Detroit took a calculated gamble in dumping right-hander Jason Grilli for untried Francisco Cruceta.
Grilli was traded to Colorado on Wednesday night so the Tigers could create a roster space for Cruceta, an offseason acquisition who had to come off the restricted list next week. Now, Cruceta will report to the Tigers on Thursday. The decision to deal Grilli came even though Detroit could have optioned righty Zach Miner to the minors.
"Jason's pitched better, no question," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "He's pitched well for us recently. But we were in a spot. We think Zach is throwing the ball much better. We think he deserves to stay here. We had to make a decision one way or another."
Grilli, whose father, Steve, was a Tiger in the late '70s, sounded disappointed and a little bitter.
"I'm arbitration-eligible," Grilli said. "There's several guys here who pretty much can do the same thing as me. Miner's got a year and a half of doing the same kind of role. (Armando) Galarraga's doing a heck of a job. He's got options. I know this business. With Cruceta and all the hype and talk about him, they're trying to create a roster spot. There's things happening around here. It's been on the tip of the tongue since spring training, even this offseason.
"I won't be the last. When one move gets made, there's usually several others that follow.
"I think I did a good job for what my role is. I know a lot of people might think differently. But to those people, I just say thank you, too, because I'm a bigger person than someone who doesn't like my eyebrows or the way I pitch."
Cruceta is untested at the major league level although Detroit scouts feel he turned his life around after serving a 50-game suspension last season for testing positive for a banned substance.
Although Grilli had a horrendous ERA at Comerica Park last year, with a superlative road record, he did do a capable job within his limitations.
The Tigers feel Cruceta can handle the seventh-, eighth- or even possibly the ninth-inning role in relief. Now they will see.
TIGERS 6, YANKEES 2: Right-hander Jeremy Bonderman pitched into the eighth inning Wednesday night and second baseman Placido Polanco hit a pair of home runs in helping Detroit win its seventh game in nine tries. Left fielder Marcus Thames also hit a key home run, a two-run shot that gave Detroit a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Bonderman gave up two first-inning runs but wound up allowing just five hits in 7 2/3 innings. Lefty Clay Rapada retired the only four batters he faced.
