There was quite a bit of news that trickled out today so let’s roll through it.
Prospecting
It was a day of top 100 lists as both Kevin Goldstein (BP) and Keith Law released their lists. It used to be that looking at these lists was really depressing for Tigers fans. And then for a couple years it was really fun. And now, well let’s hope the big club keeps us from thinking about the minors too much.
Rick Porcello rated #11 on the Baseball Prospectus list. Keith Law isn’t as big of a fan, putting him at 22nd. Porcello was the lone Tigers farm hand on each list.
But at least it wasn’t because of the Tigers ineptitude. Former Tigers Cameron Maybin and Gorkys Hernandez appeared on both lists and Goldstein included Jair Jurrjens at number 86.
The injury bug
Injuries have plagued former prospect Tony Giarratano. At one time he was the Tigers top shortstop hope. A knee surgery and labrum surgery likely had sapped his defense – which was his strongest trait. A set back this spring ended his run as a Tiger. Detroit released him today.
It won’t effect the team too much, except for freeing up another roster spot (that’s 3 open spots now). Tony G had been passed by Cale Iorg, Danny Worth, and Mike Hollimon. I feel bad for Giarratano, but the truth is he probably shouldn’t have retained a spot on the roster this long.
D-Town baseball notes that keeping Giarratano cost the team Randor Bierd. T75 North tries to figure out how the middle infield situation might shake out.
Some leg soreness has kept Miguel Cabrera at DH on his Venezuelan team. Although a 10 for 22 playoff series seems to indicate it wasn’t effecting him too adversely. He won’t play in the championship round at the request of the Tigers.
Jones says Twins will be okay
I haven’t commented on the Santana deal yet, mostly because I’m waiting for it to be finalized (which I expect). But that didn’t stop Todd Jones. In his Sporting News column he’s confident that the Twins will be okay. And now he just wants C. C. Sabathia out of the division.
CC will most likely be leaving the division around the time Todd does. I have a hard time believing the Indians will muster up the 20-25 million per year (about a third of their current payroll) that it will take to re-sign him.
Law’s scouting report was pretty favorable on Porcello, though. I think he’d have ranked him higher if he’d actually, you know, had a few innings in A ball at least.
Thanks for the news on Cabrera. I’d heard he was hitting well down there, but didn’t know he was a bit gimpy. Doesn’t sound like a terribly big deal. 10 for 22? Is that the best he could do?
I know 10 for 22…garbage. We should sign Barry Bonds. Ok now that the alcohol is wearing off I’ve regained my senses. Wow, bum leg and he’s still mashing. Gonna be a great summer.
I’d have to disagree that Giarratano “cost” the Tigers Randor Bierd. Yes, we lost Bierd to the Rule 5 draft, but he was a 3rd-4th tier prospect coming off what could have been a fluke season. The Tigers don’t need him, and I won’t be surprised if he is back in the organization after the Orioles realize this.
The impact of losing Bierd can be debated, and I’m just lukewarm on him. But the Tigers kept a spot for a defense-first shortstop who had lost the last 2 years to shoulder and arm surgery.
Yeah keeping him on the roster was kind of curious. Of course throwing a fairly large sum of cash at a guy who hasn’t played in two years (Iorg) in the draft was also curious.
I don’t have access to the lists.
Just in the theme of trading prospects for proven talent…Are prospects we traded for Gary Sheffield on the list? I don’t remember their names.
Thanks!
Well the principles in the Sheffield deal were Humberto Sanchez, Anthony Claggett and Kevin Whelan. Sanchez missed all of 2007 with Tommy John Surgery (man, that guy performs a lot of surgeries) and none of the 3 make the Baseball America top 10 prospects in the Yankees organization, so I can’t imagine they would be on any top 100 list you could find. It’s still early, but it looks like the Tigers came out on top in that deal so far.