Washburn traded to the Tigers for two pitchers

Published 10:38 am Friday, July 31, 2009

Forget Jarrod Washburn re-upping with the Mariners, at least for now. They’ve traded him to the Detroit Tigers for two young left-handed pitchers, including Luke French, who pitched against them last week.

Here’s the release from the Mariners:

SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President &General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that the Mariners have acquired Tigers left-handed pitcher Luke French and Class A left-handed pitcher Mauricio Robles from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jarrod Washburn.

French is expected to join the Major League club, while Robles will report to High Desert in the California League.

“We had an opportunity to acquire two starting left-handed pitchers under the age of 23, including one with Major League experience,” Zduriencik said. “As we continue to build the Mariners organization, it is crucial that we acquire depth and quality. This deal is another step in that process.”

“We appreciate everything Jarrod has done for the Seattle organization over the past four seasons and wish him the best for the rest of this year,” Zduriencik added.

French, 23, split the 2009 season between AAA Toledo and Detroit. With the Tigers, he is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 7 games, 5 starts. In 29.1 big league innings, he’s allowed 11 earned runs, walked 11 and struck out 19. He started against Seattle on July 23, allowing 2 earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched. In 13 starts with Toledo,

French posted a 4-4 record with an impressive 2.98 ERA (27 ER, 81.2 IP). He walked only 20 while striking out 72 in 81.2 innings pitched with the Mud Hens. French, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound left-hander was selected by the Tigers in the 8th round of the 2004 June draft. He led the Eastern League in innings pitched in 2008, and was a Florida State League All-Star in 2007. He graduated from Heritage High School in Colorado.

Robles, 20, began the season with West Michigan in the Midwest League. In 11 starts with West Michigan, he posted a 4-4, 4.63 mark and limited opponents to a .221 batting average against. He struck out 71 while walking just 27 in 56.1 innings pitched. Robles was promoted to Lakeland in the Florida State League in mid June. Since June 22, he’s made 7 starts with the Lakeland club, and is 4-2, 3.60 with 14 walks and 40 strikeouts in 35.0 innings pitched.

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