Category Archives: Roster Management

Players, Roster Management

Carlos Pena Released

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The Tigers have unconditionally released Carlos Pena, thus ending his career as a Tiger. By releasing him now, the Tigers only have to pay 45 days of Pena’s $2.8 million salary, thus saving $2.1 million.

While the move isn’t surprising, I can’t help but be disappointed. I’m sure every effort was made to trade Pena, but there probably weren’t takers. While Pena has been frustratingly erratic, he still provides a powerful left handed bat, as well as plate discipline. While the Tigers weren’t lacking for first basemen, they are still lacking in those areas. And even despite Pena’s horrible first half, he still managed an 802 OPS in 2005.

This move definitely weakens the Tiger bench. While there isn’t a need for a first baseman/DH right now, one of the players that Detroit it relying on to man those positions is Dmitri Young who’s played one full season in his Tiger career. Omar Infante and Vance Wilson will occupy two of the 4 bench spots. A third spot will go to a backup outfielder who can probably play center – so Nook Logan or Alexis Gomez. That leaves one additional spot.

If the last spot is used to keep Marcus Thames in the organization, it will temper my disappointment somewhat. I don’t want to see the spot go to a light hitting infielder such as Ramon Santiago, or an error prone infielder such as Don Kelly.

Meanwhile, somebody will get a 28 year old power bat for cheap. Maybe Pena will never be an everyday player, and he may not be worth $2.8 million. However, he’d be a heck of a platoon option on the right team.

Pitching, Roster Management, Spring Training

Zumaya reactions

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I liked reading this quote from Leyland in today’s Freep

“Our 13 position players — and this is a big factor — would look at me like I was nuts if I didn’t take those two guys,” Leyland said. “I think I would lose some credibility. They’d look at me and say, ‘What are these guys doing? What are they looking at?’ “

Alan Trammell made a mistake last spring by taking Bobby Higginson instead of Marcus Thames. Higginson was clearly on his last legs while Thames tore up spring training. In the process it seems like he lost some other members of the team. Leyland seems very aware of the situation and didn’t want to make the same mistake.

However, I didn’t like reading this quote, also from the Freep

Leyland doesn’t rule out that Zumaya will someday return to starting. But he doesn’t plan to insert him in the rotation if a starter gets hurt soon.

“We’ve got him programmed,” Leyland said of the relief role.

Zumaya being typecast into a relief role is my only qualm about him moving to the bullpen. While that may ultimately be his best role, he has way too much potential at age 21 to not be given the opportunity to start.

Pitching, Roster Management, Spring Training

Verlander and Zumaya Are In

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It appears that the rotation is set. Leyland hasn’t announced the 5th starter, but the common belief is that the job is Justin Verlander’s. Verlander was the favorite going into spring training, and after a couple shaky outings, has pitched very effectively. Today he only pitched two innings due to the rain, but in those two innings were 19 strikes on 26 pitches as all 6 hitters were retired.

Knobler also indicated that it appears that Joel Zumaya has made the team via the bullpen. Again, there isn’t an official announcement but given the way Zumaya has pitched, it would be hard not to take him. He also pitched two scoreless innings allowing only a bunt single.

A bullpen role may have some definite benefits for Zumaya. First, it might prove an effective way to break him into the Majors. Second, at age 21 there could definitely be some long term benefit to his arm only accumulating 100 innings or so.

My only concern is that Zumaya becomes pigeonholed as a reliever. While many believe this will be his best option long term, I want to see him given a chance as a starter. Given his performances at the higher levels of the minors as a 20 year old, I want to see what he can do in the rotation.
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Roster Management, Spring Training

Tigers cut nine

Detroit trimmed its roster by nine players today, none of which were really surprises. On their way to minor league camp are:

  • Wilfredo Ledezma
  • Chad Durbin
  • Lee Gardner
  • Kevin Hodge
  • Brian Peterson
  • Max St. Pierre
  • Josh Phelps
  • Ryan Ludwick
  • Reggie Taylor

It was hoped that Ledezma could either compete for the 5th spot in the rotation, or provide a second left handed option in the bullpen. Unfortunately he struggled and is headed back to Toledo for more seasoning. If the Tigers keep a second lefty, it looks like it will be Bobby Seay or Hector Mercado. Or there is always that possiblity of a trade.

Phelps, Ludwick, and Taylor all had very solid springs, but found themselves on the wrong end of a crowded situation.

This cut also thinned out the catching ranks with Peterson and St. Pierre heading to AAA. Brian Peterson remains an interesting option. He has a reputation as a defensive catcher, but in 2004 posted 300/361/444 line for AA Chattanooga in the Southern League at age 25.

The remaining 11 cuts will be much more interesting as Detroit sorts out the Thames/Gomez/Logan situation in the oufield, as well as the bullpen options.
detroit tigers

Pitching, Roster Management

Tigers have too much pitching

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Joel ZumayaWell, no team ever really has too much pitching, but right now it looks like the Tigers have enough talent to build decent rotations in both Detroit and Toledo. There are still 4 legitimate candidates for the 5th starter spot, and none of them are making the decision easy on Jim Leyland. Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, Jason Grilli, and Roman Colon seem unwilling to surrender their shots at the position.

Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander started off the spring shaky, but has made improvement with each start. That improvement culminated in yesterday’s outing against the Dodgers. Granted, the team LA fielded was devoid of starters, but 4 scoreless innings with no walks and 3 strikeouts is still impressive. The Dodgers managed 3 hits, two of which were bloop singles.

Verlander certainly would be a sexy pick for the rotation. He has Rookie of the Year potential, and it is always exciting to see home grown talent excel. The argument against is that if there are other capable arms, why rush someone with only one year of pro experience.
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Injuries, Offense, Previews, Roster Management, Spring Training

St Patty’s Bracket Busting Tiger Round Up

The Boys are Back in Town

	
Detroit	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Granderson, CF	3	1	1	1	1	0	1	.364
Guillen, SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.250
Santiago, SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.281
Ordonez, RF	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.222
Taylor, RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.379
Young, D, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.429
Pena, 1B	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	.194
Inge, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2	4	.308
Gomez, LF	4	1	2	1	0	0	1	.317
Wilson, C	3	1	2	1	0	0	0	.400
Peterson, B, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Infante, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.455

How about that lineup? It’s nice to see some regular names in there. Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez saw their first action since Venezuela was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. The game also marked Dmitri Young’s return to the lineup from his quadricep injury. Todd Jones should be on his way back, and we should also be seeing Pudge Rodriguez shortly. That leaves only Placido Polanco and Fernando Rodney MIA.
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Injuries, Minors, Roster Management, Spring Training

Dog Days of Spring Training

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After the initial excitement of pitchers and catchers reporting, and the surge of enthusiasm after the first few spring training games, baseball settles into 3 weeks of games that become somewhat tedious while fans anxiously await the beginning of real games. The World Baseball Classic has helped break up the monotony, as has some interesting developments in the Tigers camp.

After Gammons blogged about the possibility of Carlos Pena being cut in a financial move, Danny Knobler followed up a day later saying that Pena and Nook Logan just weren’t manager Jim Leyland’s type of players. What remains to be seen is what becomes of players who aren’t Leyland’s type. Does the manager have the final say or does Dave Dombrowski hold the trump card? I’d say when it comes to which members of the 40 man roster head north with the big club (the Nook Logan scenario), Leyland might have more say, but when it comes time to decide who is on the payroll (Pena) Dombrowski’s vote probably carries more weight.
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Contracts, Roster Management

Nine more sign

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The Tigers signed nine more players today. The group includes

  • Roman Colon
  • Jason Grilli
  • Kyle Sleeth
  • Wilfredo Ledezma
  • Nate Robertson
  • Omar Infante
  • Chris Shelton
  • Nook Logan
  • Marcus Thames

Detroit has now signed 39 players on the 40 man roster. If my records are correct, the one member of the 40 man that hasn’t signed is Craig Dingman. Dingman of course has the artery issue in his arm and he’s unlikely to pitch anytime soon. It will be interesting to see if the Tigers sign him, or let him loose. Even if they sign him, he is likely to be headed to the 60 Day DL meaning that there will be another roster spot to play with.

Similarly, Troy Percival will be going on the 60 day disabled list meaning that there will most likely be two spots available.

Contracts, Roster Management

Tigers sign 5 more

Detroit agreed to terms with five more players today. Franklyn German, Fernando Rodney, Curtis Granderson, Don Kelly, and Kody Kirkland are now all under contract. Terms weren’t disclosed, but it is a pretty safe bet that German, Rodney, and Granderson all received contracts in the $350,000 range (give or take $10,000).

The Tigers now have signed 30 or the 40 members of the major league roster.

detroit tigers