Tigers ink Fossum to Minor League deal

Subject: Tigers ink Fossum to Minor League deal Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:18 am

Tigers ink Fossum to Minor League deal
Veteran left-hander to join Mud Hens pitching staff
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

BOSTON -- The Tigers added another veteran pitcher to their ranks of insurance options at Triple-A on Wednesday, signing left-hander Casey Fossum to a Minor League contract. Fossum will report to Toledo and join the Mud Hens pitching staff.

Fossum spent the last three seasons with Tampa Bay, where he spent much of his tenure in the rotation before converting to the bullpen for good around midseason last year. He went 5-8 with a 7.70 ERA in 2007, allowing 109 hits -- including 15 home runs -- over 76 innings before the Rays released him in August.

The 30-year-old Fossum was in camp with the Pirates this spring, but was reassigned to the Minors near the end of Spring Training. He became a free agent when he exercised his right to decline the assignment.

Fossum joins a growing group of left-handers in Toledo while the Tigers consider their bullpen options. Clay Rapada recovered from shoulder soreness in time to open the season in the Mud Hens bullpen, and Detroit added former Cleveland southpaw Aaron Fultz a few days into the season. Macay McBride, who pitched in relief for Detroit last summer, was in the Mud Hens rotation before going on the disabled list with elbow soreness.

Subject: Re: Tigers ink Fossum to Minor League deal Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:26 am

YES! This guy throws an eephus whistle

Subject: Re: Tigers ink Fossum to Minor League deal Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:37 am

Extract from a Tom Gage article detnews.com (April 14th):

Quote :: The progress of Casey Fossum at Toledo bears watching. Fossum, a left-hander, threw two scoreless innings of relief against Buffalo in his first appearance for the Mud Hens on Saturday. He struck out two and didn't allow a walk.

Does not sound too bad! Lets hope he will continue like this and be a help for our bullpen!