Roster shuffle: Dolsi and Ryan DFA'd to make room for new guys

**TigersFan81371** · 12-09-2009, 07:48 PM

Just noticed this while cruising around online. I don't know if it ended up in the mega-massive Winter Meetings thread or if it got lost in there amidst other discussions. I haven't seen it pop up in the Tigers News section either.

Freddy Dolsi, Dusty Ryan Designated For*Assignment - Bless You Boys

After acquiring four players in yesterday's blockbuster trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Tigers needed to clear two more spots on their 40-man roster. And with the deal becoming official this afternoon, the team designated pitcher Freddy Dolsi and catcher Dusty Ryan for assignment to accommodate the bushel of young talent coming to Detroit.

Dolsi pitched in only nine games with the Tigers this season, compiling a 1.69 ERA in 10.2 innings. (In 2008, he appeared in 42 games.) His last outing with Detroit was rather awful, giving up three hits and three walks in just 1.1 innings against Boston.

Ryan appeared in 12 games, batting.154/.267/.192 with four RBIs. Despite a pretty strong finish to 2008 (.880 OPS in 50 plate appearances), he could never break his way into the lineup. Perhaps defense was the main concern, as Jim Leyland leaned heavily on Gerald Laird throughout the season. But once Alex Avila was called up, and showed some impressive power, there was no room for Ryan.

If both players clear waivers, they could return to the Tigers organization. But the question now becomes whether or not the Tigers will make another move to clear a spot or two before tomorrow's Rule 5 Draft.

(via Jason Beck and Mark Anderson on Twitter)

I feel like I'd seen as much as Dolsi as I needed to see. I feel bad for Ryan. For a brief and shining moment, it looked like he might be the future of Detroit Tigers Catching. Then came Alex.

**Mark The Shark** · 12-09-2009, 07:57 PM

Is Don Kelly still on the 40 man?

If he is over Ryan, that strikes me as inept roster management.

**C03BRA** · 12-09-2009, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mark The Shark

Is Don Kelly still on the 40 man?

If he is over Ryan, that strikes me as inept roster management.

Yes....They have Diaz now signed to a minor league contract...that's 2 back-ups for Laird.

**sportz4life** · 12-09-2009, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Mark The Shark

Is Don Kelly still on the 40 man?

If he is over Ryan, that strikes me as inept roster management.

They are both useless..but Kelly can run and be useless at a lot more postions.

**Charles Liston** · 12-09-2009, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by sportz4life

They are both useless..but Kelly can run and be useless at a lot more postions.

You mean he's versatile in the Shane Halter sense in that he can hurt you defensively in a variety of roles?

**Charles Liston** · 12-09-2009, 08:18 PM

Here's the 40 - actually it's a 42 because Dolsi and Ryan are still there.

40-Man Roster | tigers.com: Team

I agree it's odd to keep Kelly and let Ryan go, but it probably doesn't matter because they'll both be back in Toledo anyway. Kelly certainly looks like the next one off. After that it would seem that Larish is uncomfortably close.

**sportz4life** · 12-09-2009, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Charles Liston

You mean he's versatile in the Shane Halter sense in that he can hurt you defensively in a variety of roles?

Especially in the Metrodome playing LF...especially..solid pinch runner though.

**ballmich** · 12-09-2009, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by sportz4life

Especially in the Metrodome playing LF...especially..solid pinch runner though.

Good thing, that's what this team needs, a middle-age pinch runner. We are destined for a pennant run next season, now that we've figured out the missing link.

**DaYooperASBDT** · 12-09-2009, 09:49 PM

The Tigers could still trade Dusty within the next ten days, might happen.

**Microline133** · 12-10-2009, 08:44 AM

I would consider a team trading for Dusty Ryan to be an pretty unlikely thing....

**DennisDubay** · 12-10-2009, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Microline133

I would consider a team trading for Dusty Ryan to be an pretty unlikely thing....

We couldn't get cash for him?

**zimm** · 12-10-2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Microline133

I would consider a team trading for Dusty Ryan to be an pretty unlikely thing....

but imo, the chances of him being claimed on waivers seem pretty good.

i can think of a handful of teams in the league who are starved for catching depth.

**ballmich** · 12-10-2009, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by zimm

but imo, the chances of him being claimed on waivers seem pretty good.

i can think of a handful of teams in the league who are starved for catching depth.

Not to mention he has an option remaining, so is an ideal waiver claim, if you ask me.

I'm hoping the timing of it, with the Rule 5 draft happening concurrently, will help us to slip these guys through waivers.

**Microline133** · 12-10-2009, 03:42 PM

We're getting way too caught up in the value of Dolsi and Ryan here....they are both extremely replaceable parts, and I'll be surprised if they are claimed.

**Big Toe** · 12-10-2009, 04:28 PM

Kinda liked Dusty. Too bad. Thought he might get a few years as a backup catcher. Looking less likely now.

As for Dolsi, it'll be much more fun watching him pitch against the Tigers than it was watching him pitch for the Tigers.

**ballmich** · 12-10-2009, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Microline133

We're getting way too caught up in the value of Dolsi and Ryan here....they are both extremely replaceable parts, and I'll be surprised if they are claimed.

I really don't think we can under value organizational depth, given where this team is at the major league level. And while we have a lot of promising young RP, perhaps making Dolsi expendible, I wouldn't say the same thing about the catcher position. And even if we don't trade or non-tender Laird, which is my desire, he will be a FA after the 2010 season so it makes sense to try to retain Ryan to fill a back-up role on this team down the road.

Not to mention there were easier/better choices that we could have made here, like Kelly and Willis. Or Thomas.

**Microline133** · 12-10-2009, 05:34 PM

My contention is that we have better options than both Ryan or Dolsi to fill the role of organizational depth.

Ryan has garnered quite the belief among fans of the Tigers, and its really not all that warranted. He's not terribly durable, his defense is solid (mostly given his arm strength and leadership) but there are glaring weaknesses in his receiving and game calling, not to mention blocking, and his offense has more holes than swiss cheese. He may well be a serviceable backup catcher at some point, but right now I'd say he's behind Laird, Avila, and Diaz on the pecking order for 2010, and personally, I'd be inclined to take Jeff Kunkel over him as my MLB backup.

Dolsi....great, he can still throw a decent fastball, but he's having a tough time in the Dominican right now, and the slider that showed promise a couple of years ago has stagnated significantly. He's a one pitch guy that doesn't have much with that one pitch besides velocity....including a lack of command.

Both players are far more likely to actually clear waivers right now, than most here would believe, and even if they don't, this isn't a loss for the organization. People can argue that Kelly or Willis should have been the player dropped, and they can make a case, but there's more to the Willis story that is preventing it right now....and Ryan and Dolsi are more easily replaced right now than Kelly (versatility and speed are lacking on the roster). The moves are in no way problematic for the depth of the organization. They should have been expected, and the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of them still being a part of that depth in a couple of days.

**Charles Liston** · 12-11-2009, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by Microline133

...The moves are in no way problematic for the depth of the organization. They should have been expected, and the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of them still being a part of that depth in a couple of days.

It would seem that that's the most likely outcome - they'll be at Toledo, whether they're on the 40 or not. So, it doesn't matter. If circumstances require their presence in Detroit and some roster space has to be made for them, well you worry about that if it actually happens.

**tiger337** · 12-11-2009, 11:49 PM

Mark, if I remember correctly, you were pretty optimistic about Ryan a couple of years ago. What happened? Did he regress or just not develop as you expected?

**Charles Liston** · 12-12-2009, 12:08 AM

Micro I have a question about organizational planning for you. Up until about 5 years ago the Tigers were an organization that would hire a "have bat, will travel" guy for a 1B/DH role at Triple A and Double A. For example over the years at Triple A, guys like Phil Hiatt, Ernie Young, and Patrick Lennon among others would come in and get a one-year gig as a run producer. At Double A I think that Alejandro Freire stayed for 3 years, and Kurt Airoso (although he was home-grown) probably did also. The thinking seemed to be that if there weren't any middle-of-the-order prospects (what do I mean "if", there were never any), it would make sense to generate some extra runs for the pitching staffs with a minor league lifer or two like the guys mentioned above, with all respect.

That doesn't seem to happen as much lately, and I'm curious as to why. First base in Detroit is blocked, thank God, by a beast who should stay there for at least 5 more years. Behind him, Strieby seems to be worth a look at Toledo and I guess they'll probably keep Larish there too, but I don't see anybody else at the upper levels. Would they consider a rent-a-bat at Erie to take Airoso's old job, or at Toledo to let Larish play third, or has that sort of thing fallen out of favour?

**cruzer1** · 12-12-2009, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by Charles Liston

Micro I have a question about organizational planning for you. Up until about 5 years ago the Tigers were an organization that would hire a "have bat, will travel" guy for a 1B/DH role at Triple A and Double A. For example over the years at Triple A, guys like Phil Hiatt, Ernie Young, and Patrick Lennon among others would come in and get a one-year gig as a run producer. At Double A I think that Alejandro Freire stayed for 3 years, and Kurt Airoso (although he was home-grown) probably did also. The thinking seemed to be that if there weren't any middle-of-the-order prospects (what do I mean "if", there were never any), it would make sense to generate some extra runs for the pitching staffs with a minor league lifer or two like the guys mentioned above, with all respect.

That doesn't seem to happen as much lately, and I'm curious as to why. First base in Detroit is blocked, thank God, by a beast who should stay there for at least 5 more years. Behind him, Strieby seems to be worth a look at Toledo and I guess they'll probably keep Larish there too, but I don't see anybody else at the upper levels. Would they consider a rent-a-bat at Erie to take Airoso's old job, or at Toledo to let Larish play third, or has that sort of thing fallen out of favour?

I think you answered your own question.

**Microline133** · 12-13-2009, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by tiger337

Mark, if I remember correctly, you were pretty optimistic about Ryan a couple of years ago. What happened? Did he regress or just not develop as you expected?

I was quite high on Dusty after his first year in Oneonta (2004, I believe). I saw a kid with tons of power in his bat, solid defensive tools, a very strong arm, and a good head for the game....and at that point, he was young enough you could see quite a bit of projections, and some hope that the limited ability he had at that time to control the strike zone, would continue to develop, making him a tougher out, and eliminated some of the swings and misses. Unfortunately....he's pretty much exactly the same player as he was then, with little progression (outside of more vocal leadership presences on the field and in the dugout)....