Tigers sign backup catcher Treanor

Tigers in talks about Treanor

By JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • December 16, 2008

The Tigers have had talks in recent days with representatives for catcher Matt Treanor, two people in the industry told the Free Press today.

Treanor, 32, became a free agent when the Florida Marlins released him last week. He batted .238 with two home runs and 23 RBIs in 65 games this year.

Treanor has a reputation for working well with pitchers and could be a reliable backup to newly acquired Gerald Laird.

Dusty Ryan is the only other catcher on the Tigers’ major-league roster, and team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said recently that he would prefer that Ryan gain additional experience in the minors.

The Tigers had expressed interest in trading for Treanor before Florida released him. The Marlins operate on a very tight budget, and Treanor, who was eligible for salary arbitration, did not fit into their cost structure for 2009.

Treanor earned a base salary of $705,000 this year. He is married to the Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.

Contact JON PAUL MOROSI at 313-223-4097 or jmorosi@freepress.com

Be cool if we got him.

Yeah


But I rather see the Tigers bring back Pudge

Pudge?? Why??

I like Treanor.

As for Pudge, he DID NOT WANT TO PLAY IN DETROIT ANYMORE, so he does not have to anymore, at his high cost! I like Pudge, but he is too full of himself!

Tigers close to getting backup catcher Matt Treanor

BY JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • December 17, 2008

The Tigers are close to signing backup catcher Matt Treanor to a one-year contract, one person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.

An announcement on the agreement could come today. Treanor is expected to make a little more than the $705,000 he made with the Florida Marlins this year.

Treanor, 32, became a free agent after the Marlins released him last week. He batted .238 with two home runs and 23 RBIs in 65 games this year.

Treanor has a reputation for working well with pitchers and should be a reliable backup to new Tiger Gerald Laird.

Dusty Ryan is the only other catcher on the major league roster, and president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said recently that he would prefer that Ryan gain additional experience in the minors.

Dombrowski has acquired Treanor before: He was a Class A catcher in 1997 when Dombrowski, as the Florida GM, obtained him in a trade for left-hander Matt Whisenant.

Treanor has a long-standing connection to another noteworthy Tiger: He made his debut in a game started by Dontrelle Willis on June 2, 2004. Willis did not allow a runner that day until ex-Tiger Sean Casey, then with the Cincinnati Reds, singled in the seventh inning, according to Retrosheet.org.

Research through Retrosheet.org also revealed that Treanor was the starting catcher in 11 of Willis' final 14 starts with Florida in 2007.

The Tigers had expressed interest in trading for Treanor before Florida released him. The Marlins operate on a very tight budget, and Treanor, who was eligible for salary arbitration, did not fit into their cost structure for 2009.

Treanor, a California native, is married to Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.

May-Treanor has teamed with Kerri Walsh to form the most accomplished women's beach volleyball team in history. Since the Beijing Olympics, May-Treanor suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon on "Dancing with the Stars," and Walsh recently told Access Hollywood that she is pregnant.

12/17/08 10:00 AM EST

Tigers close to inking Treanor
Veteran catcher would serve as backup to Laird
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

The Tigers entered the offseason in need of two catchers, and just over a week before Christmas, it appears that search is coming to a close.
According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers are close to signing backup catcher Matt Treanor to a one-year contract worth a little more than the $705,000 base salary he made with the Marlins last year.

The report also revealed an announcement could arrive as early as Thursday.

Treanor, 32, would back up Gerald Laird, who was acquired last week in a trade with the Rangers that sent two pitching prospects to Texas. Dusty Ryan, the only other catcher on the Tigers' Major League roster, will likely start the season in the Minor Leagues, according to the Free Press report.

Treanor became a free agent last week during the Winter Meetings, when the Marlins released him in order to clear a roster spot needed for the Rule 5 Draft the next day. The Marlins had spent the better part of a month attempting to trade the catcher, but were unsuccessful.

Treanor has a .237 batting average over 274 career games, spanning five seasons. He played in 65 games in '08, batting .238 with two homers and 23 RBIs.

Treanor and Tigers president/general manager Dave Dombrowski have a history together. Dombrowski traded for Treanor in 1997 and was a Class A catcher in the Marlins' organization.

he know what he got!

Ok so I wouldn't be too disappointed to see him come to Detroit even though I would rather have MIKE RABELO, or Dusty Ryan but I'd settle for Matt.

In that last picture he looks a little like Scott Pickens

Looks like the Tigers signed him...


In other news, MacPhail said he has been informed that free-agent catcher Matt Treanor, who the Orioles were pursuing, has agreed to a contract with the Detroit Tigers. The Orioles are still looking for at least one major league catcher. However, last year's top reserve, Guillermo Quiroz, has accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and remains with the organization.

Better than nothing I guess.

This should make Soulrat happy!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

This should make Soulrat happy!

More volleyball in the clubhouse maybe? That would make the team happy

catbox_9 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

This should make Soulrat happy!

More volleyball in the clubhouse maybe? That would make the team happy

Make a beach volleyball pit a COPA for matches before or after games to entertain the team and spectators.

Sounds good! If the Diamondbacks can have a fully functioning swimming pool at their ballpark, then we could surely have a VB pit!

I think I like this signing, it means that we dont have to use Dusty if he isnt ready.

Dusty worked in a pinch, it's true. But he needs to refine his batting skills and throwing in a tight play.

His power is fine, but he needs to be more consisten in getting his base hits and getting his average up.

Also, Dusty had too many passed balls last year. Another year in Toledo should help prepare him.

ya can't have it all at once!

It showed, I think he'll be fine in the next couple years, cant wait till Porcello gets up here though!

It's official: Tigers sign backup catcher Matt Treanor

By JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • December 18, 2008

The Tigers have signed catcher Matt Treanor to a one-year contract worth roughly $750,000, the team announced this morning.

Treanor, 32, became a free agent after the Marlins released him last week. He batted .238 with two home runs and 23 RBIs in 65 games this year.

Treanor has a reputation for working well with pitchers and should be a reliable backup to the recently acquired Gerald Laird. In a statement, Tigers team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski called Treanor “a quality backup catcher at the major league level and a solid addition to our club.”

“Addressing our catching situation was a priority for us this winter and we feel we have solidified that area by adding both Gerald Laird and Matt Treanor,” Dombrowski said.

Dusty Ryan had been a candidate to back up Laird, but Dombrowski said recently that he would prefer that Ryan gain additional experience in the minors. Ryan returned home to California earlier this month after batting .163 with one home run and five RBIs in 15 games with Ponce of the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Dombrowski has acquired Treanor before: He was a Class A catcher in 1997 when Dombrowski, as the Florida GM, obtained him in a trade for left-hander Matthew Whisenant.

Treanor has a long-standing connection to another noteworthy Tiger: He made his big-league debut in a game started by Dontrelle Willis on June 2, 2004. Willis did not allow a base runner that day until Sean Casey singled in the seventh inning, according to Retrosheet.org.

Research through Retrosheet.org also revealed that Treanor was the starting catcher in 11 of Willis’ final 14 starts with Florida in 2007.

The Tigers had expressed interest in trading for Treanor before Florida released him. The Marlins operate on a very tight budget, and Treanor, who was eligible for salary arbitration, did not fit into their cost structure for 2009.

Treanor, a California native, is married to the Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor.

May-Treanor has teamed with Kerri Walsh to form the most accomplished women’s beach volleyball team in history. Since the Beijing Olympics, May-Treanor suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon on “Dancing with the Stars,” and Walsh recently told Access Hollywood that she is pregnant.

*whew* at least we seem to have that position covered for now.

Now, on with the beach volleyball pit at COPA!

bobrob2004 wrote:

OK....I'm In!!