Three years ago, Jeremy Bonderman was the youngest of the young Tigers trying to Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park stick in the Major Leagues through 119 losses. Now was the Tigers' turn to make sure he sticks in Detroit. What was a core of young Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park players has become a group the Tigers are trying to keep together. Detroit took its biggest step yet towards doing that Monday by Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park agreeing to terms with Jeremy Bonderman on a four-year, $38 million contract.
The deal means Bonderman will remain under contract through 2010, the same timeframe to which the team signed third baseman Brandon Inge earlier this month. For a pitcher in a market that has become a financial Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park windfall for even second-tier free-agent Boston Red Sox Tickets arms, the deal is a huge step for the Tigers, whose strength lies in Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park the starting rotation. "He's one of the best young pitchers in baseball," Tigers Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park manager Dave Dombrowski said. "People tend to forget he's only 24 years of age. He's got an outstanding slider, good fastball, Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park his changeup's coming. We just think he's the type of guy you want to build your foundation around."
What was expected to be the trickiest decision of Detroit's offseason Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park ended up not being a tough decision at all. Even before Bonderman put up three solid starts in the postseason, Dombrowski Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park said the club had chosen to pursue a long-term deal once the season ended. Talks started during last month's general managers meetings Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park and picked up during the recent Winter Meetings.
Though Bonderman struggled over the season's second half, he won Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park three of his final four starts in the regular season, then held the Yankees to two runs over 8 1/3 innings in the decisive Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park Game 4 of the AL Division Series. He followed that up with 6 2/3 quality innings against the A's in Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers Tickets Fenway Park Game 4 of the ALCS before allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision in Game 4 of the World Series at St. Louis.