7:29pm: The Tigers spoke with Ramirez's agent earlier this month and haven't been in touch since, writes MLB.com's Jason Beck. The lack of communication in recent weeks shouldn't be read into too much though considering the Thanksgiving holiday.
6:41pm: The Tigers have inquired on free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated (via Twitter). The Cubs offered arbitration to Ramirez, a Type B free agent, on Wednesday.
While it's hard to pin down where Ramirez will land, we do know that he won't be back with the Cubs. Ramirez's agent, Paul Kinzer, confirmed to reporters this month that his client plans to move on this offseason.
Earlier this week, Tim Dierkes wrote that the Tigers, Twins, and Brewers could be fits for Ramirez, if they have the money. Tim could see the veteran getting as much as three years and as much as $42MM when all is said and done.
I inquired on the Tiger’s inquiry of Aramis Ramirez.
Bidding war between the Phillies and Tigers?
The “R” is for rumors.
Edit: Well if you change your post mine won’t make nearly as much sense.
Sorry, I first posted when this post just had the first sentence, no other info or links.
Please please please do it Dombrowski! It will only re-enforce my false hope that Reyes is back in Queens!
The last thing the tigers need is another slow running fly ball hitter with poor defensive skills, save your payroll DD.
The last thing the Tigers need is a .180 hitter starting at 3B next season.
@Josh, No the last thing the Tigers need is Ramirez believe me! Ramirez is bad news and if we do get him anything over 1 yr will hurt the team for yrs!!!
He’s bad news? Care to explain? It’s not like the dude is 35-40 years old.
whoever pays that clown more than $4mm per year will find a guy who likes to play between 100 & 120 games at his speed and a long term contract will bring out the really lazy AR. Look at what he did TO the Cubs!!!
trust me he is bad news!! As soon as the Cubs gave him a big long term contract he played 100-120 games a year at his speed. He is a lazy clown except when he’s looking for more MONEY!!!!
I don’t know what 1.80 hitter starting at 3B you’re talking about, but I’ll assume it was Inge. In that case when he was platooned with Betemit or Kelly and after he came back from AAA he was a much different hitter.
In addition, Ramirez didn’t put nearly as impressive numbers when he was hitting away from Wrigley. He doesn’t justify what he’ll be asking for.
What the Tigers need is someone that can hit for average and possibly serve as leadoff hitter if they are going to get away from platooning Inge with Betemit or Kelly, Ramirez is far from it.
Don’t try to jump in this situation if your not a Tiger fan, looking at the team on paper does not mean you know the team. You don’t know what we need.
I’m probably more of a Tiger fan than you are. I’m not making a case that Inge is a great hitter, I am making a case that batting him against lefties and Kelly against righties will not be that much of a difference in average and will also give you a much better defensive combo than paying for an overpriced Ramirez. I think you are the one that knows little about Ramirez and have a get rid of Inge at any expense irrational attitude.
Since there isn’t much at 3B on the market, and definitely not the type of player the Tigers need, what I would like to see is for them to swing a trade if anything. If they could wrestle Headley away from the Padres that would be ideal.
Don Kelly loses a lot of his value if he in anchored down to a specific position, even in a platoon role. His value is maximized by being able to float around the diamond from game to game being a backup at all positions and saving a roster spot that would otherwise be used by another backup.
A-Ram would be a good addition to the Tigers, provided it’s not too long of an investment. Wouldn’t want another Carlos Guillen contract to weigh down the books.
Ramirez > Kelly and Inge by a mile.
No … more like 5,000 miles.
“Don’t try to jump in this situation if your not a Tiger fan”
Classic. This is my favorite post of the day!
Haha…Yes it was. Was going to comment but didn’t want to hear…”Yanks are old, Joba sucks, etc”. Haha.
Does one need to be a Tiger fan to know that the combined platoon of 3b had a sub .700 OPS and about 15 hrs with below average defense?
yanks are old and joba sucks
see…
I’m not sure if improving your average from .170 to .197 is a “much different hitter.”
the guy from weekend at bernie’s would be an upgrade for brandon inge
But Ned Colletti GM’s for the Dodgers….
he’s going to be in the long awaited third installment to complete the trilogy
I would much rather throw that money towards J Roll, and move peralta to 3rd. When J Roll declines, he can play 2. No real prospects at middle infield to give us hope otherwise, and it’s unlikely to attempt to trade for a productive middle infielder with how valuable and scarce they are these days. No more slow, awful defenders please
hater
Haha I guess… Just imagined delmon young, miggy, V-Mart, and Ramirez clogging up those base paths… Ugh. When Johnny peralta is among the faster players in our lineup, they’d better rake.
I’d rather spend the extra $3MM and get Reyes.
More like extra 55 mil.
Not for the length of the contract. I’m not stupid.
I know you’re not, but it’s the length of the deal that would scare most clubs away from Reyes. Probably 20 mil per year for five years, because enough teams seem to be interested. A Ram probably maxes out at 3 yrs, 15 mil per. A lot easier to carry if the deal goes bad in the outer years.
There are things that I like and hate about both of them. A-ram fits in perfectly on the teams timeline because he would leave as Castellanos comes up. On the other hand, his age could cause a hefty decline and $14MM is a lot to pay for someone who may only hit .250 at the end. He is also a butcher in the field. We really don’t need another one those. Reyes, while an injury risk, gives us a true leadoff hitter, a solid defender, and an all around exciting and youthful player entering his prime. But he will be more expensive, would cost a first rounder, and like I said, he is an injury risk. But then you have to take in Comerica Park into account. Comerica Park was built for Reyes. He would have a chance to hit 25-30 tripples per year. That’s insane! Ramirez could end up being a victim of the stadium. He has shown good power the past few years in Wriggley. That is a hitters park. He might only hit 10-12 homeruns with a lot of flyouts at the warning track. Then take into consideration that Reyes is a switch hitter while Ramirez is a righty which we have a lot of. Then just slot Peralta over to third where he belongs. I know he would rather play short, but he is just going to have to accept that his arm, range, and good hands are perfect for third, not short. Go and get Prado for second. Sign Jon Rauch for the seventh and call it a perfect offseason.
1. Reyes SS
2. Prado 2B
3. Boesch RF
4. Cabrera 1B
5. Marinez DH
6. Young LF
7. Peralta 3B
8. Avila C
9. Jackson CF
Just like Jim Leyland said, the offense goes as Jackson goes. That was more toward the leadoff man. Reyes and Prado would set up Boesch, Cabrera, and Martinez for a ton of RBI’s.
This post makes way too much sense for me, but of course right when you say Reyes most Tigers fans throw up their hands and call you naive. They are going to have to come to the realization that Peralta’s range is not quite there for a short stop and its only going to slightly deter with each season. He is good when the ball is hit his way, but eventually the move is inevitable.
I’m glad someone else sees how much of a beast Reyes would be in Comerica park. The injury risk is there, but that lineup would explode with him in it. I don’t think we have what the braves are looking for to acquire Prado though.
Maybe not, but there are a few other options there too. What about Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlet, or depending on his avaiability, Alberto Callaspo. Someone with plus defense and the ability to move the runner to second. I really want Jackson batting ninth. It would give him less preasure making it more bareable if he strikes out a ton. Reyes is what it will take to push this team to the next level.
Hudson maybe, but I think the Angels would trade Izturis first before dealing Callaspo. I think in the end it will be Kelly Johnson at 2nd, and they will either go for Ramirez or possibly swing a trade for someone like Headley. Who, I think get him away from Petco and he will shine. I would love to see that, but the Padres don’t seem to be open to dealing him at the moment.
3yrs 15 mil total is more like it. With 95% incentives. He’s guaranteed 4mil the rest depends on errors made BA, OPS and OBP
Go get Prado we need a solid second or third baseman slash lead off hitter with above average speed.
Get Ramirez AND Prado and we’re set!
Get Reyes and Prado and I might cry tears of joy.
Or Johnson and Prado.
Ramirez has been on a Defensive decline the last 4 yrs and anyone can hit 20+hrs when the wind is blowing out at Wrigley, his offense is on a major decline as well.
I’m not tigers fan so I’m out of line but they were a top five offense last year, they should focus on their pitching.
If the M’s felt motivated to eat enough salary would a Figgins for D. Young deal make sense for either team? Maybe a change of scenery will help Figgins rebound and he could play a decent 3b and become their lead off hitter? Am I crazy?
yes. Figgins is done. Switch hitter who can’t hit from either side, good defender with speed to burn but absolutely no way to get on base. If the Mariners ate almost his entire contract it could be considered, but as a washington resident watching Chone Figgins makes me pretty averse to the entire idea
Just go sign him long term and see what you get!!! You deserve the punishment!!!
I inquired on your momma.
can’t get ramirez, we have castellanos in the minors and he may be ready in another year. also ramirez may want to stay in the NL and the brewers are gonna need a bat at 3rd. mcgehee’s stats went south this year. would like to see the tigers sign johnson and trade for prado. prado has some experience at 3rd. in a year or 2 either trade him or johnson and put castellanos at 3rd. that would make more sense.
He won’t be ready until about 2014 or so. No need to rush him.
There could not be better news Ramirez no longer with the Cubs and he is going to move on. Finally they can have a good 3rd. He will likely go to an AL team because he can’t field anymore, my guess he goes to Detroit, Platoon with Inge who is just as bad in the field and Inge can’t hit for s***.
The Tigers will actually get worse with Ramirez but more power to them.