Dave Dombrowski spoke yesterday of how the team in planning on Austin Jackson manning centerfield next season. But that’s a lot to put on someone who hasn’t seen a pitch at the big league level. Especially when the guy playing second base is in the same boat. So it’s probably natural that the Tigers would get linked to free agent Scott Podsednik.
Lynn Henning (who saw the Granderson trade coming before anyone and was also a member of the Brennan Boesch fan club a couple months prior to his inclusion on the 40 man roster) planted this seed earlier in the week. The seed appears to have a shot at growing as the Tigers were listed as one of five teams interested in the left handed hitting outfielder.
Podsednik hadn’t cracked the .700 OPS barrier since 2006 before having a bit of a late career renaissance when he mustered a 764 OPS for the White Sox in 2009. This would be kind of a buy-high move. For all Podsednik’s speed, he’s not a spectacular fielder and has been pretty average to below average the last couple years according to UZR.
It makes sense to have a left handed option that could play centerfield. Of course for a cash-strapped team it probably makes more sense to just let Clete Thomas get some at-bats in that role. Then again lots of things aren’t making sense with the Tigers lately so I’d say there is a good chance that the deal gets done. As an aside, Podsednik is married to Lisa Dergan (google away).
Image credit: Matt Stratton on flickr
Since we were cheated from a season with Misty May-Treanor, signing Podsednik is only fair to Tigers fans.
I guess he’s better than Juan Pierre. So there’s that.
Sign Mrs. Podsednik!!!
Turning a catchphrase on its head, Podsednik strikes me as “subtraction by addition….”
I’m wondering about the “cash-strapped” comment. Its obvious the team isn’t going increase payroll significantly (or at all) but are they really strapped for cash? My interpretation of the offseason moves thusfar was that the team was trying to get better without adding to payroll this season. Besides giving up franchise players (JV & Cabrera) moving Granderson and Jackson was the most feasible option. That’s far from a firesale.
As for Pods, I think he’d be a nice addition and a legit leadoff hitter. It seems like its been a while…
I’m going to predict right now that Joe Mauer becomes a Tiger in the future.
That’s pretty bold considering I’ve been wrong on everything so far. Let’s see. First I was wrong about them not cutting Marcus Thames, then I was wrong about them offering Arb to Polli, then I was wrong that they wouldn’t re-sign Everett, then I was wrong that they would trade Grandy, then I was wrong that if Grandy were to be traded that it would be fort a key infielder upgrade, then i was wrong that they would trade Edwin, then I was wrong that they wouldn’t designate Dolsi, then I was wrong that they would participate in the Rule 5 draft. Let’s see, was there anything else newsworthy that I forgot to check?
So on the last 8 items of business I was wrong on all 8, every single one. Crap. Sorry guys, but I really think the Tigers are going to get Mauer, so we’re going to have to hope this trend doesn’t continue!
Haha, that kind of streak certainly IS impressive. Perhaps you are simply due…
Although in my opinion, I have to say I find it very unlikely the Tigers get Mauer. First, I doubt Minnesota would ever let him get to free agency. They have a new stadium and are lining up dollars to put a package together to keep him there long-term. I’m just really skeptical the Twins let him go (or trade because they can’t re-sign him), the franchise would take an incredible hit. It’s not like pitchers, who are a bigger injury risk (hence, trading Santana).
On the off chance he does get that far, you can rest assured that the New York teams, Boston, LA, the Cubs (maybe) and anyone else with some room on the payroll would get in line to bid. It’s not unreasonable to think the numbers get north of $15 million per year, which is just more than the Tigers can afford. And with so many teams having a need at catching (as opposed to something that’s easier to fill, like 1B) thre will be a long list of teams that make an offer. The Tigers would be priced out unless they can trade Cabrera. Otherwise, they would have two guys in their lineup making around $35-40 million, with 11 other spots to fill. And that’s not even getting into Verlander’s extension, etc.
Sorry to say, TSE, I think you’re headed for 9-for-9.. 😉
For all his speed, Posednick is actually a pretty terrible baserunner also. He can steal some bases, but he doesn’t pick up the ball well, lacks good instincts, and has a tendency to get picked off (either by being overaggressive or simply not paying attention).
As RPS rightfully points out, he is better than Juan Pierre. Much better.
I’d most certainly avoid Pods or Pierre. I think maybe the Tigers should just promote Strieby instead of acquiring a speed burner. I’d like to see Jackson, Sizemore, Avila, and Strieby win starting jobs come Spring.
Give Tom Brookens’ kids a chance.
Here’s my 2010 line-up-
Jackson, CF
Sizemore, 2B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Guillen, LF
Strieby, DH
Avila, C
Inge, 3B
Everett, SS
And leave Raburn out? What?
Raburn at SS instead of Everett has a nice ring to it. You can squeeze him in there, I don’t mind! 😉
Or if you are dead set against that, then how about Raburn at 3B, and Inge at SS?
You must have blocked out the “Raburn at third” adventures from last year. I wish I could do the same.
For what? 1 or 2 games. Sure, he made (was it 3?) errors in 1 game, but he never really had many opportunities to play the position. I always thought he’d make a good infielder, but ‘ol smokie has only one thing in mind for Raburn and that’s OF. I think Ryan could easily be an every day player. I’d at least like him to be given that opportunity to see what he would do.
On another topic, Rodney must be fielding a ton of offers, a bidding war is going on internally, or not enough money on the table yet because we haven’t heard a peep about him signing with a team, yet.
or because they realize once they get rodney they’ll be dissapointed because he sucks when he isnt closing.
Raburn has 125 career innings at 3B and 7 errors (27 games, 14 starts). His fielding % is .811. His next worst position is 2B with twice the innings, the same number of errors, and a .948 fielding percentage. There is a small sample at 3B but there is also a reason why he isn’t a semi-regular 3B.
Very small sample over a period of what? 5 years or so going between Toledo and Detroit. I guess there’s no evidence to convince anybody that he’d be a good infielder. I just think he would be.
I don’t know jack squat about Raburn’s ability to play the infield to be honest. I haven’t looked at the numbers and seem him enough there, and to evaluate his ability to play the infield properly would require knowing a lot of information that isn’t available to me. For some reason, kinda like Kathy said, he does strike me as somebody who would be competent enough for our particular team/situation.
It’s just an idea that makes me happy cause then I can hold onto hope that Everett won’t be the guy. I’ll wake up to the reality of Everett being our SS on opening day but not a moment sooner. Just let me hang onto this pipe dream a little longer please. 🙂
You’re one of many trying to accept reality right now.
Don’t think Guillen will still be here. I take all the Pierre/Podsednik/Bradley talk to mean that he’s gone one way or another. With Guillen, Jackson, Magglio, and Thomas, and Wells and Ramirez waiting in the wings, I don’t think there’s any way the Tigers would be saying anything about a non-sub-$500,000 OF unless it replaces either Maggs or Guillen.
We’d better get used to watching Cabrera take a walk.
I”m down with Scotty P if we can sign him to a one year deal.
And one more vote here for a Guillen/Bradley swap. I know lots of you hate, hate, hate the idea, but hear me out.
You don’t ever want to see the guy near the Tigers? Sweet. Make the trade and cut Bradley. Boom. $5 mill savings.
You think he’s an injury risk? If he spends 75 days on the DL, his 2011 salary becomes a team option. Decline. Boom. $16 mill savings.
You willing to give him a chance? Let him play. If you want out at the trade deadline, someone is always one bat away. You can either dump his salary or dump part of his salary and get a guy back. A year and a half of Bradley isn’t so imposing if you think he’s the missing piece.
Bradley comes in and rakes? Cool.
Guillen is your Tiger? I’ve got nothing good for that. Just ask yourself what Carlos can do that Strieby can’t.
I am with you here. I would not mind giving Bradley a shot. Sure he is a head case, but if one can tame his wild ways he can be very productive. I keep hoping the “suprise AL team” Bradley is rumored to be going to is the Tigers.
Hit from both sides?
Given our track record with “hot, relatively well-known wives of baseball players we sign” I say sign him for $1, he’ll get hurt and we can make this stupid freaking rumor go away.