Judging from what Jim Leyland told MLB.com's Jason Beck, Magglio Ordonez's 2010 season may well be over. Ordonez has been sidelined since he fractured his right ankle in a July 24 game against Toronto, and while the veteran outfielder is now out of his cast and on crutches, his best-case diagnosis is at least two more weeks on the DL. As Beck hears from Detroit head trainer Kevin Rand, running puts added stress on the fracture, so it's a risk to bring Ordonez back until his injury is fully healed. What with the Tigers having fallen out of the AL Central race, there's also no pressing need to get Ordonez back in the lineup.
As MLBTR's Zach Links reported when the injury occurred, the fractured ankle was particularly costly for Ordonez not just because it cut short a solid season and all but ended the Tigers' playoff hopes (Detroit is 8-18 since July 24), but also because it impacts Ordonez's future. The injury ended any chance Ordonez had of reaching the vesting option that would have guaranteed him a $15MM contract for next season. Ordonez had to reach 135 starts or 540 plate appearances this season, or a combined 270 starts or 1.080 PAs in 2009-10 — the injury left him with 71 starts and 365 PAs in 2010 and 173 starts/883 PAs over the two-year span.
The question now is, did Ordonez's fateful slide against the Blue Jays also end his stay in Detroit? Though Ordonez has been very productive (.874 OPS wearing the gothic D) and relatively healthy over his six seasons in Motown, he also turns 37 in January. As Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and Detroit's own Johnny Damon have showed us in recent years, the market for aging outfielders starts much lower than Ordonez's $15MM club option.
Detroit has a lot of payroll coming off the books this winter, and thus could choose to spend some of that money on a top free-agent outfielder or DH rather than fill those spots with aging options like Ordonez or Damon. That said, while it seems likely the Tigers will decline their club option, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club bring Ordonez back on a one-year, $7-$8MM contract that includes an option year and incentives. It would be a solid gesture for a player who has been a team leader on and off the field.
If the Tigers don't pursue him, a similar contract will no doubt be waiting for Ordonez with another club. Given that Ordonez had a .303/.378/.474 slash line before his injury, he could do for a new lineup similar to what Vlad Guerrero has done for Texas this season.
Maybe, in order to get more money and years on the market, he should prove his health by playing winter ball. I have confidence that Ordonez can get a deal he wants by simply negotiating because of his track record, but with the market and recent players who have been denied a big deal because of injuries, he might best be served by playing winter ball and regaining strength ala Conor Jackson…
The problem is Conor Jackson can’t hit anymore. He is headed down the same road Garret Atkins is already down.
I feel bad for Magglio, not because he is going to miss out on the extra money, but because he was having a bounce back season and the Tigers are missing his presence in the lineup. I hope everything works out for Magglio, either way I’m pretty sure he will get paid more money then I will ever see.
He was a favorite here in Detroit, unfortunate that the Tiger’s playoff hopes ended with his injury. Guillen will most likely be relegated to the DH role next season, as it’s been shown if he plays the field he gets injured.
That would leave only the corner outfield spots for Magglio to play, and Boesch gets one of them. I would hope the Tigers go for Crawford or Werth to fill up the other, or I hope they could even trade Boesch for an impact bat at shortstop this offseason, which would also leave a place for Magglio to play.
yeah boesh had a good 3 or 4 months he strikes out just bout every ab so he could be a good trade chip for the tigers to swing a trade for like a hanley ramierez or someone like that
hahahaha only if boesch were the worst chip traded.
Magglio should be a fall back plan for the Tigers at this point.
You really think the Marlins are going to trade Hanley Ramirez. He just signed a five year contract and the Marlins are opening a new park 2013.
Hanley and Josh Johnson aren’t going anywhere until at least 2014 or 2015.
You really think anyone is going to want Boesch after teams have exposed his weaknesses. He could be a throw in, but NO team would move a Hanley caliber talent in a deal where a Boesch caliber player is the center piece.
He has as much trade value as Chris Davis does for my Rangers. Teams would take them on waivers, but they would NEVER give up anything of worth for these strikeout machines.
i meant for like a package the includes jacob turner and boesh and andy oliver and 1 or 2 more prospects
I wouldn’t sell the farm for a shortstop with subpar defense. The guy projects to be playing somewhere other than shortstop in the near future.
Like I said, he has signed a long term contract to stay in Florida. They are about to open a new Ballpark. Just because you guys got Cabrera from the fish, does not mean they are going to give you Hanley. And they did GIVE you Cabrera, that was a joke of a deal.
The only reason you Tiger fans even speculate is because Hanley and Miggy are friends. But it ain’t going to happen. The fish won’t be fleeced again.
Ramirez is under contract in Florida until 2014. He’s not going anywhere, plus the marlins are loaded at outfield so I don’t see them wanting Boesch.
Let’s see. Last year Mags was sitting at 260/330/343 for the first half. He was posting awful numbers defensively and was clogging up the basepaths. The Tigers could have sat him or traded him. No question about it. There were better options out there. Instead they foolishly played him. He did rebound nicely (notwithstanding the injuries), but ultimately the team failed and missed the playoffs.By sitting or trading him the Tigers would have saved $15m this year. And while Maggs had a solid ’10 campaign, this injury is really devastating. Half the season lost. When all is said and done he will have provided 4 WAR over the past 2 seasons while earning $33m. I get being loyal but this whole deal was bungled so badly. And it wasn’t just this last year either. The signing, overall, has been less than stellar. He’s been paid $90m while contributing $73m worth of value. And even that is misleading. He had a monster 2007 season where $34m of his total value came from. Take that one year away and you have a guy who averaged $8m in value a year while getting paid an average of $15m.Great guy but the Tigers owe him nothing. In fact, I would argue that Maggs should be willing to come back on a team friendly deal as a way to pack Detroit back for sticking with him through his putrid first half of 09 (and letting his option vest).
Remember, Maggs wife was suffering from cancer at the beginning of last season… he couldn’t be with his wife/kids, as he had to play. The day she went into remission, he hit .400 for the rest of the season. He was there physically, not mentally. That is why Mr. I is being so loyal.
If Vlad declines his 2011 mutual option I wouldn’t mind seeing Mags come to my Rangers in a DH role.
He is one of the best hitters in the league vs. LHP. We struggled vs. LHP all season.
The fact that Werth is only having so much success in a small ballpark like Citizens Bank, will make me think he ain’t worth a dime in a park like Comerica. He’d be better off tearing up that Green Monster in Fenway.
I agree. Werth is very streaky too and Comerica is not friendly to righthanders in general.
My gut tells me the Tigers will just pick up his option for 2011 and work on other problems during the off season. Lets face it, without Mag’s and a slumping Bosch, the Tigers line up really does not have a lot of teeth. Yes, you probably could void the option and sign him too less money, but you run the risk of him resigning with another team for bigger money AND not signing a premium free agent to take his place. The Tigers have a lot of questions for 2011 (like who’s your 5th starter, who’s at 3B, who’s playing SS, who’s your “back-up” catcher and the “let’s get more bullpen help” call will be made too) and frankly, unless the Tigers try and take over the free agent market I don’t see Mag’s $15 million dollar option as a huge cost impediment for the Tigers in 2011. The other thing is Mags is ok with playing the DH roll whereas Dunn or a Crawford might not be so open to the idea. So if Mag’s leaves, your not getting Crawford to play right and Dunn to play DH. My money is on pay the man his money, keep his bat in the lineup for 2011 and spend your remaining money and time trying to fix the other problems because if you get too cute, he can leave and he might look good in a White Sox’s or Twins uniform for 2011 and I don’t like that idea too much either…
Not a chance the tigers pick up magglio’s option. That’s crazy talk.
Respectfully I disagree with you, if you don’t pick up Magglio’s option, then his agent will wait out in the free agent market for someone to give money and years (there are teams that would be happy too) while the Tigers try and outbid Boston and New York for the top free agents. The best part about that scenario is that the Tigers could lose out on Crawford, Worth, Dunn AND still lose Magglio because they didn’t pick up his option and he signs somewhere else. In addition, any trades the Tigers make may involve the Tigers giving up young outfielders currently on the roster and having a veteran productive bat like Magglio’s protecting Miguel Cabrera in the lineup will be insanely important. The Tigers are always free to swing a deal in 2011 to trade Magglio to a contender if disaster strikes later next year but you can’t trade him if you don’t have him as a player (I tried it in fantasy baseball, it doesn’t work and you get other players mad at you). Basically, money will not be a problem for the Tigers this off season but finding the talent will be. Why shoot yourself in the foot before you start the off season race? If I could crystal ball it and say, sure, the Tigers will get Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford for RF and Prince Fielder to DH, then yea, maybe we should dump Magglio and his $15 million to be able to afford that. But basically, the Tigers have a lot to do for the off season so why not shorten the shopping list and pay Magglio the money and move on to other positions to fill. To me it’s crazy not to pick up his option. Your free to disagree, but why tempt fate and see if he re-signs with some other team when you can afford to keep him?
Magglio was on pace for a .310 plus average, 20 plus home runs, and around 100 RBI when he went on the DL this season. Other than the first half of 2009, he’s been a very productive hitter in the 3 hole, and he won’t be easy to replace.
This is not necessarily a question of whether the Tigers bring back Ordonez at a discounted salary OR replace him with a high priced free agent, it’s a matter of getting Ordonez production PLUS Damon’s .364 OBP PLUS a big bat to protect Cabrera. That’s a 2, 3, and 5 hitter, plus a front line pitcher. No fear, though, the Tigers have a full $ 75 million in expiring (almost all bad) contracts coming off the payroll after this season.
I think they’ll have about 50 to spend, but a lot of holes to fill.
Also, just for fun, anybody look at Magglio Ordonez career stats against say hall of famer Al Kaline?