Miguel Cabrera Staying Put
Talking to MLB.com's Jason Beck, Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski moved quickly tonight to shoot down recent ESPN speculation that first baseman Miguel Cabrera could be traded. Said Dombrowski:
"I think it's absurd, absolutely absurd. We have no interest in trading Miguel Cabrera. We have had no talks regarding Miguel Cabrera. Not only is it one of the last things we would ever consider, we have an owner [Mike Ilitch] who wouldn't do it. This is our core player who's our foundation."
Given that the Tigers signed Cabrera to an eight-year, $152.3MM extension just one year ago, it didn't make sense that they'd change their mind so quickly on their investment. Cabrera is only 26 and seems headed for an MVP-type year.
Odds & Ends: Closers, Holliday, Kent
Links for Wednesday…
- Chat today, 2pm CST.
- Interesting diary entry from an anonymous pro scout over at Baseball America. Don't bug these guys at games.
- Digging for saves? RotoAuthority has the latest Closer Report.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker looks at the Japanese free agents for the 2009-10 offseason.
- Jorge Arangure Jr. of ESPN wrote about Matt Holliday's future.
- Justin Murphy of Seamheads.com examines the three Jeff Kent trades.
- Curtis Granderson wrote an article for Yahoo about protecting his identity.
Mark Fidrych Found Dead
According to the Patriot Ledger, former pitcher Mark Fidrych was found dead at his home today at age 54. The cause was an apparent accident working under his pickup truck.
Odds And Ends: Alvarez, DePodesta, Strasburg
A few links for Saturday…
- Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette heard from a talent evaluator who says Pedro Alvarez is the most talented Pirates prospect since Barry Bonds.
- Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe looks at some of Chris Carter's quirks.
- Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press believes the Tigers need a top-notch closer.
- According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune Padres executive Paul DePodesta now reports to GM Kevin Towers, not CEO Sandy Alderson.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney expects Gary Sheffield to help the Mets.
- MLB.com's Lisa Winston notes that only eight of the 21 Rule 5 draftees are still with their new teams.
- MLB.com's Jennifer Langosch has some minor Pirates transactions.
- And Stephen Strasburg improved to 6-0 last night with six strikeouts in as many innings. The prospect is averaging almost two punchouts per inning, so this is nothing for him.
- Kevin Baxter of the LA Times reports that Torii Hunter thought Strasburg looked sharp.
Heyman On Peavy, Tigers, Cliff Lee
The latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman…
- Heyman lists 30 breakout candidates for 2009, headed by Paul Maholm of the Pirates.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers had this to say regarding trading Jake Peavy midseason: "If we start spinning our wheels, we might engage in discussions." ESPN's Buster Olney also wrote about Peavy this morning, noting that the Cubs were "much closer than anybody realized at the time" to acquiring Peavy this winter. Towers gave Olney a similar quote about Peavy – he doesn't want to think about it right now but if the team is out of contention it's possible.
- Heyman names the Tigers and Blue Jays as teams that may look to dump salary this summer. He speculates on names such as Jeremy Bonderman, Brandon Inge, Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez, Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells, and Scott Rolen.
- Cliff Lee is a tricky case for an extension, but the Indians told his agent Darek Braunecker they'd let him throw out a bid. Braunecker didn't bite, and negotiations are not expected to take place during the season. You have to wonder if Lee will be traded next winter or at the 2010 trade deadline.
D’Backs Retain Skelton, Deal Brooks Brown
According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks have managed to keep Rule 5 pick James Skelton. The club dealt minor league right-hander Brooks Brown to the Tigers in order to retain the catcher's rights.
Brown, 23, finished with a 4.18 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A Mobile last season. Skelton, also 23, hit just .150/.244/.175 in 40 at-bats this spring.
The Curious Case Of Nate Robertson
Upon learning that he'll begin the 2009 season in the bullpen, left-hander Nate Robertson wondered aloud Thursday whether his time has run out in Detroit. "The cycle of a player's time in an organization comes and goes, and maybe my time is nearing its end," he said. (Quote is courtesy of MLive.com's Steve Kornacki).
Robertson, 31, has gone 49-65 with a 4.90 ERA since showing up on the scene in 2003. His '08 season was a disaster, however, and probably nullified any trade value that he once had. (He finished with a 7-11 record and a 6.35 ERA).
Tigers manger Jim Leyland spoke briefly about Nate's fall from grace on Thursday morning: "If someone had told me in 2006 that Robertson would be in the bullpen, I'd have told him, 'You are crazy.'"
Tigers, Cardinals Discussing Raburn Trade
According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Cardinals and Tigers are discussing a trade for Ryan Raburn. Morosi says the Tigers may want to trade him for a pitching prospect. Reader Mitch L. wonders if the Cards' interest in Raburn is linked to the recent news that Troy Glaus doesn't have a timetable for his return. Raburn, 28 later this month, hit .236/.298/.368 in 199 plate appearances last year while playing all three outfield positions as well as second and third base. The Tigers previously had talks with the Mets about receiving Brian Stokes for Raburn. The Tigers optioned Raburn to Triple A Toledo today.
Morosi adds that the Tigers hope to trade for a big league pitcher as well. The Cubs' Chad Gaudin is on the radar, though his $2MM salary may be a bit much.
Tigers Release Gary Sheffield
7:36pm: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says Sheffield has interest in the Marlins, but Frisaro believes Geoff Jenkins would be a better fit.
5:12pm: Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer learned from a team source that the chances of the Phillies signing Sheffield are "very slim." Martino did learn from Sheffield's agent Rufus Williams that a part-time role is not off the table for his client.
SI.com's Jon Heyman looks at the situation, and has a hard time finding a match for Sheffield.
2:49pm: Zolecki learned from Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. that the team did contact Sheffield's agent. The Reds haven't discussed it, says Walt Jocketty.
1:15pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Rangers and Blue Jays will pass on Sheffield. In talking to J.P. Ricciardi, Jeff Blair confirms the Jays' lack of interest.
9:15am: More from Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press. He says this isn't even a club record – the Tigers ate $14.3MM on Damion Easley back in '03. Morosi says Sheffield said "it ain't close" to the end of his career, and he has a preference for the Rays.
MLB.com's Todd Zolecki wonders whether the Phillies could be a fit for Sheffield.
8:41am: According to Tom Gage of the Detroit News, the Tigers released DH Gary Sheffield. They'll eat the $14MM owed to him for '09. It's quite surprising to see the team assume all that money to make him go away, especially since he's healthy right now. Plus he's just one home run shy of 500 for his career.
Let the speculation begin on where Sheff will end up. Obviously his options will open up if he can play the outfield. To kick off the discussion…would the Blue Jays make sense?
Tigers Acquire Josh Anderson
According to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Tigers acquired outfielder Josh Anderson from the Braves for minor league pitcher Rudy Darrow.
Darrow, 24, is a former college wrestler who is listed at 5'10", 180 lbs. The Tommy John survivor uses a sidearm delivery to touch 94, and Baseball America suggests he could pitch in the Majors this year. As such, it seems odd that the Tigers would trade him.
The speedy Anderson was unable to win the Braves' center field job, which presumably goes to Jordan Schafer now.