The Tigers have already locked up one infielder (Brandon Inge) before the start of the free agency period, and now they may be on the verge of re-signing another. Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that Detroit is "expected" to spend $0.25MM to buy out Jhonny Peralta's $7MM option for 2011 and instead work out a two-year contract with the shortstop. Morosi predicts Peralta's new deal will be worth "a little less" than the $11.5MM that Inge will earn over the two guaranteed years of his contract.
Peralta had a .703 OPS in 2010, including a .253/.314/.396 line in 242 plate appearances as a Tiger. He provides solid power from the shortstop position, which is a big plus on a Detroit team that didn't generate much pop beyond Miguel Cabrera and the possibly-departing Magglio Ordonez. Without Peralta, the Tigers would be forced to explore the very thin shortstop market for a replacement that would've very likely been a downgrade.
Morosi also mentions that Peralta's pending return to Detroit puts an end to any thought of Michigan native Derek Jeter suiting up for his home-state team if he somehow couldn't reach an agreement with the Yankees.
If Peralta plays anything remotely similar to how he played the last two seasons in Cleveland, he’s the downgrade! The Tigers are gambling that they’re getting the player that decided to show up for two months after he got traded to Detroit, rather than the player he’s been for two years that led Cleveland to give him away to a division rival and pay his full salary just to be rid of him. A minus 5.6 at the plate and a minus 3.8 in the field is pretty difficult to downgrade from. I would much, much prefer if the Tigers had Peralta for one season, or one plus an option, because he clearly needs to be motivated to play.
A minus 5.6 and a minus 3.8 what? You can’t just throw numbers out there an expect everyone to know what you’re talking about. Where and how did you get those numbers and what do those numbers represent?
I dont get how you can possible say that Peralta didnt show up or was unmotivated to play. You would think everyone would be motivated to play but look at the team he played on. Cleavland was a great team in 2007 and that had some great players. Pronk completely fell off the table and Sizemore has been hurt every year. They traded vmart, lee, blake and everyone else to go younger and cheaper. He really doesnt have a lot of protection or motivation in the lineup aside from Choo. Wasnt it just a couple years ago that the Indians romped us? People are complaining about who we sign because of their numbers, no lineup outside the yankees are gunnah have people hitting close to 300 1-9 and hitting 25+ homers. I would say Peralta is a better choice than Everett. If we can add a couple other hitters in the lineup to protect Cab then Peralta doesnt seem so bad. When our protection went down, the whole team went down. Boesch, Inge, Ordonez, Guillen either being hurt or losing production. Depending on other moves inge and Peralta for 10 mil a year together beats inge for 1 year 10 mil.
if they bring two of his best buds in, Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee, that might motivate him more
Downgrade from what? There is basically no free agent market for shortstops this year and the only shortstop I could possibly see being traded that would be a big upgrade is Jose Reyes. It would be very doubful if a deal for Reyes could be reached given that the mets may not be willing to part with him and that other teams could probably offer more in prospects for him than the tigers. Peralta has 20+ homer power if he can play a somewhat acceptable defensive shortstop still he is worth it.
If Peralta is no better than he was with Cleveland for the past two seasons, he is an overall downgrade from Santiago, especially defensively. I certainly hope that the Tigers are getting the guy that decided to show up after the trade, and not the guy that went AWOL the past two seasons before the trade.
The guy who showed up after the trade? You mean the day after the trade? Because his numbers with Detroit weren’t very good either – almost the same that he had while in Cleveland.
With Cleveland – .246 AVG / .308 OBP / .389 SLG
With Detroit – .253 AVG / .314 OBP / .396 SLG
Take away his miraculous day 1, and he didn’t do much.
EXACTLY!
Guy was horrible offensively in Detroit. Did hit a few HRs.
Then again, so did Jayson Nix in Cleveland. Peralta did pick a good time to go on a small homer streak. Went from probably only getting about $1M a year to a 2 year deal.
Good for him though. Always liked Peralta in Cleveland.
EXACTLY!
Guy was horrible offensively in Detroit. Did hit a few HRs.
Then again, so did Jayson Nix in Cleveland. Peralta did pick a good time to go on a small homer streak. Went from probably only getting about $1M a year to a 2 year deal.
Good for him though. Always liked Peralta in Cleveland.
Take your pick…
Geoff Blum – .267/.321/.356
Orlando Cabrera – .263/.303/.354
Juan Castro – .194/.237/.233
Craig Counsell – .250/.322/.319
Bobby Crosby – .220/.294/.298
Adam Everett – .185/.221/.247
Alex Gonzalez – .250/.294/.447
Cristian Guzman – .266/.311/.337
Jerry Hairston Jr. – .244/.299/.353
Cesar Izturis – .230/.277/.268
Julio Lugo – .249/.298/.282
Nick Punto – .238/.313/.302
Edgar Renteria – .276/.332/.374
Miguel Tejada – .269/.312/.381
Juan Uribe – .248/.310/.440
Unless you think Reyes and Jeter are viable options (I don’t).
The guy who showed up after the trade? You mean the day after the trade? Because his numbers with Detroit weren’t very good either – almost the same that he had while in Cleveland.
With Cleveland – .246 AVG / .308 OBP / .389 SLG
With Detroit – .253 AVG / .314 OBP / .396 SLG
Take away his miraculous day 1, and he didn’t do much.
Tigers need to sign Dunn, Ordonez, and try to trade for Uggla now.
That would be a hell of a lineup, actually, and it wouldn’t be impossible.
Jackson
Boesch
Cabrera
Dunn
Uggla
Ordonez
Peralta
Inge
Laird
Drop Laird for Avila or a different catcher (Buck?) then you’re right. But I don’t buy the Dan Uggla acquisition. Dan’s a great player but second base seemed to be manned, for better or worse by Rhymes, Sizemore, Guillen (whenever he gets back), and Raburn to give him spot starts at an already overcrowded position.
Fair point. It would be difficult to acquire Uggla anyway without paying through the nose. Buck, on the other hand, would certainly be a great addition – move Ordonez to the 5-spot, slot Buck in at 6th, and use a Raburn/Sizemore platoon at 2nd. A couple of acquisitions and the Tigers could be contenders, for sure.
Dunn is a tough sell. He has said numerous times that he doesnt want to DH. So while it would be a good acquisition i just dont know that he would sign there because there is no option to play the field even on a part time basis.
I like the Uggla idea but odds are FLA would ask for either Turner or Porcello as a centerpiece plus at least 2 more very good prospects. So thats probably out.
Buck makes sense but dont expect the power numbers to come with him. BIG difference between hitting in Rogers Centre and Comerica.
Ordonez helps at the right price, so add him in with Buck, a lower cost option at DH perhaps a guy like Branyan, and a corner OF through a trade (Corey Hart or maybe even Nelson Cruz if he becomes available) unless an Uggla trade is possible without giving up too much
Have Dunn and Ordonez split time between DH and LF. Maybe a 70/30 split favoring ordonez. Jackson has a ton of range in left field so him playing a corner outfield spot for the tigers wouldn’t be quite as bad as it would be to have him in the field for most teams.
Need to fix the pitching before they are contenders though…..
It’s not that far off. Many teams would love to have a perennial 1-2-3 in place like Verlander, Scherzer, and Porcello. The bullpen needs a lot of work though.
That’s not a perennial 1-2-3. Verlander is a legit Ace but Scherzer and Porcello still have a ways to go before you call them 2 and 3 guys.
Heck, if you’re doing that I could say that Justin Masterson is a legit #2 or 3 guy. Had a great FIP and put up better numbers than Porcello this year (as a SP rookie no less).
Tigers need someone behind Verlander or they’ll finish in 3rd place (if they’re lucky) in the Central again.
I mean, a ton of teams would take Scherzer and Porcello as their 2 and 3…..they’re called non-contenders though. No legit contender would be better off with those two occupying those slots in the rotation.
IMO, the bigger FA target should be a guy like Pavano. Gives you innings, knows te central, showed how well he can pitch in a pitcher friendly park. Won’t cost a ton. Verlander, Pavano, Scherzer, Porcello is a 1-4 that could at least challenge for the central. Let AG and the young guys battle for the 5th spot then.
i’d say scherzer is a legit ace now, look at his second half split, unbelievable.
Definitely wouldn’t bat Boesch 2nd and ya Laird is for sure gone. It’ll more likely be Raburn in left. Gasp…
Raburns a good player, consistently underrated
Do you watch him every day? He’s a streaky bat that is awful at every defensive position you put him at. Hard to watch.
he played decent at 2b from what I saw
Jason Beck says no deal is imminent, but they’re not picking up the option, via Twitter.
Don’t sign Peralta, there has to be someone better available by trade.
Might not be one for a good price.
Might not be one for a good price.
Don’t sign Peralta, there has to be someone better available by trade.
As I’ve been saying for 3 months now, it made zero sense to pick up Peralta’s option.
Worst case, you’ll get a 1st round sandwich pick for him.
No you won’t. He’d accept arb if you offered it to him, sticking the Tigers with a big one-year deal for a very mediocre SS.
And if he accepts arbitration, he’ll cost LESS than his $7M option.
He only made $4.6M this year….he had a horrific year at the plate, he won’t get a 50% increase. The buyout is only $250K too.
As I’ve said numerious times, even if you do give him a 35% raise in arby (even that is pushing it)….you’ll be paying him $6.2M in 2011….add in the buyout and it STILL costs LESS than his option.
Odds are the most Peralta would get in 2011 is $5.5M in arbitration though (2 horrific years at the plate). Sounds like they are willing to offer close to that for 2 years so it’s not a bad deal.
Tigers would be absolute idiots to pick up his option.
Doesn’t look like they are going to pick up his option Hermie. Settle down.
And rightfully so. If they dont work out an extension soon though they will be offering arby. Makes no sense not too.
As I’ve been saying for 3 months now, it made zero sense to pick up Peralta’s option.
Worst case, you’ll get a 1st round sandwich pick for him.
Another thing worth noting. Victor Martinez is good friends with Ex-Indian Jhonny Peralta as is Cliff Lee. Would be interesting to see if all three wind up in Detroit next year though I know Cliff Lee is doubtful.
Victor Martinez is another Venezuelan like Miggy, Carlos Guillen and Magglio (if he comes back) too, might be a bonding aspect they share.