Tigers release struggling reliever David Pauley

In first major move of spring, Tigers release struggling reliever David Pauley
March 12, 2012 at 5:17 pm
By Tom Gage
The Detroit News

Lakeland, Fla.— With the first major move of the spring, the Tigers' bullpen is starting to take shape.

Following the Detroit's 7-7 tie against the New York Mets on Monday, reliever David Pauley was released.

Pauley, a right-hander, was competing this spring for one of the final middle-relief spots in the bullpen, but it was an uphill battle from the get-go since the Tigers had planned all along to have Collin Balester, acquired from the Nationals in a trade this offseason, make the team.

Pauley didn't help his cause with some tough outings. In 2.2 innings, he allowed five earned runs for a 16.87 ERA. He allowed eight hits and four walks, while striking out one.

"I'm sorry to be leaving, but that's baseball," Pauley said.

He didn't leave without praising his now-former ballclub: "This is going to be a juggernaut of a team."

When he was acquired last summer in a trade with the Mariners — starting pitcher Doug Fister came over in the deal, too — Pauley, 28, was in the middle of his best season in the major leagues.

With Seattle in 2011, he had a 2.15 ERA in 39 appearances.

But he never got on track with the Tigers, allowing 26 hits and four home runs in 19.2 innings. He had a 5.95 ERA with Detroit last season, and rarely pitched down the stretch.

Pauley didn't pitch in the postseason.

In other moves Monday:

* The Tigers reassigned several to minor league camp, including catchers Rob Brantly, Curt Casali, Patrick Leyland and James McCann; infielder Nick Castellanos; and infielder/outfielder Justin Henry.

* The Tigers told infielder Hernan Perez and outfielder Avisail Garcia their contracts will be optioned to minors Thursday. Garcia will go to Double A Erie, Perez to Class A Lakeland.

* And DH Victor Martinez, out for the season with a torn ACL, was placed on the 60-day disabled list.

tom.gage@detnews.com

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