Henning: Without old zip, Dontrelle Willis appears headed for release

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Armando Galarraga has already been sent to Triple-A Toledo. Phil Coke, who once upon a time was viewed as a potential starter, is judged by Leyland and his staff to be a quality pitcher, but a reliever only.

That leaves two names for consideration: Dontrelle Willis and Eddie Bonine.

I believe today that Willis will be released and Bonine will make the team as a long reliever.

There is no indication from the Tigers that any such move is likely. But it appears from how the pitchers have performed during the past three weeks that Willis is not throwing with enough zip or command to be a serious factor in Leyland’s 2010 rotation. In his three-inning stint Thursday against Houston, Willis’ fastball never once exceeded 89 mph.

It’s conceivable that Willis might be taken north as a long reliever. But if he were able to pitch long relief with any expectation of success the Tigers would just as easily hand him a starter’s job.

And I don’t believe that is in the cards.