Tigers Rumors

Quick Hits: Clemens, Tigers, Soriano, Mets, Dodgers

By Mike Axisa | December 15, 2012 at 11:38pm CDT

Agent Randy Hendricks dismissed the possibility of Roger Clemens pitching in the Mexican League, reports ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (all Twitter links). "He is not going to Mexico no matter how many articles they run for publicity,'' said Hendricks, who also said Clemens only signed with the Sugarland Skeeters this summer so he could play with his son Koby close to home. Here's the latest from around the league as Saturday turns into Sunday…

People with the Tigers are still "fairly certain" owner Mike Ilitch won't be talked into signing Rafael Soriano, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). He mentions that Ilitch was the driving force behind the Anibal Sanchez deal.
The Mets do not figure to get outfield help in a potential R.A. Dickey trade, and Joel Sherman of The New York Post says (on Twitter) the team will just patch things up with cheap free agents or trades.
Sherman notes that the impending Dickey trade and the James Shields trade show that the cost for high-end pitching is very steep (Twitter links). The Zack Greinke deal shows how steep the price can be in free agency.
Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times has a breakdown of the $2+ billion Guggenheim Baseball Management paid for the Dodgers. Magic Johnson kicked in $50MM while three others contributed $100MM apiece.

Angels In Contact With Tigers About Rick Porcello

By Mike Axisa | December 15, 2012 at 9:21pm CDT

The Angels have been in contact with the Tigers about Rick Porcello, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. The Pirates, Padres, Rangers, Phillies, Twins, and Royals also have interest in the right-hander, though Knobler says Detroit doesn't have interest in Pittsburgh closer Joel Hanrahan.

Drafted 23rd overall in 2007, the 23-year-old Porcello zoomed to the big leagues after just one season in the minors. He owns a 4.55 ERA with 5.0 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 120 starts and 691 2/3 innings. His 52.3% ground ball rate helps make up for the lack of strikeouts. Porcello earned $3.1MM in 2012 and projects to earn $4.7MM in his second trip through arbitration this winter. He's a Super Two and will be eligible for free agency after 2015.

The Tigers re-signed Anibal Sanchez a few days ago, rounding out a stellar front-four that includes also Justin Verlander, Doug Fister, Max Scherzer. Porcello and Drew Smyly are the front-runners for the fifth starter's spot. The Angels have acquired Tommy Hanson and signed Joe Blanton this winter, but they're still looking for rotation depth behind Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson.

AL Central Notes: Royals, Francoeur, Indians, Perez

By Zachary Links | December 15, 2012 at 3:55pm CDT

News out of the American League Central..

The Royals are already $12MM over their stated breaking point, which means that money will be a factor in what moves they make, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Furthermore, they appear committed to starting the season with Jeff Francoeur in right field, limiting interest in possible alternatives (Twitter link).
The adding of bullpen arms doesn't mean that the Indians are necessarily looking to move Chris Perez, General Manager Chris Antonetti told Glenn Moore of Cleveland.com. "We didn't look at it that way. I think we just looked at it as an opportunity to just improve our team. And Chris is our closer. As we sit here today, I have every reason to think he’s going to be our closer on Opening Day," said the GM.
Tony Paul of The Detroit News looks at trade scenarios for the Tigers' Rick Porcello, including the Pirates, Rangers, and Angels. Several National League teams including the Padres have been said to have interest in the right-hander.

Odds & Ends: Tigers, Padres, Walker, Webb

By Zachary Links | December 14, 2012 at 10:20pm CDT

The Tigers' re-signing of Anibal Sanchez puts them right there with the Angels as favorites to win the American League in 2013, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Some are wondering if the Halos’ combination of Mike Trout, Hamilton and Albert Pujols is the best ever, but the Tigers can’t be too far behind with Austin Jackson, Miguel Cabrera, and Prince Fielder. Here's more Friday night linkage from around baseball..

If the Padres trade for a starting pitcher, Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter) doesn't can't see how they don't part with Luke Gregerson or Joe Thatcher as part of a deal, since they are reluctant to move prospects. San Diego is said to be interested in Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello.
Second baseman Neil Walker just became arbitration eligible, but he said at today's fan event that he would be open to a long-term deal with the Pirates, writes Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “This is the city I want to be in,” Walker said. “I‘m excited about my first year of arbitration, (but) I can‘t really speak too much more on that. I hope to be a Pirate for a long, long time.”
The Twins will be among the teams at pitcher Brandon Webb's throwing session after the holidays, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. The former Cy Young winner hasn't pitched in the majors since 2009 because of shoulder issues.
Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times spoke with Josh Hamilton's "accountability partner" Johnny Narron, who worked with him for five years with the Reds and Rangers.

Rosenthal On Dodgers, Angels, Pirates, Indians

By Zachary Links | December 14, 2012 at 6:15pm CDT

Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that all signs point to the Mets trading knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Here's more from Rosenthal's column..

Dodgers starters Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano are even more in play with the Pirates, Mariners, Twins, Blue Jays, and Indians among the teams checking in, major league sources tell Jon Paul Morosi. The club began shopping Harang and Capuano at the winter meetings, anticipating that they would add at least two other starters, which turned out to be Zack Greinke and Ryu Hyun-Jin.
One rival executive predicts that the Angels will keep Peter Bourjos and Mark Trumbo while moving Vernon Wells. The outfielder holds a no-trade clause and is owed $21MM in each of the next two seasons but probably can't bring the Angels the pitcher they need.
Joel Hanrahan has been linked to both the Tigers and Dodgers, but both clubs are wary of his salary, according to sources. Hanrahan is projected to make $6.9MM in arbitration next season.
A source says that the Indians' four-player return for Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Donald won't deter them from moving right-hander Justin Masterson, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, or closer Chris Perez in the right deal, Rival teams say the Tribe insisted upon major leaguers/major league ready pieces for Choo and they would presumably seek the same in return for their other veterans.

Heyman On Hamilton, Sanchez, Tigers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 14, 2012 at 12:50pm CDT

The latest from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links)…

While the Rangers didn’t offer Josh Hamilton a guaranteed five-year deal, they offered him a contract that could have gotten him to five years (presumably via contract options). There’s no language in Hamilton’s five-year, $125MM contract with the Angels about his past issues, Heyman reports.
A couple of rival executives are “aghast” over Anibal Sanchez’s five-year, $80MM contract with the Tigers. Heyman suggests Sanchez is a better bet than C.J. Wilson, who signed for $77.5MM over five years last December.
Heyman’s colleague Danny Knobler heard the Rangers are a possibility for Rick Porcello, who has also drawn interest from a number of National League teams, including the Pirates and Padres.

Olney On Hamilton, Tigers, Angels, Bauer

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 14, 2012 at 11:00am CDT

Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher and the 2013 Angels will all benefit from Josh Hamilton's recent agreement with Los Angeles, ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes. However, Mike Scioscia, Torii Hunter and the Mariners probably won’t benefit from the deal, according to Olney. Here are some more reactions to the deal, and a look at the impact it will have. Now for some more of Olney’s notes from around MLB…

The Hamilton deal was made over the head of the Angels' baseball operations department, Olney reports (on Twitter).
Rival general managers had correctly predicted Anibal Sanchez would sign with the Tigers, Olney writes. The Tigers have made it known for weeks that they'd be willing to listen to offers for Rick Porcello, according to Olney. It now seems as though Porcello has become a trade candidate.
Peter Bourjos drew lots of trade interest in the first few weeks of the offseason, Olney reports. While Bourjos could be moved, the Angels have told teams they're keeping Mark Trumbo.
The Diamondbacks had talked to other teams about deals involving Trevor Bauer before this year's trade deadline, Olney reports.

Cubs In Serious Talks With Anibal Sanchez

By Mark Polishuk | December 13, 2012 at 4:45pm CDT

The Cubs are in serious discussions with Anibal Sanchez on what could be a five-year, $75MM contract, reports FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. The Tigers are also "still a threat" to re-sign the free agent right-hander.

Tigers, Mariners Discussed Boesch

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 12, 2012 at 4:27pm CDT

The Tigers and Mariners have had preliminary trade talks about a potential deal that would send Brennan Boesch to Seattle, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. Danny Knobler of CBSSports reported during the Winter Meetings that the Mariners have some interest in Boesch.

The teams aren’t close to a trade, Morosi reports. However, Boesch remains an option for Seattle. The Tigers might seek left-handed relief in a deal for the outfielder, Morosi suggests.

Boesch appeared in 132 games for the Tigers this past season, posting a .240/.286/.372 batting line with 12 home runs in 503 plate appearances. The left-handed hitting 27-year-old will go to arbitration for the first time this offseason. He has a projected salary of $2.1MM for 2013.

Tigers Pursued James Shields

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 11, 2012 at 12:45pm CDT

The Tigers seriously pursued James Shields before the Royals acquired him, Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio and Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com report (Twitter link). Earlier today in a Twitter chat with fans Tigers president and GM Dave Dombrowski said the team is comfortable relying on Drew Smyly in the fifth rotation spot for 2013.

The Tigers offered outfielder Avisail Garcia and other prospects, Knobler reports. Though the Rays like Garcia, they preferred the Royals' offer, which included top prospect Wil Myers.

Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister and Rick Porcello project as the Tigers' top four starters for 2013. The club has also had interest in bringing back free agent right-hander Anibal Sanchez. As Jason Beck of MLB.com explained today, the team's interest in keeping Sanchez reaches a decisive point now that Zack Greinke has agreed to terms.

Dombrowski also said his top priority would be to find “the correct right handed bat for the outfield” (all Twitter links). Though it’d be helpful for the Tigers to find someone whose skills complement the left-handed hitting Andy Dirks, it’s noteworthy that Dombrowski didn’t mention pitching. He did say the Tigers are open to adding another left-hander to the bullpen. However, when it comes to late inning relief, the Tigers sound confident in prospect Bruce Rondon. “He is a rare talent that I feel has a chance to close for us this year,” Dombrowski said.

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