The Tigers are considering signing first-base coach Omar Vizquel to play shortstop for them — or not, as ESPN's Jayson Stark reports. But given their shortstop issues, they've discussed it, or at least joked about the possibility of signing the 46-year-old. Vizquel "could probably handle it," says manager Brad Ausmus. "I don't know if he could play 150 games. But he could probably be a platoon shortstop if he got himself in shape. He certainly still has the hands." Here are more notes from around the big leagues.
- The Braves' starting pitcher injuries have put them in a tough spot, but they've proven adept at working their way out of problems like these, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman writes. GM Frank Wren expresses confidence that the Braves can recover from the losses of Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy. The Braves recently signed Ervin Santana to a one-year deal to patch the hole in their rotation. "Slowly but surely we're getting Santana, [Mike] Minor and [Gavin] Floyd. Then we're back to pretty good depth and pretty good strength," Wren says. Minor and Floyd are working their way back from injury. "By getting Santana, we were able to make the most out of a tough situation."
- J.D. Martinez is optimistic that his release by the Astros today will lead to more opportunities elsewhere, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. "I feel like they have a lot of guys coming up, and if there's not room for me to get at-bats and not room for me to play, it's best to let me go and not try to hold me back, and I commend them for that and I thank them for that," says Martinez.
This is the part I liked in the Jason Stark article:
When we asked their manager, Brad Ausmus, Saturday morning if he’d given any thought to an Omar Vizquel comeback, Ausmus actually uttered these three words:
“We talked about it.”
Vizquel should try it. Would be an incredible PR move with no Downside (other than his extra salary… and maybe an error or two).
A better out of the box move would be to trade Verlander for Jeter. At least put out that trade possibility. Would the Yankees do it?
If the Tigers make the move, they can give the exact same contract to Scherzer which he would likely accept right now.
Captain Intangible could then lead his home state team to a title in his last year and get two statues/plaques (one in Comerica Park and one in Yankee Stadium).
You’d better be trolling.
I was sort of kidding… but if Scherzer could sign the Verlander deal now… I think it might work for both teams.
Tigers cannot afford both of them, and will likely loose Scherzer for just a Draft pick.
Yankees will value Verlander a lot more than a “victory tour” for Jeter. Just have him do the victory tour after the Tigers win the WS.
Not sure if still trolling…
As a Yankees fan, I’m used to reading awful trade proposals in comments sections, and Verlander-for-Jeter in 2014 is either first-tier insanity or championship trolling. But what makes this truly incomprehensible is that it sounds like you’re pushing for this as a Tigers fan.
… Ok you are right. Just give the Tigers a couple of good prospects to make it fair.
… Jeter’s marketing value to Tigers would go through the roof and they cannot afford Verlander AND Scherzer AND Miggy longterm.
Would you give up Jeter being a Yankee for his whole career to get a 31 year old Verlander?
Of course. In a heartbeat. I don’t care about the farewell tour, frankly I’m already annoyed with it. Derek Jeter has only slightly more defensive value than a Derek Jeter Fathead decal, and maybe it’s rust but he sure looks done at the plate.
Would you care at all about seeing Jeter play his final season in a Tigers uniform? His connection with the Yankees dynasty era is his only draw at this point.
Once again, Derek Jeter would have to approve this “troll” trade idea, and of course, there’s no way he’d do that in his last season.
Horrible trade for the Tigers- hope you’re joking. But, if the Tigers would be dumb enough to propose that, it would honestly be interesting to see if the Yankees would trade 1 year of a life long Yankee captain for a super star with multiple years of control…
Even if we did live in a reality where the would even be considered, Jeter is a 10/5 guy so no way would he accept a trade in his last season. Doesn’t really warrant talking about though, I feel slightly bad for even adding to the conversation.
OK. I was kidding re: Verlander… The commissioner would likely reject it as unfair.
However, hypothetically what would it take for the Tigers to get Jeter for one year? … Both from the standpoint of the player(s) they would have to trade AND from the standpoint of Jeter agreeing to the trade?
Boy, I bet all that joking around makes the guys they actually have on the team feel great about themselves….or not.
When Dombrowski says “internal options” I guess he means literally everyone on the Detroit payroll.
Poor Stephen Drew. Tigers make this move and Drew loses out on a possible roster spot to a guy who, biologically, is old enough to be his dad.
Sadly having kids at age 15 isn’t rare.
I’d kind of like to see Vizquel come back as a super utility guy and play a couple of games per week, if he feels like he could handle it. The guy was always decent at SS and one of the better clubhouse presences anyway during his long career. Kind of worrisome with him as the super utility guy and whomever ultimately wins the job probably not being all that good could wind up with Omar playing more often.
Nostalgia time? I remember Minnie Minosa getting some AB’s with the Chisox 2 years as a coach in the late 70’s and then Frank Robinson was the player manager for the Indians several years in the mid 70’s.
Any other player coaches since then?
Pete Rose.
What’s Julio Franco doing?
What happens if something happens to Avila? Does Ausmus break out the catching gear and become player-manager?
I think this is a joke that is being overplayed. There’s not a chance in you-know-where that Omar is called upon to play again.
It’s hard to believe that the Tigers don’t have a better option within the system, or at the very least, a ham sandwich to trade to another team for a suitable utility MI that can fill the role better than a retired coach.