The Tigers inquired about Ted Lilly, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. Buster Olney reports that the sides haven’t discussed a deal in over a week, though the left-hander would be a good fit for the Tigers.
The ESPN reporters say the Cubs are communicating with a number of teams about Lilly, who is “very available.” ESPN.com’s Bruce Levine reported yesterday that teams such as the Tigers were pursuing Lilly.
The 34-year-old has a 4.07 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 this season and projects as a Type A free agent. The Tigers could use that kind of arm, since they have had inconsistent production from starters other than Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman. At 48-42 the Tigers are tied for second in the AL Central, but like the White Sox and Twins, they could use depth in their rotation.
The Tigers, who would consider adding a shortstop, have had interest in Ryan Theriot before and could inquire about him as well. Last year, the Tigers added left-hander Jarrod Washburn for the stretch run, though he didn't pitch as well as they would have hoped (7.33 ERA in Detroit).
I say if they want Lilly we force them to take Theriot as well or no deal. I’d rather see fontenot at 2nd on a daily basis.
i Like to See if the Detroit tigers Will Have ted Lilly for Adding More Starting Pitchers but Like today Please.But the Fans Of Detroit Will Like ted Lilly for the Detroit tigers Uniform.but if they Get Him there today.
What in God’s name are you talking about? And what’s with the random capitalization of words?
Ehhh.
Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot, Josh Vitters and that Japanese SS we have for Rick Porcello and Scott Sizemore and a A+ leaguer
Josh Vitters can’t hit AA ball so I’ve given up on him and waiting for basically our #1 prospect Brett Jackson
Why would you add Hak Ju-Lee as a throw away? Why not just Trade Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot for Rick Porcello? Vitters still has value (3 months of AA ball don’t determine a players career) and Sizemore would be just another one of three current second base prospects that the Cubs have (Darwin Barney, Hak Ju-Lee and Ryan Flaherty).
Hey why bother sending players at all. I’m sure Detroit would be willing to just hand over Porcello and Sizemore if you asked nicely.
His point is that the Cubs do not need Sizemore.
I do agree on Lilly + Theriot for Porcello
It would likely take a lot more than that. Lilly, Castro, Vitters maybe more like it.
You’re not getting Porcello.
//I do agree on Lilly + Theriot for Porcello//
If Dombrowski pulls the trigger on that deal, I’ll fire him myself.
“Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot, Josh Vitters and that Japanese SS we have for Rick Porcello and Scott Sizemore and a A+ leaguer”
Dave would love it if Jim gave him Hak Ju-Lee. The Cubs will not be trading him. He is very athletic and a very good prospect. Many feel HJ Lee will eventually bump Castro to 2B because he projects higher than Castro. That would be exciting.
Didn’t mean to like this. Tried to reply that the Tigers have said they aren’t going to move Porcello. I honestly don’t think they’ll trade either or Porcello or Jacob Turner
The Tigers are probably doing this just to let the Cubs know that they have interest in Lilly and doesn’t want the Cubs to take the 1st deal from another team and pooooof ,there goes the chances of the Tigers getting him.They’ll probably wait till the Trade Dead line to start the trade talks back up.I think they would include Theriot in this deal,it would make sense.
Cubs spend too much money to trade off two players in the last yr of their contract as a salary dump, that doesn’t make much sense. Send Theriot with Lilly and some money to the Mets for a few Double A arms and David Murphy. If he wins a spot next year over at first or second, consider it a win.
The nickname The Riot might not go over as well in Detroit.
I’ve been waiting for this one.
Ted Lilly does not have the stuff to pitch in the AL. The Tigers have already played 12 of the 18 games with the Twins, who tilt left handed, but Lilly couldn’t get those Twin lefties out anyway. I say Lilly is not a fit with the Tigers or any AL team.
As for Theriot, Danny Werth is already better for the minimum salary.
The Tigers hopefully learned from the Washburn debacle. They should play the season out with what they have…help is on the way down on the farm. It isn’t worth mortgaging the future trying to win the AL Central and be fed to the Yankees.
One problem – last year, the Tigers also had Porcello performing well in the bigs along with some decent starts from Galaragga. This year, the Tigers don’t quite have that depth, so I think they might have to take another chance playing the market.
Washburn was a bad move (recognized by pretty much everyone) from the get-go. Lilly has out up solid numbers, in a slight hitters’ park, for the past 3.5 years. For the Tigers, I think that’s worth the risk, as I’d put Lilly head and shoulders above Washburn v.2009.
Ted Lilly threw a 1 hitter on national TV against an American League Central team and had quality starts against both the Rangers and Mariners this season. The American League Central isn’t exactly known for raking either, considering only 1 of their teams is in the top half of the AL in runs scored (and it’s the Twins who you’ve already pointed out, they don’t play much anymore). And if you plan to counter with “look at his Blue Jay statistics” I’m going to point you at his BB/9 which has been cut in half since his time there and would give him the best control on the Tigers staff.
I’d like to see the Cubs target Daniel Fields from the Tigers…
Lilly? Meh.
exactly my point. not impressed
Bonderman has been every bit as bad as any of the Tiger starters. He’s putting up his usual below .500 winning percentage, 4.79 ERA is right on track for his career, and a 1.32 WHIP is actually a bit better than his mediocre career numbers. Scherzer is a better pitcher. Galarraga is as good, and Porcello at least has a legit shot of being a No. 2 starter. The Tigers desperately need to upgrade the rotation, but don’t count on Bonderman as one of the solutions
Porcello for a few months of Ted Lilly (w/ a high price tag) and a league average infielder seems like a lopsided trade in the Cubs favor. Lilly would help Detroit and it makes sense for the Cubs to get something for him and thin out their league average infielders…but they aren’t getting a Porcello type prospect for a utility infielder and a 4+ era pitcher who can walk in two months.
I think if the Cubs included someone like S. Marshall along with Lilly and Theriot would help even out a trade for Porcello or Sizemore quite a bit. Marshall is effective against lefties and righties and that bullpen would be straight nasty at that point, which would take additional pressure off of the starting pitchers.
There is no way that Detroit is trading Porcello unless we (Cubs) include Castro…I don’t even see Lee or Vitters as a possibility to pry Porcello away. If the Tigers are willing to part with Porcello so quickly, there must be something wrong with him (physically) or them (mentally). With Turner so far away, and who-know-what you’ll get from Scherzer, trading Porcello, in almost any scenario, makes no sense for the Tigers.
Yeah, probably still a long shot, but he isn’t even impressing at AAA right now.
I wouldn’t trade for Vitters either. Guy doesn’t know how to take a walk.
Castro ain’t going anywhere, and I wouldn’t take Porcello for him straight up. The guy has a K/9 of of about 4.5 in the MLB. That has to go up or similar to earlier this year, he will continue to get destroyed.
Bonderman consistent? Consistently bad! If I were a Cubs fan, I would also agree with Lilly and Theriot for Porcello. The Tigers would be nuts to make that trade.
If Porcello goes anywhere via trade it’ll be to Arizona.
The Tigers farm system is incredibly weak. Literally the only deal I found that I would like for the Cubs is if they sent Lilly and Theriot to Detroit for Andy Oliver and Scott Sizemore. Even then, I feel like other teams that are in on Lilly could make a better offer than that.
Really? I was kind of hoping they would get a pony..