Tigers GM Al Avila said today that the club is willing to listen to offers on even its best-known veterans, as Evan Woodberry of MLive.com reports. Still, Detroit doesn’t necessarily intend to put specific players on the market.
While the Tigers aren’t planning a “full-blown selloff by any means,” said Avila, they feel the need to “be open-minded in listening to what clubs may be interested in from us and what we can do with it.” That includes a willingness to entertain offers, should they come in, for such franchise staples as Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera (both of whom enjoy no-trade protection) — though Avila said “it would be in [the Tigers’] best interest if we could keep them and do everything that we need to do.”
What the team hopes to do, he reiterated, is embark upon a quest for youth, athleticism, and cost efficiency in its major league roster. But while that will be the new operating philosophy, the Tigers seemingly hope to accomplish a smooth transition rather than a drastic rebuild.
“Quite frankly, like I told ownership, it may not get done this winter,” said Avila. “As a matter of fact, it probably won’t get done this winter.”
Beyond Verlander and Cabrera, the Tigers have significant obligations on the books to aging (but still-productive) veterans such as Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez. The team also owes large sums to younger players like Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton, both of whom are coming off of less-than-inspiring first seasons in Detroit.
Perhaps the club’s single most obvious trade piece, though, is right fielder J.D. Martinez, who is just 29 years of age and has been one of the game’s premier power hitters over the last three seasons. While Martinez could theoretically profile as an extension target, given his age and output, Avila made clear that the organization isn’t interested in pursuing new contracts with any players this winter, as Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press tweets. With Martinez slated to reach the open market next winter, he could be a major chip for the Tigers in the coming months — or, perhaps, at the summer trade deadline.
Cabrera reunited with DD in Boston will be the major trade of the off season.
And Boston would have to give up at least 2 of its star players.
Detroit won’t take Panda, tho.
That will (almost certainly) not happen for 3 reasons:
1. Cabrera hits right handed. Boston’s lineup already leans heavily to RHs (Betts, Bogaerts, Hanley, Pedroia). So the addition of Cabrera unbalances the line even more,
2. In order to acquire Cabrera, Boston will almost certainly has to give up one of their best left handed hitter, Bradley, Jr. AND at least 2 more of Sox’s top prospects for Detroit to consider trading him. Boston has balked at trading JBJ for Sale, and it’s even less likely to trade him for older and (slowly) declining Cabrera now.
3. There are two cheaper alternatives out there for Boston to choose as Ortiz’s replacement: Beltran and Morales. DD will sign one of those guys instead.
And this helps their pitching how? Yes, Miggy is the best hitter of his generation, and they should jump at the chance to get him, but BOS led all of MLB in runs and led the AL by more than 100 more runs (CLE was #2). Yes, Ortiz is gone, but they have the cash savings from many young bats they could easily afford an overpay. They don’t need aces, they just need more consistent inning-eaters that will take away innings from Clay Buchholz and push guys like Steven Wright to the back of the rotation and not the front. Yes, it’s Dombrowski and he won’t see it that black-and-white, but adding the money and sacrificing the prospects/MLB depth that is already the best in baseball (with Ortiz in ’16) is not the direction.
Run contrary to what you believe they do need an ace or two. Just look at the playoffs , price , porcello , and the rest were ineffective in the postseason
@Toksoon – How is that contrary to what I believe? I stated they do NOT need Miggy and they need pitchers (innings-eaters) pushing out their mediocre mid-to-back of the rotation arms. If they can do that with frontline pitching, they have the farm depth to do it.
No trade to Boston
What would the SOX have to give up ?
Wouldn’t mind seeing the O’s try to acquire Martinez. His hitting would fit good in Baltimore. And they could get over his defense, the same way they did with Trumbo.
DD is king of the multi team trade and I could definitely see Detroit and Boston getting something done with another team for whoever Dombrowski wants. Miggy and DD go back a long way and trading young players and spending money is what he does well.
I don’t think Boston will have to give up much at all. Whilst Cabrera is a great hitter the back end of his contract will be painful. Fangraphs believe the contract has a slight negative value therefore Detroit might be happy to just free up some payroll!
The Tigers won’t just give him away to free up payroll. I see Victor to Boston more likely than Miggy. Victor has the better in-clubhouse presence, and only one year left on his contract. In addition, he is a switch hitter. This would open a spot for Moya to be the DH.
Don’t you think Moya will end up in right field? JD is all but gone if they’re not going to extend him, he has too much value to just let him walk at the end of the year
Miguel Cabrera is not declining yet. I see him still being able to carry a team.
The Tigers have been stating that they want to get younger, faster and improve defense for years. How they do this is use Managers who overuse veterans and go out and get players such as Prince Fielder, Victor Martinez and Justin Upton.
I see zero reason for Boston to go after Cabrera. Seems like a good way to give up the future for one big bat. Everyone is worried about replacing Ortiz, but I don’t think they’ll be able to. Or that they even necesarily need to. Sure, they need another power bat now, but it doesn’t have to be the best one in the game.
I have to agree with the people who are suggesting pitching. Even if they lost a few runs with a more mediocore power bat, they’d more than make up for the difference with better pitching.
Tigers haven’t been involved in trade talk talks involving Miggy, according to Jon Heyman.
Ugh I should check my grammar.