So an otherwise quite
Then Tom Gage managed to get a “no comment” instead of a denial from Dave Dombrowski about the Tigers interest in Tejada. Gage points out:
Dombrowski didn’t wish to comment about Rodriguez two years ago at the first smattering of smoke that the Tigers might be interested in him.
Dombrowski also wouldn’t comment about Ordonez last year when it was initially learned that the Tigers had expressed interest.
That’s just his way. Cautious to the hilt.
It would be easy for Dombrowski to say the speculation is incorrect, which he’s been known to do when that’s the case . But when it’s not the case, or more specifically not yet the case, Dombrowski envelops himself in secrecy — often in overcast January secrecy.
I think it is pretty clear that there have been talks, the extent of those talks remains to be seen. I’m more inclined to belive in Lee’s guess that the Tigers would be more likely to be part of a mutli player trade than actually snagging Tejada. But like so much Tiger speculation, it is a chance to improve the team, but at an area that isn’t a tremendous need. Tejada would upgrade pretty much any team – Detroit included, but the Tigers have bigger needs.
Tejada doesn’t address the need for starting pitching or a left handed bat. He may however cost both of those as it may require a package of Curtis Granderson, Nate Robertson, and a high end pitching prospect. He does help address the issue of the fragility of the team – he hasn’t missed a game since 2000. And he would be another huge bat in the middle of the order. If Carlos Guillen wasn’t part of the deal, an infield of Guillen, Tejada, Placido Polanco, and Shelton/Pena could arguably be the best in baseball.
In any case – at least there is some of that news that Tiger fans have been pining for.
Does anybody know what Tejada’s no-trade clause is like? I don’t think you can do this deal w/out a waiver of his trade demand clause. I’d bet that Guillen would be part of any deal.
Would adding Tejada mean a winning season? I don’t think he makes the difference. The pitching is the key.
I wouldn’t do a trade, but I’m a chicken$hit “play the kids” type. If Guillen is healthy he could be an All-Star himself. They need pitching and I would hate to see them lose Granderson. I wouldn’t mind seeing them worm into a three way deal and scooping up some crumbs that fall off the table. I must allow as how Tejada would put butts in the seats, and that is a factor that has to be considered. But I still wouldn’t gut the farm system for the guy.
Its a great move for the right price. Ordonez, Robertson & Infante or Ordonez, Maroth, Infante & Sleeth.
It would be a good guy to trade for just as long as the names, Granderson, Verlander, Zumaya, and Guillen aren’t going the other way–
Would the Orioles have any sort of interest in Guillen? I’m not sure who else they have at shortstop, and I think the best case scenerio if we were to get Tejada would be for us to also get rid of Guillen. Nothing against Carlos, but I’m fairly certain that his days of playing a full season without injury are gone.
At the same time though, Tejada is a very overrated fielder. The Tigers would lose a lot going from Guillen to Tejada. Guillen has put up 2, 14, and 1 FRAA over the last three years, while Tejada has put up -15, 16, and -3 over the same span. In the times where Guillen was injured and Infante played short, though, the Tigers had much more modest production with Infante’s 5, 1, and 3 FRAA. When Guillen’s time on DL is taken into account, going from him to Tejada at SS isn’t a huge drop in defensive ability.
I feel like I’ve been harping on this all offseason, the lack of power pitchers on the staff should dictate that the Tigers make every possible effort to at least maintain last year’s defensive level, which was pretty good in the infield. To that end, any move for Tejada is a bad move. But at the same time, Tejada would be a big enough upgrade in the Tiger batting order where I am confident that overall the team would be much better with him.
And as far as bringing in Tejada to play 3B and moving Inge goes,it would be a terrible move. Inge was ranked by several defensive metrics as the top three-bagger in the American League last season. I think he needs to be our everyday third baseman for a long time to come.
I’m kind of going back and forth on the merits of Tejada as I write this comment. He obviously would make the Tigers a better team, but at what cost? With our relative inability to improve our pitching this offseason, any move that relieves us of minor league pitching is a bad one as we will be depending on that talent over the next few seasons.
and…. it’s a moot point apparently.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2284081
ok heres a good trade for you dave I want to have your kind of job some day thats why I do alot of research ok heres the trade Brandon Inge,Carlos Pena,Nate Robertson to the O’s for Tejada. I sure hope your reading this cause baltimore is interested in Abreu lets hope your not to late.
I read the article about Tejada and I hope the Tigers get him next year. We have needed a good hitting SS for as long as I have been a Tigers fan! Are Projected 1-4 hitters for next year will be: 1. Polonco
2. Pudge 3. Young 4.) Tejada, That would be so sweet…… 1984 Bless you Boys repeat?
Anyway, check out my Sports blog @
http://thesportsmeshugenuh.blogspot.com
Mad respect to your site and keep up the good work, pal!
I Love the Tigers Forever!
-The Sports Meshugenuh(cray person, mad-mad in Yiddish)
With my trade Leyland could just put Tejada at 3rd base he’s actually talked about switching there.
MAKE MY TRADE DAVE PLEEEZ