Offseason Outlook: Detroit Tigers

The Tigers need 3 main things:

1.) Starting Pitching
2.) A legitimate everyday SS
3.) MLB ready Bullpen help

Teams that have excess in at least two of those categories can include:
Rays, Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Twins (maybe), Phillies (maybe).

Do any Tiger fans out there have any thoughts on what it may take to land Magglio for any of the aforementioned teams?

The Juice:

Phillies- Carrasco is as good as gone in a Maggs deal. Donald or Marson is probably gone as well. Pat Gillick would do that deal.

I doubt the Red Sox and Tigers could get together on a Lugo trade... they'd want salary relief or a B+ prospect to keep the whole salary. Can we get Porcello if we take on his salary? (Yes, that's a joke)

I still think trading the Blue Jays for McDonald is a good idea, solves the defense issues if you don't mind the weak bat. Or they could always just put their faith in Santiago. For a reliever, again, buy low on Gregg... still better than Todd Jones.

"This team is in bad shape."

QFT

I don't think the Tigers would sell that low on Magglio as proposed with the "Downs and McDonald trade".

I do like the idea of McDonald as an addition to the Tigers because they shouldn't be seeking huge offensive upgrades because they still have a solid core.

I would really like to see them make a splash for some starting pitching. They don't have to break the bank, but it may be interesting to see if they can work a deal with another team with a bad salary or a team that would eat salary and still pay a good price.

For exmample: Jonathan Sanchez, Brad Hennessey, and Henry Sosa for Magglio. Sanchez and Hennessey can be used as starters or swingmen providing valuable innings, and Sosa has some upside. It doesn't give the Tigers a SS, but it adds some much needed pitching help.

If successful they should go after McDonald in an alternative trade scenario.

"Maybe Magglio to the Blue Jays for Scott Downs and Marco Scutaro/John McDonald. The Blue Jays have a lot of money to spend and only give up a spare-part shortstop and a good reliever to get a great hitter. They have the money to afford him. The Tigers get a good, experienced lefty reliever and a decent shortstop. They also have money to spend on a starting pitcher. The Tigers need a right fielder if they trade Magglio."

That's somewhere around fair value, but where does Ordonez fit in on the Jays team? They have Rios, Wells and Lind locked in for at least 5 more years. They also have the best outfield prospect in the league almost ready to go, so they will probably be looking for a DH on a 1 year commitment if anything.

That's why Downs and McDonald are not enough. It needs to feature one of Snider or Lind, with Lind being the most likely choice. I think a team that gives Adam Lind regular playing time will be very happy with their decision.

Magglio and Snider can shuffle between LF and DH. Seems like a fit.

Of the above names mentioned it would take a lot to pull Maggs out of Detroit. Because of down years you would be looking at something like:

Owings
Bailey
Valaika
Mesoraco

Even I think that price is too steep, but you never know how desperate Cinci will get with Dunn's departure.

I think that if Sheffield hits HR 500, we hope that he retires. Since he won't, he's stuck occupying the DH spot.

I think that it would be a good idea to find a SS, any SS and leave Santiago as the utility IF. I think that they should trade Thames (if possible) for Gregg?? maybe or some relief help or SS. That means having Larish in the majors next year, and I think he can contribute for sure.

Resigning Garcia would be a good move given the lack of stability in the rotation.
Verlander is the only lock there. Bonderman will be there if he is healthy and Robertson will be too if he can get his slider under control. That leaves Miner, Galarraga and Willis (and Gracia?) to battle. More than likely, Miner will become a long reliever again and his stats say that he does well in that role.

Bullpen is murky. The only one that I don't think will make it is Dolsi. Hopefully we get Gregg, Lyon or someone else to fill that spot.

I doubt Porcello makes in to MLB next year unless he does extremely well in AA next year. (I still hope he does though.)

If the Reds are going to eat the whole salary for Mags it should only take three prospects/contributors. Why would the Tigers take two fringe starters and a ss prospect when they are trying to compete next year. They need a ready right now bullpen arm, which Burton or Bray provide. This will also provide a little cash wiggle room to sign another piece if need be.

I would rather see one of Bailey/Owings, one of Burton/Bray/Massett, and one of Valaika/Stubbs. Mesoraco stays put b/c he is the only catching prospect this team has had since Bench.

The Reds should not give up both of what are still their best starting pitching prospects, one of whom will probably be the number 5 guy next year.

I doubt the Jay's would want to trade Snyder or Lind, as those two seem to be a part of their future.

Snyder will take over the 1B if either Overbay gets traded, or when Overbay's contract is finished.
Lind is more of a DH, as his defense in left just isn't very good.

In any case, since the Tigers seem to need bullpen help, I do think it's possible that the Jays are an ideal trading partner. Downs is one of the best relievers the Jays have, if not one of the best in the AL; and the Tigers are interested in getting rid of payroll. So I think it's entirely possible a Mags for Downs and McDonald trade is possible.

One can also propose a B.J. Ryan and McDonald for Magglio trade, but since the Tigers want to get rid of payroll, I don't think that will happen.

I'm not sure who would trade for Ordonez. He's still hitting well, of course; I'm not knocking him. But he's aging and expensive. The Phillies would be much better off resigning Burrell and keeping their prospects. As pointed out, the Jays have Wells, Rios, Lind, and Snider; Ordonez makes no sense for them. Somebody like the Yankees, maybe, but he'd likely be a one-year fill-in--and he has three contract years. I don't think Maggs is very moveable, all things considered. I definitely don't think you can get the high end prospects he probably deserves, given his age and contract.

The Tigers should just face reality and start rebuilding. They couldn't contend this year. What makes them think they will be able to contend in the near future? Their farm system is below average at best(meaning they don't have the prospects to trade for needs or promote to fill needs). Not to mention that they will be cutting payroll in the coming years, meaning cutting some of the only talent they have(Mags, etc.). So with that, what is going to make them into contenders?

Just face facts, and sell most of the major league talent that still have value, and rebuild

first and foremost we need a new manager and coaching staff.

i say trade maggs for pitching and a shortstop. fills 2 needs...while leaving an outfield spot for Clete Thomas and Matt Joyce.

we can also trade thames for some bullpen help, a few teams are looking for a OF Slugger. we also need to force sheffield to retire, making Carlos Guillen our everyday DH, while moving inge back to 3rd and dusty ryan as our catcher.

our lineup would look like this

1. Thomas
2. Polanco
3. Granderson
4. Cabrera
5. Guillen
6. Joyce
7. SHORTSTOP-John Mcdonald
8 Inge
9. Ryan

When you going to do the Cubs outlook?

I just don't see any market for Maggs IF the Tigers are expecting the trade partner to pick up the entire tab.

Dunn, Burrell and Manny will all put up similar offensive numbers and will cost about the same without having to give up talent in return (other than a draft pick).

"Is there any chance the Tigers trade Curtis Granderson? I'm curious, not suggesting it."

Virtually impossible, even if they had a complete firesale. His contract is still considerably team friendly and he's one of the most overlooked hitters in the game. If he stole more bases the question of him or Grady Sizemore being more valuable would be harder to say.

"If he stole more bases the question of him or Grady Sizemore being more valuable would be harder to say."

No, it wouldn't be. Grady gets on base much more, and has more XBH power. The fact that he can run, play outstanding D, and is apparently incredibly sexy is just the icing on the cake.

I think Mags is a Tiger for life. I'd rather trade Guillen if we really needed to save some $$. Then we could move Inge back to 3rd or Cabrera back to 3rd with Thames/Sheffield at 1st.
Either way, I'd like to see Santiago get more time at SS. That guy's defense is sick.

That was $3 Mil to leave Edgar, not stay. My mistake.