Tigers near dealing Capellan for Rockies' Bautista

Tigers near dealing Capellan for Rockies' Bautista

December 4, 2007

By JON PAUL MOROSI

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tigers are close to acquiring Denny Bautista from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Jose Capellan, in a trade of hard-throwing right-handed relievers, according to two industry officials.

Both pitchers have had good numbers while pitching in the Dominican Winter League this off-season. Barring a last-minute change, the deal should be announced today.

Bautista, 27, spent most of this past season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he went 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 51 relief appearances. He also pitched in nine games -- including one spot start -- for Colorado, where he went 2-1 with a 12.46 ERA. Bautista did not pitch in the postseason for the Rockies, who advanced to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.


Detroit's front office is familiar with Bautista. He signed with the Florida Marlins in 2000, when Dave Dombrowski was the general manager there.


Bautista has also pitched for the Orioles and Kansas City Royals in his career. He has a 4-10 record and 6.93 ERA in 35 career appearances.


Capellan, 26, joined the Tigers in a midseason trade from the Milwaukee Brewers. He split time between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo thereafter, with an 0-1 record and 6.43 ERA in 10 big-league appearances.


The Tigers have shown an affinity for Colorado relievers in recent years. They signed Jose Mesa prior to the 2007 season, after he spent the previous year in Colorado. And their primary target on the free agent market this off-season -- right-hander LaTroy Hawkins -- was a key part of the Rockies' bullpen during their postseason run.

Done deal.

Tigers, Rockies swap relievers

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Detroit and Colorado have completed a deal that will send Jose Capellan to the Rockies in exchange for right-hander Denny Bautista.

Capellan was a highly coveted reliever at last year's trade deadline before being shipped by Milwaukee to Detroit. However, he struggled with the Tigers, going 0-1 in 10 appearances with a 6.43 earned run average.

The 26-year-old right-hander is 5-7 lifetime with a 4.90 ERA in parts of four seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Brewers and Tigers.

Bautista, meanwhile, pitched most of last season with the Rockies' Triple-A team in Colorado Springs. He did pitch nine games - one start - at the big league level, though, and was 2-1 with a 12.46 ERA.

The 27-year old hurler has appeared in 35 games (21 starts) for the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals and Rockies, posting a 4-10 mark to go along with a 6.93 ERA.

We are really going to need a scorecard or a program to keep track of all the new Tigers. We made more moves than anybody! GO TIGERS GO!

HERE WE GO TIGERS! BEST TEAM IN MLB!