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« Possible Buyers: St. Louis Cardinals | Main | Odds And Ends: Duncan, Mather, Huntington, Trachsel, Rusch »
Possible Sellers: Detroit Tigers
Once again, we're only two months into the season, and a lot can change between now and July. Using a familiar anecdote, the Yankees were 22-29 last May 31, and ended up being the best team in baseball in the second half. So while they looked like possible sellers on May 31, when July rolled around that would no longer be the case. The Detroit Tigers have a similar possibility this year.
Touted by a to-be-unnamed ESPN analyst as having the best offense in baseball history, the Tigers have faltered in 2008. They're 23-31, good for fourth place in the AL Central. The good news is that they can turn it around. The bad news is that the division rival Cleveland Indians are also having a poor run, sitting at 25-29. Any potential run by the Tigers could be dampened by a potential Cleveland streak.
So if you're Dave Dombrowski, do you consider reloading for next year? The armchair GM in us is likely to say yes. Clearly, though, Dombrowski won't be so impulsive. He and manager Jim Leyland have been tinkering with the lineup to see if they can spark anything. Namely, the idea is to move Carlos Guillen, who has already switched from first to third this season, to left field. That would open up third base for Brandon Inge.
I'm not quite sure that's the best idea, considering Marcus Thames is hitting better than Inge, though in fewer at bats. So it's doubtful that this tinkering really gets things going. Just ask Joe Girardi. He's been tweaking his lineup since Day 1. And while the Yankees have started hitting, I don't think anyone is attributing it to his daily lineup shifts. Your players have to hit, plain and simple. And it stands to reason that the Tigers will hit, regardless of the lineup.
Who's expendable? Magglio Ordonez? It's not often you see a team trade their best hitter. But Maggs is 34 this year. I'm not saying he'll tank next year, but the Tigers could be seeing his peak value pass this July. If they're truly out of it, they could consider a Maggs move. Conversely, they could consider his potential production next year far too valuable to sacrifice. He's signed through 2009, with a pair of $15MM team options for 2010 and 2011.
Edgar Renteria? He's in the final year of his four-year deal, though he does have a $11MM club option for next year. That could be an attractive contract for an acquiring team. Placido Polanco? I only mention his name because he's signed on the cheap, $4.6MM, through 2009. He could net some return for the Tigers because of his cheapness and consistency at the plate.
I know Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson will enter the conversation at some point. I just don't think the pair of lefties will get the Tigers anything attractive in return. They could be token trades for players in the lower minors, for high-risk players. But if they consider themselves out of contention, it's better than nothing, I suppose.
Joe Pawlikowski is a writer for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog, and can be reached here.
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isn't it entirely possible that the Tigers will be buyers, thinking they could be those said Yankees? I'd imagine they'd need to go after pitching. But then again, pitching is expensive, and do they have anyone left in the minors (that they'd be willing to deal) to get any?
Posted by: Zonis | May 31, 2008 at 11:22 AM
It's almost like what people are saying about the Mariners. They went for broke to bring guys in, so now if they have a fire sale, they will have to get rid of their GM. Maggs and Polanco are too valuable to the team, whereas Renteria and Robertson aren't. The problem there is that there aren't any good shortstops available, and we can't put Guillen back there. I see them sitting it out and hoping the injured pitchers return to help.
Posted by: libertyball | May 31, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Polanco would be a GREAT fit for the Mets if he becomes available, and at that price, he would even offset the ill-advised Luis Castillo contract when Castillo moves to the pine...
Polanco can also handle third and short, giving the Mets some flexibility that they don't have with Easely, Tatis, et. al. handling utility chores.
Posted by: Sunny Reiser | May 31, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Not having Sheff performing is what is killing the Tigers. Sheff is just a monster knocking in runs and getting on base. Taking his bat out of the lineup is brutal.
I would look at the Tigers as buyers. They should leave Guillen at 3B and look for a LF.
To blow up this team now would be silly, especially after handing Cabrera that mammoth contract.
Posted by: bjsguess | May 31, 2008 at 12:59 PM
If they sell anything it'll be Robertson, but you don't send that much money and sell at midseason.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | May 31, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Anyone who would suggest keeping Guillen at third base obviously has not watched any Tigers games and only have second-hand knowledge of the team. His defense is probably the worst in the league at the position, and it's not reasonable to keep him there. It would have been better to just keep Cabrera there than Guillen. Know your subject before writing about it. A little research never hurts anyone.
Posted by: Bud Light | May 31, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Could this article be any more misinformed? And how exactly are "the division rival Cleveland Indians having a poor run, sitting at 25-29" "bad news" for the Tigers? The fact that the entire AL Central is wide open at this point pretty much seems like great news for all things Tigers. The Tigers were the best team in baseball last year pre All-Star break, and the worst after. Just saying...
Nonetheless, congratulations on managing to plug Yankee drivel into an uninformed Tigers topic.
Posted by: ToThePoint | May 31, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Isn't it awfully hard to start selling when you sold off your future to put the pieces together for your current team? The Tiger farm system is a wasteland, and selling off a couple high priced guys isn't going to be enough to replenish it. Instead, they'll just end up with a foot in both boats, and that's no recipe for success.
Posted by: Devlsh | May 31, 2008 at 11:48 PM
The Tigers can't sell at this point after going all-in in the off-season. Their best bet is to wait for their sluggers with track records of producing to come around, and wait until the bullpen is healthy.
They are very lucky the rest of the division is playing so bad.
Posted by: bigpat | June 01, 2008 at 12:45 PM