As the Tigers prepare to face the A's in the deciding game of their ALDS series, here's the latest from the AL Central…
- The Tigers "had a de facto deal" with Yoenis Cespedes last winter, reports Peter Gammons for MLB.com, before the Tigers instead chose to sign Prince Fielder. Cespedes, of course, signed with the A's instead and now could play a role in the end of Detroit's season.
- Brennan Boesch wasn't on the Tigers' playoff roster and his "days likely are numbered in Detroit," writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press. Boesch hit a disappointing .240/.286/.372 last season and will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter, so the Tigers might not tender him a contract. Sharp hints that Rick Porcello could also be non-tendered (Porcello is arb-eligible for the second time), though with so many pitching-needy teams in baseball, the Tigers might be better served by dealing Porcello than cutting him outright.
- The reported out clause in Terry Francona's Indians contract that allows the manager to leave if GM Chris Antonetti or president Mark Shapiro are fired is not a big deal, opines Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Shapiro and Antonetti owe their futures with the Tribe to Francona" already, Pluto argues, so if the team continues to struggle, a total change in front office and field management is the logical next step.
- The Indians are much more likely to pursue upgrades through the trade market than through free agency, tweets Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
- “It’s better for me and my family (to stay with the Royals)," Joakim Soria tells Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. "My wife is pregnant. I’m just focusing on my rehab. The most important thing is for me to get healthy. After that, everything else will come together." Dutton says that Royals team officials "privately acknowledge" that Soria's $8MM option for 2013 will be bought out within three days of the World Series ending, though both sides are interested in reaching a new contract.
No one is dropping Kid Ricky. His advanced stats say he’s still developing into a solid #4 that keeps the ball in the park. He’s a great trade chip…he’s 23 with just shy of 4 full seasons in the league, no injury history, good mechanics…he needs to mature and get an out pitch and he’ll be closer to a #3…..Colorado “not taking offers but listening” on Dexter Fowler, who is under control the same number of years as Rick? Yah, that’s a good core of a deal. We’ll give you Boesch if you throw in a good craft brew…
Porcello is horrible. There won’t be a Porcello for Fowler deal. Teams hit .310 off Porcello this year and he’s gotten progressively worse every season.
actually his advanced stats have gotten better every year…he suffers badly from being a contact based GB pitcher with 3 fire hydrants and a loose cannon behind him
Which is why I think the Tigers should trade him now. He could be good for another team, not us. Not with Miggy/Prince on the corners
i would hate to see boesh and pocello go because i can see boesh having a turn around season and i dont no why but i like porcello but yes he should be traded because of our defensive is what made him look bad and he could do better with another team
The Tigers might be slightly overpaying to keep Boesch through arb, but if he’s non-tendered he will become one of the best low cost signings of the offseason wherever he goes and make the Tigers look terrible.
Boesch could be a trade chip to someone like PIT or CHI that needs cost controlled situations in the OF that have youth and upside….good lefty reliever may be fair deal…
I know fans of teams throw out some ridiculous deals, but what about porcello for Dee Gordon? The Dodgers would get a young pitcher with upside who could benefit from a NL change and actually having defenders behind him, and the Tigers get a ton of speed on the bases and some great fielding up the middle. Obviously some prospects would be thrown in but no one huge, thoughts?
I don’t see Gordon as that big of an upgrade over Hernan Perez in the system….mmm…..maybe but I doubt it.
Sir that may be the most realistic internet post trade in history! I like the idea of a Porcello/Gordon deal with Vmart back for the next 2 years adding speed and defense is the way to go.
I wonder if Porcello would benefit with Toronto’s superb infield defense. I sure would like to see.
yea and maybe trade oliver in a deal with procello because our defesive really made the kid look bad
Provided the Tigers re-sign Sanchez…
Not that it would happen, but I would offer Porcello, Oliver, and Peralta to KC for Alcides Escobar. Royals have more young SS’s in their system – Peralta could bridge that for a year. There is no room for Oliver in the starting rotation. Maybe throw in Boesch (change of scenery). Would have to overpay since KC is in the same division, so you might have to throw in another chip.
yes we should trade porcello and sign sanchez because our team really made porcello look bad with our poor defense but i would really hate to see boesh goo because i see him having a turn around season really soon andd he wont be that much money to keep him in