Cabrera-Guillen Position Switch Upsets Inge

We haven't discussed the Miguel Cabrera-Carlos Guillen position swap here on MLBTR - on the surface it doesn't appear to have hot stove implications. However, Ken Rosenthal heard from a Major League source that Brandon Inge is "livid" that Cabrera was moved off third yet Inge still doesn't have a starting gig. Inge, 31 in May, is off to a decent start this year with a .246/.357/.439 line in 20 games. His versatility is especially valuable for the Tigers, who have multiple injury-prone starters. Trading Inge now only makes sense if a respectable reliever comes in return (even if $6.2MM...

Tigers Roster Set, No Trades Likely

The Tigers have been at the center of a number of recent trade rumors. There was the Huston Street rumor, and the Mike Wuertz rumor. But the one player that seemed the most likely to go, Brandon Inge, is still a member of the Tigers and now it appears that he will not be going anywhere in the near future. Jim Leyland was asked yesterday if there would be any last-minute deals. "My boss (general manager Dave Dombrowski) said it was OK to tell you that's the team." In fact it now looks like Inge will be the everyday center...

Cubs Outfield Situation: Crisp, Johnson, Byrd

Quite a bit of info is floating about this evening regarding the Cubs' quest to add an outfielder. Let's put it all together. SI.com's Jon Heyman names Coco Crisp, Jay Payton, Marlon Byrd, and Brandon Inge as possible targets. Inge makes the least sense given his salary and the Tigers' need for him while Curtis Granderson is out. ESPN's Jayson Stark confirms Ken Rosenthal's assertion that the Cubs are leading the pack for Reed Johnson. Stark speculates that such an acquisition could prompt the Cubs to trade Matt Murton. ESPN's Peter Gammons says Red Sox scout Allard Baird is currently...

Dodgers Scrambling for Infield Help

With veteran infielders Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent both likely to miss opening day, the Dodgers are scrambling to find themselves some backups. Ken Rosenthal says that since the Astros are unlikely to trade Mark Loretta while Kaz Matsui is out, L.A. is considering Ron Belliard of the Nationals and Esteban German of the Royals. Another possibility, Morgan Ensberg, seems unlikely, as the Yankees added him to their 40-man roster yesterday. Joe Crede of the White Sox and Brandon Inge of the Tigers are both probably too expensive. This could impact roster decisions Los Angeles will make on Monday, when...

Tigers Said To Be Targeting Wuertz; Cubs Disagree

The Detroit Tigers have some last-minute shopping left to do to shore up their bullpen. As you learned on Friday, Jon Paul Morosi noted the Tigers' interest in righty Mike Wuertz and the Cubs' fondness for Brandon Inge and Marcus Thames. Inge, it's worth noting, has seen time at catcher, third base, and all three outfield positions---and as of this spring, even shortstop. The Chicago Sun-Times, however, says Inge and Thames "make no sense for the Cubs" and that the Cubs have as of yet had no discussions with the Tigers about a deal for Wuertz involving those players. (For...

Tigers Interested In Wuertz

According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers are targeting Cubs reliever Mike Wuertz. He notes that the Cubs like Marcus Thames and Brandon Inge. Thames' inability to play center and Inge's contract could be issues though, in my opinion. Wuertz, 29, is an underrated reliever with a nasty slider. Given the state of Detroit's bullpen, he could see save chances if acquired. This was his first year of arbitration eligibility, and he settled at $860K. Wuertz is pretty far down in the Cubs' bullpen pecking order, for some reason.

Inge Unlikely For Dodgers

It figures that the Dodgers would step up their efforts to bring in a third baseman given news of Nomar's microfracture. Jon Paul Morosi says their search has intensified, but Brandon Inge is not a likely target. The Dodgers don't want to spend that kind of money. This might imply that Joe Crede is the perfect fit, but Morosi also says the Dodgers want a player capable of playing second base. Given those criteria, the Royals' Esteban German and the Nationals' Ron Belliard seem to make the most sense. Ken Rosenthal wrote on March 9th that both players had attracted...

Stark's Latest: Roberts, Fuentes, Lofton

ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new blog post jam-packed with hot stove rumors. The Cubs are getting frustrated with the Brian Roberts situation, wondering if they'll ever complete this trade. The Orioles are scouting players but still haven't given the Cubs the names they crave. I got the exact same vibe from the source who told me Jose Ceda's inclusion was never proposed by the Cubs. The Tigers and Phillies are both hunting for bullpen help; Detroit's sights are set higher than Philadelphia's. Unwanted players such as Wes Helms and Brandon Inge aren't in demand. And while Marcus Thames is...

Giants Plan To Keep Pitchers

According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants are looking to add a bat without trading pitching. The names mentioned remain Joe Crede and Brandon Inge, but the White Sox and Tigers want hurlers. The equation doesn't seem to make sense on the surface - if the Giants won't trade pitching, and they have no hitters to speak of, how are they going to make an acquisition? As we learned Thursday, the answer is that the Giants may only be looking to trade undesirable veterans. Names like Scott Williamson, Randy Messenger, and Dave Roberts have been part...

Odds and Ends: Inge, Salcedo, Corey, Nathan

I write this odds and ends post with two less wisdom teeth than I had yesterday. Looks like applesauce for dinner. Jon Heyman says the Dodgers and Tigers haven't talked lately, and doesn't see L.A. taking on Brandon Inge's $19.1MM. Aside from the standard Giants suggestion, Heyman puts on his speculation cap and wonders whether Inge could catch for Houston. What is J.R. Towles, chopped liver? This is questionable, but hey, it's a Friday. Hi5 is a popular social networking site in Central America. A reader sent me a link to this page, which may belong to future superstar kid...

Giants Scouting Crede, Inge

This morning we have reports that the Giants have recently scouted Joe Crede and Brandon Inge. Even without a decent third baseman in the house, I don't really see the point of acquiring either guy. On Sunday, the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo noted that the Giants could be less likely to acquire Crede given the Noah Lowry injury. Then on Monday, Kenny Williams mentioned that the two teams he'd discussed Crede with hadn't impressed with their offers. Williams suggested Crede could be his Opening Day third baseman, despite Josh Fields' worthiness. Inge is the other veteran third base option for...

Cafardo's Latest: Inge, Marte, Fuentes, Lohse

TUESDAY: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has an update to Cafardo's Yankees/Fuentes item. Renck says that while the Yanks have scouted Fuentes, Rockies' GM Dan O'Dowd says there's "zero chance" of a trade at this time. I imagine he wants to see a healthy Luis Vizcaino before considering it. MONDAY: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe checks in with plenty of rumors in his Sunday column. The Red Sox checked in on Brandon Inge during the Winter Meetings, but found his contract prohibitive. Most teams seem to feel the same way. The Yankees are eyeing southpaw relievers Damaso...

Odds and Ends: Loretta, German, Belliard, Baldelli

An update to the Ken Rosenthal article discussed earlier suggests that either Esteban German or Ron Belliard would be better, cheaper alternatives for the Dodgers than Joe Crede or Brandon Inge. It would take less to get Belliard or German, they're paid less, and either of them could back up Jeff Kent, 40, at second base in addition to playing third. Both players are "attracting the Dodgers' interest" according to Rosenthal. The Baltimore Sun is now reporting that the Orioles have an interest in Mark Loretta. Hopefully this is a sign that the Brian Roberts-to-Chicago saga will soon mercifully come...

Rosenthal's Latest: Crede, Willits, Rivera, Belliard

Ken Rosenthal checks in with all kinds of hot stove info. Continuing on yesterday's post regarding Joe Crede and the Dodgers , Rosenthal reports that a source close to Dodgers management explained that the team trading for a third baseman like Crede or Brandon Inge is "all about the budget and whether [owner Frank] McCourt will allow them to add money." Rosenthal continues to point out that Crede is a better deal than Inge in terms of their contracts, and that Crede could also be more attractive to Dodgers management because the White Sox might be willing to trade for...

Injuries May Revive Inge To Dodgers Talk

The Dodgers' Andy LaRoche suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb when he was hit by a pickoff throw in Friday's spring game. In the same game, Nomar Garciaparra was hit by a pitch on his right wrist. LaRoche will undergo surgery and will miss eight to 10 weeks. Garciaparra suffered no break but is in pain and will be evaluated today. If Garciaparra joins LaRoche in sick bay, the recent Brandon Inge-to-the-Dodgers rumor that was declared dead this week may be resurrected. If both LaRoche and Nomar miss significant parts fo the season, the Dodgers' already shallow infield...

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Brandon Inge

Oh Brandon Inge...Has it really only been two years since Inge belted 27 home runs and endeared himself to Tigers fans everywhere by transforming himself from a utility player into an everyday Major League third baseman? In doing so, Inge became the poster-child for the resurgent Detroit franchise that took only three years to go from 119 losses to the World Series. And now? We are certain that there are still Tigers fans out there that love Inge, but we are having a hard time finding them. Inge, who has three years and $19MM left on a contract he signed...

Rosenthal's Latest: Thames, Konerko, Ellis, Atkins

Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let's take a look. Rosenthal dissects the outfield options for the Mets, many of the names we've been speculating. He notes that the Mets' talks for Marcus Thames fizzled during the Winter Meetings. He says Paul Konerko "remains quietly available," and expresses the opinion that the Mets or Yankees could both use him. Rosenthal believes Chicago's biggest need is starting pitching. Rosenthal speculates that six years at $18MM per might be the Rockies' limit for Matt Holliday. Will the Scott Boras client demand full market value? Also, Colorado doesn't seem to have any...

Odds and Ends: Thames, Sosa, Inge, Crisp

Here's today's link roundup. MetsBlog passes along a Jon Heyman WFAN appearance tidbit. The SI.com writer said the Mets and Tigers are discussing a Marcus Thames for Jorge Sosa swap. Thames definitely fits the Mets' needs, though Sosa seems a little light for him. I did a fantasy baseball mailbag for Hardball Times. Brandon Inge tries to explain his comments about catching. John Smoltz has advice for Cole Hamels. Nice to see a popular player legitimately spending time to sign fan mail. Buster Olney says the Red Sox and A's are still discussing Coco Crisp. Olney also notes that "talent...

Tigers Look To Cubs For Relief

According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "the Tigers have had general discussions with the Chicago Cubs about acquiring bullpen help." Detroit's pen has dealt with all kinds of injuries this year. Morosi implies that Brandon Inge could be a fit for the Cubs if he could prove a capable center fielder. Seems a long shot though. In any case, Ryan Dempster could be a possible fit for Detroit. He's set to earn a hefty $5.5MM this year and doesn't seem to have a clear place on the Cubs' staff. Neither does Jason Marquis, but he's not...

Dodgers Not Interested In Inge?

TODAY: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times shoots this one down, citing the large amount of money owed to Inge. SATURDAY: The Dodgers put in a call to the Tigers asking about Brandon Inge, according to Danny Knobler. Both Joe Torre and Larry Bowa are pushing for Inge, who would play third base in LA. Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche have been jockeying for the position but the Dodgers aren't sold on either as a solution just yet. Inge is set to earn $19.1MM over the next three seasons. The Dodgers definitely have salary dump candidates in Nomar, Juan Pierre,...

Odds and Ends: Lowry, Mantei, Inge

Link time! The White Sox had a scout watching Noah Lowry's disaster yesterday. Maybe that affected him. Todd Zolecki says Ruben Amaro Jr. is the frontrunner for the Phillies' GM job next year, with Mike Arbuckle the other main candidate. Meanwhile, Bob Ford thinks the Phils should've paid $200K for Cole Hamels' happiness. Looks like Matt Mantei's comeback attempt may come to an end. Despite Jim Leyland's comments, you have to think Dave Dombrowski will troll the market for relievers. Leyland also talked about how he's not going to force Brandon Inge to catch. Jeff Sackmann discusses some clubs that...

Odds and Ends: Ponson, Inge, Papelbon

Let's round up some Monday morning links. The Cardinals are taking another look at Sidney Ponson. Insert your own punchline in the comments. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun could see the O's making a minor trade for a veteran second baseman if they acquire Ronny Cedeno but not Eric Patterson in a Brian Roberts deal with the Cubs. Brandon Inge is trying his best to talk his way out of town. The Dodgers' recently reported nibble hasn't been publicly shot down, so that's a plus. South Side Sox thinks speedy infielder Eugenio Velez is the type of player the...

Odds and Ends: Choo, Inge, Lohse, Francona

Let's round up some rumors and links. Not only is Shin-Soo Choo out of options, but he's recovering from Tommy John surgery and may have to join the South Korean military. Brandon Inge sat out a demanding drill on Friday, causing Tom Gage to wonder if trade talks are ongoing. Dave Dombrowski spoke on the topic recently, saying all the right things about Inge. Kyle Lohse is not interested in a minor league deal or playing in another country. He's still waiting by the phone though. Funny anecdote involving J.P. Ricciardi's son. Terry Francona was extended through 2011, with club...

Odds and Ends: Perez, Jones, Howard, Burnett

Let's round up today's linkage. No more long-term discussions with Oliver Perez and the Mets. Andruw Jones already wants to talk extension with the Dodgers. The Cardinals are not likely to make anymore acquisitions. In my view the team has question marks in right field, the middle infield, and the rotation. Here's a look at their MLB.com depth chart. By the way, could Ryan Franklin be a league average starter? They could try it if the current options don't pan out. Jim Salisbury thinks the Ryan Howard contract situation is a nonstory. I think this is partially because (and I...

Odds and Ends: Hillenbrand, Tsao, Uehara

Here are some random bits and pieces to hold us over until front offices re-open... Shea Hillenbrand has only received one inquiry this winter - from the Giants. He probably won't be earning $6MM again. Hillenbrand posted a .599 OPS in 267 ABs for the Angels and Dodgers this year. I thought perhaps that was one of the worst performances of the decade for guys with 250+ ABs. However it's only the 49th worst since 2000. Homer Bush's 2000 takes the cake - a .524 OPS for the Blue Jays in 297 ABs. The Royals inked Chin-Hui Tsao to a...