Yanks, Tigers, D-Backs Deal Finalized

The New York Yankees today acquired outfielder Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers in a three-team, seven-player deal, sending left-handed pitcher Phil Coke and outfielder Austin Jackson to Detroit and right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Granderson batted .249 (157-for-631) with 23 doubles, 8 triples, 30 home runs, 71 RBI and 20 stolen bases with the Detroit Tigers in 2009, setting a career high in home runs and recording at least 60 extra-base hits for the third straight season. He was selected to the AL All-Star team for the first time in his career and was one of only three American Leaguers to collect 30 homers and 20 stolen bases, joining Texas’ Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz.

Originally selected by Detroit in the third round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Granderson owns a .272 career batting average with 125 doubles, 57 triples, 102 home runs, 299 RBI and 67 stolen bases in six seasons (2004-09) with the Tigers. Over the last five seasons (since 2005), he ranks third in the Majors with 56 triples, while his 206 extra-base hits since 2007 are tied with Boston’s David Ortiz for the most among American Leaguers. His 24 career leadoff home runs are the most in Tigers franchise history.

In 2007, Granderson became one of three players in Major League history to compile at least 30 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season, joining Frank “Wildfire” Schulte with the Chicago Cubs (1911) and Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins (also 2007). He was the only Major Leaguer to score 100 runs with at least 20 doubles, 10 triples, 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases in both 2007 and 2008.

Among AL outfielders since 2005, Granderson ranks third with 1,745 total chances and seventh in fielding percentage (.993), committing only 13 errors over the span.

In 2008, he established the Grand Kids Foundation, which implements youth educational initiatives and works to reinvigorate the sport of Baseball in the nation’s inner cities. In 2009, he was selected as the Tigers’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee for his work in the community.

Granderson is currently entering the third season of a five-year contract that includes a club option for 2013.

Coke, 27, was 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA (60.0IP, 44H, 30ER, 20BB, 49K, 10HR) in 72 regular season relief appearances with the Yankees in 2009. He led all American League rookies in appearances and set the Yankees’ single-season rookie record, surpassing Jose Veras’ 60 in 2008. Coke made six 2009 postseason appearances for the club (2G in each round), posting a 6.75 ERA (2.2IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 3K, 2HR). Selected by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Coke compiled a 5-3 career record with a 3.74 ERA (74.2IP, 52H, 31ER, 22BB, 63K, 10HR) in 84 relief appearances with the club over two Major League seasons from 2008-09.

Jackson, 22, batted .300 (151-for-504) with 67 runs, 23 doubles, nine triples, four home runs, 65 RBI, 40 walks and a .354 on-base percentage in 132 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009. He earned International League “Rookie of the Year” honors after recording a team-best 24SB, leading the IL in triples and ranking second in the league in hits. He was also named to the IL midseason All-Star team. Selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Jackson owns a .288 (634-for-2203) career minor league batting average with 352 runs, 123 doubles, 28 triples, 30 home runs, 254 RBI, 223 walks and a .356 on-base percentage in 565 games.

Kennedy, 24, made one appearance for the Yankees in 2009, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning on September 23 at the Los Angeles Angels (2BB, 1HP, 1K). With Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre in 2009, he made four regular season starts, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (22.2IP, 18H, 4ER, 7BB, 25K, 1WP) before being placed on the disabled list on April 28 with a vasospasm in his right middle finger. Following a subsequent MRI, Kennedy underwent surgery on May 12 to remove an aneurysm near his right shoulder. He was reinstated from the D.L. on September 12 and made one minor league playoff start with Single-A Tampa and one with Scranton/WB, pitching 5.0 combined scoreless innings (1H, 7K). Selected by the Yankees with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, he went 1-4 in 14 career games (12 starts) with the Yankees from 2007-09, posting a 6.03 ERA (59.2IP, 63H, 40ER, 37BB, 43K, 6HR).

Jackson, 26, went 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA (86 ER in 214.0 IP) in 33 starts for the Tigers last season and made his first All-Star Team. He limited the opposition to a .247 average (200-for-809) with 70 walks and 161 strikeouts, including a .248 mark (88-for-355) against right-handers and a .247 mark (112-for-454) versus lefties. He was selected to the American League All-Star Team after going 7-4 with a 2.52 ERA (34 ER in 121.2 IP) in 18 starts prior to the break. Among AL hurlers on the season, he ranked fourth with 33 starts; seventh with a 3.62 ERA and 214.0 innings pitched; and ninth with 200 hits allowed.

Over parts of seven seasons in the Majors, he is 38-39 with a 4.66 ERA (347 ER in 670.0 IP) in 139 games (110 starts) for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2003-05), Tampa Bay Rays (2006-08) and Tigers (2009). He has posted a .275 opponents average (715-for-2604) with 299 walks and 472 strikeouts.

Scherzer, 25, went 9-11 with a 4.12 ERA (78 ER in 170.1 IP) over 30 starts as opponents batted .253 (166-for-657) with 63 walks and 174 strikeouts. Over parts of two season in Arizona, he was 9-15 with a 3.86 ERA (97 ER in 226.1 IP) and .248 opponents average (214-for-862) with 84 walks and 240 strikeouts in 46 games (37 starts).

Schlereth, 23, went 1-4 with a 5.89 ERA (12 ER in 18.1 IP) in 21 relief appearances in his first stint with the D-backs last season. In a combined 22 minor league appearances with Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno, he had 4 saves with a 0.98 ERA (3 ER in 27.2 IP). Over parts of two minor league campaigns, he is 1-0 with 4 saves and a 1.13 ERA (5 ER in 39.2 IP) as opponents batted .159 (21-for-132) with 23 walks and 60 strikeouts in 32 relief appearances.

“We are thrilled to add four quality players to the Tigers organization today,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “We feel this infusion of talent will help our major league club compete both in 2010 and for many years to come. We want to thank both Curtis and Edwin for all they have done for the Tigers organization and we wish them nothing but the best as they join their new clubs.”

Source: Yankees/Tigers/Diamondbacks, Major League Baseball

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