Detroit Tigers acquire Ricky Vanasco in trade with Dodgers for cash considerations
The Detroit Tigers needed to add pitching depth.
The Tigers, as a result of their open spot on the 40-man roster, acquired right-handed reliever Ricky Vanasco on Monday morning in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.
Vanasco, a 25-year-old with high upside who needs to develop his secondary pitches, was designated for assignment last Wednesday by the Dodgers, so the Tigers essentially moved up in the waiver priority by making a trade.
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He has been optioned to Triple-A Toledo.
Vanasco made his MLB debut April 15 for the Dodgers, then appeared in his second and latest game July 13, allowing three runs on three hits and zero walks with one strikeout in two innings. He surrendered all three runs and all three hits to the Tigers on July 13, when the Tigers mounted a comeback for an 11-9 win.
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In Triple-A Oklahoma City, Vanasco logged a 3.47 ERA with 21 walks and 27 strikeouts across 23⅓ innings in 24 relief appearances. He averages 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings but 8.1 walks per nine innings.
Vanasco throws a fastball that averages 95.4 mph, along with a hard curveball at 84 mph and a bullet slider at 89.4 mph. When he is at his best, he has the elite ability to dominate with his fastball at the top of the strike zone.
The problem: Vanasco doesn't get a lot of non-fastball chase — which leads to the walk issue — because his breaking balls are too easily recognized out of his hand at release point. If he adds deception, he could develop into a three-pitch high-leverage reliever.
Vanasco would also benefit from throwing more strikes.
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The Tigers needed to add pitching depth because they didn't have any healthy pitchers on the 40-man roster who weren't on the active roster before acquiring Vanasco from the Dodgers.
A spot on the 40-man opened Sunday night when the Tigers traded catcher Carson Kelly to the Texas Rangers in exchange for two minor leaguers.
For now, the 40-man roster is full.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers acquire Ricky Vanasco in trade with Los Angeles Dodgers
