clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Wire Taps: Nationals Acquire Doug Fister From Tigers; Nats Sign Ross Ohlendorf

The Washington Nationals acquired Doug Fister in a 3-for-1 deal that sent infielder Steve Lombardozzi and left-handers Ian Krol and Robbie Ray to the Detroit Tigers. Here's everything we could find that's been written about the deal since last night + more Nats links...

By Patrick Reddington

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Leon Halip

What have we learned since last night when the trade between the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers that brought Doug Fister to the Nats in return for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and Robbie Ray was announced? The Tigers reportedly asked for Taylor Jordan but were rebuffed. The Nationals had been asking around about Tigers' starters and finally targeted Fister, who finished at +4.6 fWAR in 2013, which would have led all Nats' starters. Though he's not the typical hard-throwing, towering right-hander Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo likes, he gets ground balls like a Rizzo pitcher, finishing 4th in the majors in Ground Ball Percentage in 2013, with a 54.3% GB%, which would have led all Nationals' starters, if not for Jordan, who did, however, make just nine starts to Fister's 32 starts. The baseball world likes the deal for the Nats and wonders what Tigers' GM Dave Dombrowski was thinking?Dombrowski says he thought the Tigers had the depth to make the trade and he likes the return.

Read all about last night's deal below. Links and lots of them, starting... RIGHT NOW!!!:

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "The Washington Nationals have acquired starter Doug Fister from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for infielder Steve Lombardozzi and left-handers Robbie Ray and Ian Krol, a source has confirmed." - "Nationals acquire Doug Fister from Tigers" - Chris Cotillo, MLB Daily Dish

• NATS BEAT:

• "The Nationals sent utility infielder Steve Lombardozzi, reliever Ian Krol and pitching prospect Robbie Ray to Detroit for Fister, who brings to Washington a vicious sinker..." - "Nationals acquire Doug Fister for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol, Robbie Ray" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "General manager Mike Rizzo had been seeking to add another arm to his rotation, with a trade perhaps his preferred avenue over a costly free agent signing." - "Washington Nationals acquire Doug Fister from Detroit Tigers" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "Per FanGraphs, Fister's four-seam fastball averaged 88.6 mph last season. A guy who relies on his heavy sinker, Fister also throws a curve and changeup." - "Nationals Pastime: Nationals acquire Fister from Tigers for Lombardozzi, Krol, Ray (updated)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Over the past three seasons Fister has a 13.3 WAR (wins above replacement), according to the stats web site FanGraphs.com." - "Nats acquire starter Doug Fister from Detroit in four-player trade" - Brian McNally, Washington Times

• "The Nationals and Tigers had been in discussions about a trade for quite some time. In fact, according to Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, the Nationals inquired about several of Detroit's pitchers." - "Nationals acquire pitcher Doug Fister from Tigers for three players" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "The cost to acquire him appeared light to some across the sport, even those who did not want to bet against savvy Detroit General Manager Dave Dombrowski." - "Nationals acquire towering right-hander Doug Fister in trade with Tigers" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• "The Nationals announced tonight that they've agreed to terms with right-hander Ross Ohlendorf on a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration..." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats sign Ohlendorf to one-year deal, tender eight players contracts (updated)" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "The Nationals faced a dilemma with only one of their nine arbitration-eligible players..." - "Nationals re-sign Ross Ohlendorf, tender contracts to 8 others" - Mark Zuckerman, Nats Insider

• "Ohlendorf is expected to be the long man out of the bullpen in 2014. This past season, Ohlendorf served as a starter and a reliever after being called up in June." - "Nationals, Ross Ohlendorf agree on one-year deal" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "Ohlendorf’s deal will pay him $1.25 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the situation." - "Nationals, Ross Ohlendorf agree to one-year deal" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "Last season, Delcarmen put up a 2.83 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 54 innings at Triple-A Norfolk, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate." - "Nationals Pastime: Nats sign Manny Delcarmen to minor league deal" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Pitching for Licey in the Dominican this winter, Delcarmen has struck out 18 and walked four in 14 1/3 innings, impressing Nationals scouts with a fastball that sat between 93 and 97 miles per hour." - "Nationals sign Manny Delcarmen to minor league deal" - Adam Kilgore, Washington Post

• "It would not surprise me if the Nationals are in the Cano sweepstakes. The team has the financial wherewithal to sign him, and he would be an upgrade compared to what the Nats had last year." - "Inbox: Could Nationals make a play for Robinson Cano?" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama):

• NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

• "'Washington asked about some of our other starters,' Dombrowski said. 'This is the guy at the end that they had focused on.'" - "Detroit Tigers trade Doug Fister to Washington Nationals for three players" - Jason Beck, tigers.com: News

• Twitter:

• ESPN.com's Jayson Stark on Fister trade:


• Twitter:

• "A team that was already one of baseball's 10 best got better Monday night, acquiring right-hander Doug Fister from the Detroit Tigers for three young players, including highly regarded 22-year-old left-hander Robbie Ray." - "Doug Fister a fantastic trade for Washington Nationals" - Richard Justice, nationals.com: News

• "Fister made $4 million in '13 and is eligible for arbitration until he becomes a free agent after the 2015 season." - "Tigers trade Doug Fister to Nationals for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and minor leaguer Robbie Ray" - David Brown, Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports

• "It was well known that the Tigers were looking to deal a starting pitcher this offseason in order to move Drew Smyly into the rotation.  The potential players to be dealt came down to Doug Fister and Rick Porcello." - "Tigers Trade Doug Fister" - FantasyNinja8, Fake Teams

• "Detroit might fill some minor holes, but I don't think they got full value back given the market for starters right now and how effective Fister has been the past two seasons." - "Washington Nationals do much better than Detroit Tigers in Fister deal" - Keith Law, ESPN

• "Washington has been looking to bolster its rotation behind Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann and Gio Gonzalez this offseason, and they have certainly done that with Fister." - "Nationals acquire Doug Fister from Tigers in four-player trade" - Mike Axisa, CBSSports.com

• "The Detroit Tigers, deciding to hang onto Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, dealt veteran starter Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals..." - "Tigers trade Doug Fister to Nationals" - Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

• "So, in exchange for Fister, the Nationals surrendered a non-elite pitching prospect who has pitched a half season at Double-A and probably won’t rank in anyone’s Top 100 next spring, plus a couple of role players who might or might not end up amounting to anything." - "Nationals Steal Doug Fister From Tigers" - Dave Cameron, FanGraphs Baseball

• Twitter via Miss B:

• "He is a reliable strike-thrower who consistently generates ground balls with his sinker. His ground-ball rate of 54.3 percent was fourth highest in the Majors last season." - "Doug Fister trade shows Nationals won't settle" - Mike Bauman, nationals.com: News

• "'Robbie is a premium pitching prospect, Ian adds a quality lefthanded young arm for the bullpen and Steve provides our ballclub with versatility in several roles as a switch-hitting utility-man.'" - "Doug Fister traded to the Washington Nationals for Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol and Robbie Ray" - Al Beaton, Bless You Boys

• "All told, Fister has a fWAR of 13.3 over the last three seasons, which ranks ninth among starting pitchers in that span. Seriously, ninth!" - "Numbers Game: Nationals acquire Fister from Tigers" - Scott Cullen, TSN

• "Dombrowski mentioned the move allows the Tigers to move left-hander Drew Smyly into the starting rotation." - "Detroit Tigers trade Doug Fister to Washington Nationals for Lombardozzi, Krol" - Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press | freep.com

• "Rizzo bolstered his rotation and replaced Dan Haren by acquiring another veteran right-hander, Doug Fister..." - "Hot Stove roundup: Washington Nationals swing trade for Doug Fister; Oakland A's trade for closer Jim Johnson" - Andrew Simon, MLB.com: News

• Twitter:

• "Cano signing with the Nationals just makes too much sense. Here are five reasons why." - "Robinson Cano and the Washington Nationals are a perfect match" - Paul Swydan, ESPN

• "On paper, the Washington Nationals' already solid starting rotation just got deeper and much more dangerous." - "Washington Nationals acquire Doug Fister from the Detroit Tigers" - John Tuscano, PennLive.com

• "Fister is not just a good pitcher.  He is one of the top ten to twenty pitchers in major league baseball over the past three seasons by several measures." - "Doug Fister trade is a terrible deal for the Tigers" - Patrick OKennedy, Bless You Boys

• "Fister, meanwhile, has averaged 196 innings, a 124 ERA+, and a 3.75 strikeout-to-walk rate over the last three seasons while increasing his groundball rate in every year that he has been in the major leagues." - "Nationals upgrade rotation by acquiring Doug Fister from Tigers" - Cliff Corcoran, The Strike Zone - SI.com

• "Doug Fister was one of the top 10 starting pitchers in baseball during the past three seasons, according to the Wins Above Replacement rankings at FanGraphs.com." - "What will Detroit Tigers do next after trading Doug Fister to Washington Nationals?" - Jon Morosi, FOX Sports on MSN

• "'We think this guy is a premium, young, left-handed pitcher on the verge of pitching in the big leagues,' Dombrowski said. 'They’re not easy to find.'" - "Tigers' lefty pitching prospect Robbie Ray is 'key to the deal'" - Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press | freep.com

• "A team wants to win a world championship in 2014. So, it trades one of its foundational pitchers, a right-handed sharpshooter with an assassin’s cool, for — are the fans ready? — a pair of semi-anonymous, 22-year-old, left-handed pitchers and a 25-year-old utility man with a career batting average of .264." - "Tigers trade Doug Fister to Nationals, receive three youngsters in return" - Lynn Henning, The Detroit News

• "All three of the players Detroit acquired could be valuable pieces in the future..." - "The Tigers got what now?" - Tyler Drenon, MLB Daily Dish

• "Fister is one of six American League pitchers to throw at least 100 innings and post an ERA of 3.75 or below in each of the last three seasons." - "Top stats to know: Fister unrewarded, solid" - Justin Havens and Mark Simon, Stats & Info Blog - ESPN

• "More likely are two teams officials believe pose the biggest threats: the Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals." - "Yankees have no plans to offer Robinson Cano a $200 million deal" - Jeff Passan, Yahoo Sports

• "Let’s say Cano lands an eight-year, $200 million contract from the Yankees, or eight/$220 million from another team, like the Washington Nationals..." - "$300 million perception did not help Robinson Cano; NY Mets wise to pass on Phil Hughes" - Andy Martino, New York Daily News

• "Who else is there? Speculation tends to center around Washington and Seattle. But the Nationals say they love Anthony Rendon and don’t have a need at second base." - "Sweeny: How Is The Market Shaping Up For Yankees FA Robinson Cano?" - Sweeny Murti, CBS New York

• NATSTOWN/MINORS:

• "In the third installment of Eating Right, we focus on the building of each athlete in the Nationals system from the moment he is selected and begins his journey to the major leagues." - "Eating Right: Brandes on building strength within the Nationals" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "Fister went 32-20 with a 3.29 ERA in two-plus seasons (Aug. 2011-2013) with the Tigers." - "Nationals Acquire Doug Fister for Lombardozzi, Krol" - Chris Lingebach, CBS DC

• "The deal seems like a remarkable one for the Nats. They will have Doug Fister, presumably as their number four starter, through 2015." - "Breaking: Nats Acquire Doug Fister From Tigers" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog

• "In 2012, while helping the Tigers reach the World Series, Fister set an American League record for consecutive strikeouts when he struck out nine Kansas City Royals in a row on Sep. 27." - "Nationals Acquire Doug Fister in Four-Player Trade with Tigers" - Amanda Comak, Curly W Live


• "The owner of a Washington Nationals minor league affiliate says the team is 'pretty darn close' to a naming rights contract for a new ballpark in northern Virginia." - "WOODBRIDGE, Va.: Owner: Potomac Nationals closer to new stadium" - AP/National Sports | Merced Sun-Star

• "Too chilly to think about baseball? Potomac Nationals owner Art Silber doesn’t think so. In fact he’s hoping to announce big news about the P-Nats’ new stadium by the end of the year." - "New P-Nats stadium pushed back to 2016" - Jill Palermo, INSIDENOVA.COM: Woodbridge

• "The acquisition is – no doubt – a win for General Manager Mike Rizzo." - "BREAKING: Nationals Acquire Doug Fister from Detroit Tigers" - Alyssa Wolice, District Sports Page

• "Smolinski was drafted by the Washington Nationals and later traded to the Miami Marlins in a deal that included Josh Willingham, who has 181 career home runs." - "Rangers sign Jake Smolinski as minor league free agent" - Matt Trowbridge, Rockford Register Star

• "You don’t need me to tell you that the Washington Nationals flat-out stole Doug Fister from the Detroit Tigers on Cyber Monday." - "OPINION: Rizzo steals Fister from Tigers for spare parts" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page

• "Fister is a relatively low cost starting pitcher under team control for two more seasons." - "Just when I started thinking that Rizzo couldn’t do anything right…" - Nat Anacostia, Nats Noodles

• "A Trade! Perhaps a Steal?" - The Nationals Review

• "I can’t even begin to process this trade. It was so unexpected. And, on its face, it is amazing." - "Imported from Detroit" - Ouij, Natstradamus

• "Utility infielder Steve Lombardozzi, LHP Ian Krol and minor leaguer LHP Robbie Ray. It looks like highway robbery by DC GM Mike Rizzo." - "Nats: Bob Carpenter is going to be saying 'Fister' a lot in 2014" - William F. Yurasko, William World News

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Mets:

• Phillies: "Kevin Frandsen Is Not Our Biggest Fan" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley

• Marlins: "Since claiming the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2009, Chris Coghlan has dealt with a string of injuries and inconsistencies." - "Marlins non-tender Chris Coghlan, Ryan Webb, tender five others" - Joe Frisaro, marlins.com: News

• Braves: "The nine arbitration-eligible players who were tendered contracts were Craig Kimbrel, Freddie Freeman, Mike Minor, Jason Heyward, Jordan Walden, Chris Johnson, Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Jordan Schafer." - "Atlanta Braves non-tender Paul Janish, Elliot Johnson, Cristhian Martinez" - Mark Bowman, braves.com: News

More From Federal Baseball