are big righthanders who live by the strikeout and die by the base on balls. Perhaps a change of scenery will bring a change of fortunes.
The 24-year old Perry was a first round draft pick by Detroit in 2008 and split last season between Toledo and Detroit. He posted a 2-0 record in the majors with a 5.35 ERA in 37 innings, striking out 24 and walking 21.
Balester is 25 and split time last season between the Nationals and Triple-A Syracuse. He went 1-4 with a 4.54 ERA in 35+ innings, striking out 34 and walking 14. Balester started 15 games for the Nats in 2008 and 7 in 2009. While the numbers aren't all that spectacular, keep in mind he played for a pretty pathetic team. Balester will probably be the long relief man in games that get out of hand early. Tiger General Manager Dave Dombrowski said, "Acquiring Collin Balester from the Nationals today adds another good arm to our organization, he has shown the ability to pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen in the past, a role we are looking for him to fill for our club in 2012."