Category Archives: Trade Rumors

2007 Season, Trade Rumors, Trades

Trade Deadline Day

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I’ll be doing my day job today, so if anything happens, I probably won’t be able to hit it until after the 4pm deadline. But if something does happen and you want to post it here and help the community, all the better.

As for the latest buzz, Morosi thinks if anything happens it will be with the Pirates and again he’s banging on the Jack Wilson drum. I don’t know if he’s advocating this, or merely pointing out a fit. Of course the fit would simply be the fact that the Tigers take on a lot of money for this year and next year for a guy that can’t hit a lick and would be available for free on waivers after today – kind of like Neifi Perez last yearjjj. Pointing out that he is an “expert defender” doesn’t comfort me when you look at his 641 OPS. And it’s not like he’s fast, he’s 0 for 3 on steals. This would be an awful move.

POSTGAME:
Today mostly became about hoping that the Jack Wilson trade wouldn’t come to fruition. Bless You Boys found a report that a deal was nearly complete that would have sent Brent Clevlen to the Pirates for Wilson and all his salary along with reliever Solomon Torres. But the Pirates asked for Jurrjens instead and that nixed it. Taking on Wilson’s salary and contract no matter what the Tigers gave up would have been a disaster because he can’t hit and is only average defensively. And because he’s an old NL player I get the feeling he would have had way too much playing time. And that is an exorbitant cost for a guy that is replacement level.

But Dave Dombrowski said that it never got that close. He also mentioned that the Tigers did make a run at Dotel

which he believed came down to Royals GM Dayton Moore knowing Kyle Davies better from his time running the Braves farm system. “We were prepared to put up a quality player, who talentwise might even be a better player.”

Am I happy with the pen the way it is? I’m certainly not thrilled, but I also think that the Tigers didn’t have to make a move at all costs.

2007 Season, Trade Rumors

On Bullpen Help

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Perusing Lynn Henning’s Burning Questions today I came across the following:

Q . Are the Tigers any more inclined today to make a trade ahead of next Tuesday’s deadline?

A . Probably not.

It’s not as though they wouldn’t seek one more arm for their bullpen, or another hitter or catcher, but the asking price is going to be so steep that it doesn’t make a lot of sense to spend heavily on additional players that might or might not help a well-constructed team make the playoffs.

The Tigers have to be careful. They’ve added significant pitching help to their bullpen and stand to add more in the coming weeks as Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya heal. Trading young talent they will need to compete in coming seasons is a price that should not be paid unless there is a serious need and reasonable guarantee that you’ll get better.

This pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter. I fully understand that the team has to “win it all this year” because “you never know when you’ll get another opportunity.” But even taking the best team into the playoffs doesn’t mean that you win it all.

Now of course you have to question whether the team is good enough to make the playoffs. It’s a fair question and as tempting as it is to say they aren’t, especially after a debacle like last night, look at the record this team has compiled even with their bullpen. Of course this team is capable of making the playoffs the way they are currently constructed. And no matter how demoralizing the loss was last night, it doesn’t change the Tigers negotiating position. One game should never do that. If you’ve thought for the other 98 games the Tigers needed help, it shouldn’t change your mind. Similarly if felt the Tigers pen was good enough, you arrived at that conclusion despite the bullpen struggles and that one game shouldn’t dissuade you.

As much as the Tigers want to win this year, they plan on winning for the next several years. In 2008 they’ve already committed $78 million (assuming they pick up the Pudge option, $68 million otherwise). And that money is spread out over only 11 players. It’s the same story in 2009 with $68 million going to 8 players, and other guys who are cheap now (Granderson, Zumaya) getting hefty raises with that money.

The reason the Tigers felt they could give out extensions to Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen was because a)they felt that was the most efficient way to secure that production and b)they’re counting on filling open positions with cheap home grown talent. If you make the system bereft of that talent then you’re looking on the free agent market or settling for replacement level production. And the Tigers system just isn’t loaded with guys who project to start at the Major League level, there isn’t an endless supply. It’s why you go above slot money and invest early on in top talent in the draft so that you save the money while players are under club control.

Dave Dombrowski isn’t building a team for 2007. He’s trying to put together an organization that can compete year in and year out. You’ve got a GM with well earned job security who isn’t under the gun to win it now or he’s gone. You aren’t going to see moves made out of desperation and instead you’re going to see moves that are in the best long term interests of the team. Isn’t that really what you want?

The Tigers are looking to add a bullpen arm, but they aren’t going to overpay for it and risk the future. It’s why the Tigers have scouts in every city that might be looking to trade quality relievers. Not only as due diligence but as a means to bring the price down. If it appears that the Tigers are casting a wider net it does give them at least a smidgen of leverage. It’s why you get reports that Fernando Rodney is about to rejoin the team and Joel Zumaya throws off a mound way ahead of schedule. It’s all about trying to muster the leverage available. The Tigers will deal if the price is right, but trading a Maybin for a rental or an aging pitcher just isn’t the right price.

Players, Roster Management, Trade Rumors

The Winter Meetings and Craig Monroe

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According to reports out of Disney World, Craig Monroe is the Tiger du jour in terms of trade rumors. Jerry Crasnick first mentioned Monroe’s name on Monday. Scott Miller indicated the Dodgers might be interested in Craig. Amy Nelson chimed in and reported that the Orioles asked about Monroe and that the Tigers asked about Nick Markakis.

Jason Beck got in touch with David Dombrowski and DD confirmed that the Orioles initiated discussions this morning, but he wouldn’t confirm it was about Craig Monroe. Basically the Tigers are listening but it sounds like they are pretty much set.

Here’s how I see it. The Tigers probably should trade Craig Monroe. I say this as a fan of Monroe. He’s a decent player, a really likable guy, and from all accounts a great teammate. I don’t really want to see him go anywhere, but he and Thames are duplicative. Marcus Thames won’t be a free agent until 2011 where has Monroe is a free agent in 2009. Both players are the same age but Thames has posted slightly better OBP and SLG numbers (316/491 vs 310/461) than Monroe, granted in a much less playing time. Monroe is faster and appears to have a better arm and cover more ground in the outfield than Thames. However, according to the Probablistic Model of Range Monroe was slightly below average while Thames was marginally above average. I’d say it’s close enough to be a push defensively.
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2006 Season, Offense, Tiger History, Trade Rumors

I’m just saying

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A collection of observations, links, and items of note from the last week:

Ownership

How many times did we hear this year that the Tigers own the Twins, and the White Sox own the Tigers? Now a popular refrain is that the A’s are a more favorable first round opponent than the Yankees because the Yankees own the Tigers. (I’m not questioning that the A’s are more favorable, just the reasoning). Now did anybody notice that the Tigers went 7-7 over their last 14 games against those same White Sox who owned them. Or more troubling, that the Tigers went 8-8 over their last 16 games against those Twins who they owned?

As for the Tigers 2-5 record against the Yankees, keep in mind that 5 of those games were decided by 2 runs or less or went to extra innings. And as for that last series, the Tigers were outscored by a whopping 2 runs (11-9) over 3 games in the Bronx.

Getting loaded

Since September 15th the Tigers have had 16 at-bats with the bases loaded, or a little more than one a game. During the mighty slump, spanning August 8th to September 14th (34 games) the Tigers only had 12 at-bats with the bases loaded.

I’m not even worried about how they did in those stretches. It’s all about the opporutunities.
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2006 Season, Injuries, Minors, Trade Rumors

Soriano, Sanchez, Speculation

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Here are two seemingly independent pieces of information that coincidentally (or not) broke within a few hours of each other:

1. Humberto Sanchez has been scratched from tonight’s start due to health reasons. (hat tip Mack Avenue Tigers).
2. A White Sox-Nationals deal involving Alfonso Soriano and Brandon McCarthy is “extremely close” according to ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian.

Let unbridled speculation begin…

2006 Season, Fan Experience, Trade Rumors

This, That, and The Other

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News and links that just don’t seem to fit anywhere else…

  • It’s old news now, but Magglio Ordonez is an All Star, Justin Verlander isn’t, and Kenny Rogers might be starting the All Star game based on availability. I’m happy Rogers made the team, but he probably isn’t the most deserving even amongst his Tiger teammates let alone the rest of the AL. He’s a possibility because of the timing of his last start. Now the pitchers probably won’t be throwing more than an inning or two, so why would any of the pitchers be more available in the first inning than the 5th?

    On another note, I’m not one of those bemonaing the inclusion of Mark Redman. I still like every team having a representative. The problem isn’t Mark Redman keeping more deserving players off the team, it is Ozzie Guillen (and other manager’s before him) keep more deserving players off the team.

  • Reader Chris sent me a heads up on this ESPN Page 2 article that compares all of the AL teams to 1984 Tigers. It’s hardly an in depth piece, but it is fun nonetheless.
  • My ESPN the Magazine came today and featured a large article by Buster Olney about the Tigers and how their play is effecting the city. It is insider content online, but there is a picture of Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Curtis Granderson on the carousel that is worth making a point of checking out at your local convenience store.
  • I was looking to get 4 tickets for the weekday afternoon game against the White Sox on July 20th. It turns out if one wants 4 tickets you are already relegated to standing room only.
  • I caught this on the MotownSports message boards as well as on 1270, but Ken Rosenthal said today that the Tigers have been pursuing Alfonso Soriano. He isn’t the best of fits in terms of need, but he is a heckuva player. He has a rep as a hacker at the plate, as do many Tigers, but his OBP is better than 4 of the Tigers current starters. Plus he brings speed to the team. I know the desire is a left handed bat, but it is better to get a good hitter from any side, than to settle for someone based on which side of the plate they stand on.
2006 Season, Defense, Pitching, Trade Rumors

Links and stuff

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Between anniversaries, and attending Tiger games, and work, I’ve got a pile of links to power through:

  • The Baseball Crank took a look at the Tigers pitching. He found that through the 29th, the Tigers were in some rare company. In terms of the Tigers ratio of ERA to league average ERA they stood as the 6th best of all time.
  • The Sporting Brews has taken a very indepth and thoughtful look at the Tigers pitchers success, and how much is impacted by defense. It is well worth the read. The whole seperation of pitching and defense is always fascinating to me. As has been well documented, for the season the Tigers have played excellent defense. Some say it is luck, some say it is skill. In any case the pitchers benefit. But the big mystery is whether the defense has just been better on its own, or are the pitchers throwing more fieldable balls and whether or not this is even a skill.
  • Things are going so well for the Tigers this year, the national media even saying don’t worry about a couple of tough games. Tom Verducci says the Tigers are still for real, and they even get a mention on the cover of today’s Sports Illustrated.
  • Buster Olney has really been pushing the idea of Barry Bonds as a Tiger. He’s listed Detroit and the Yankees as the top two likely destinations for Barry next year. Now he’s speculating that an in season trade may make sense for both parties. I just really don’t see it. Now if the Giants would let him go as just a massive salary dump, looking for minimal stuff in return…I’d think about it. Of course it’s not my money. It would be a left handed bat, with no long term commitment. As for signing him next year? I’d be very disappointed if Bonds was their target.
Pitching, Previews, Roster Management, Trade Rumors

Tiger Linkfest

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Roster Issues

I’ve said pretty much all I have to say about the Carlos Pena release in that I don’t like how the roster sets up. Knobler’s blog today didn’t make me feel any better

Leyland raved again after the game about Ramon Santiago. Santiago is very likely to make the opening day roster, in part because they need a backup shortstop and Omar Infante’s right shoulder tendinitis makes it hard to consider him for that spot. Infante is on the team, though. In fact, they had Infante and Alexis Gomez work out today at first base. They need someone else able to play first, in case they pinch-run for Shelton in a game where Dmitri is the DH. Pretty good indication that Gomez has a very good chance to be on the team as the extra outfielder, too.

If Infante can’t be the back-up infielder because of his arm, maybe he needs to go on the DL. I’ve got nothing against Infante, and I think he’ll probably do okay this year, at least along the lines of his 2004 season. However, if he is your best pinch hitting option and he can’t play the left side of the infield there will be problems. I have a bad feeling that this bench is going to scare me more than opponents.
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Trade Rumors

Miguel Tejada Rumors

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So an otherwise quite Detroit Tigers offseason became a little more interesting yesterday with a Boston Herald article (via Tiger Tales) that mentions the Tigers were a late comer to the Miguel Tejada sweepstakes.

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.

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