Unsurprising Jeremy Bonderman isn’t generating much interest on the open market. Bonderman who has spent parts of the last 8 seasons in the Detroit Tigers rotation became a free agent earlier this winter.
Thus far the 28 year old has been linked to just a small handful of teams. The New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers are believed to be the only teams with interest at this point.
It seems like ages ago when a 23-year-old Bonderman went 14-8 with a 4.08 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 2006. A large contract and a rash of injuries have left him with a 22-24 record and a 5.19 ERA in 427 innings, including a 5.58 mark in 171 innings last season, since.
In both instances Bonderman is a fall back option. The Tigers would like him to compete with Armando Galarraga for the fifth spot in the rotation and the Yankees are seeking some pitching alternatives should Andy Pettitte retire.
That the Tigers would consider Bonderman after their history and his decreased velocity (89 mph down from the mid 90’s) speaks a lot of their view on Galarraga. Interesting enough Galarraga is 23-26 with a 4.58 ERA in 475.1 innings from 2007-2010.
Galarraga may only give you glimpes of greatness but he’s a very serviceable end of the rotation guy, Bonderman hasn’t even shown that in recent years.