Tigers Interested In Beimel
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Tigers are interested in LHP Joe Beimel, according to Beimel’s agent.
Biemel, 31, posted a 2.02 ERA for the Dodgers in 2008. He’s only allowed one home run over the past two seasons, while pitching a combined 116.1 innings. However, he did give up 50 hits in 49 innings last year.
Morosi mentions that the Tigers are also in the hunt for a closer, making it clear that Beimel isn’t the answer for the 9th inning in Detroit. Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes also appear on the Tigers’ short list of interesting free agent relievers.
Odds and Ends: Tazawa, Boras, Cuban
Links for Tuesday…
- Scouts from the Tigers and Indians visited Junichi Tazawa yesterday.
- This week’s chat has been pushed to Wednesday at 2pm CST.
- I chatted with The Baseball Opinion on November 10th.
- Patrick Newman compares Kenshin Kawakami and Hiroki Kuroda.
- Jesse Spector talks to D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes.
- Ken Davidoff explains the semantics games often played by agents, GMs, and journalists.
- Peter Abraham makes free agent predictions.
- Chat with Scott Boras at USA Today on Wednesday at 10am CST. You can submit questions in advance.
- SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Mark Cuban’s bid for the Cubs wasn’t high enough, anyway.
Cafardo’s Latest: Lugo For Dontrelle?
MONDAY: Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is casting a wide net for his shortstop vacancy, but no deals are close.
SUNDAY: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports on a trade that seems too obvious to actually happen: the Tigers are "contemplating a deal with Boston to send either Nate Robertson or Dontrelle Willis for Julio Lugo, but some money issues must be resolved.
In the same article, he mentions Lugo had the lowest average with runners in scoring position in the majors, .139, and wishes him a happy 33rd birthday.
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press had speculated on this in September.
Closer Roundup: K-Rod, Fuentes, Wood, Hoffman
Joel Sherman of the New York Post takes a look at the sudden surplus of potentially available closers in major league baseball, a situation that certainly benefits the Mets considering their need to upgrade the bullpen this offseason.
Two free agent closers that seemed destined to retire with their 2008 teams, Trevor Hoffman and Kerry Wood, now appear to be more available than was expected in October. That pair, along with Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, give the Mets and other teams several options in free agency.
Other relief pitchers with experience in the 9th inning have been recently mentioned in trade rumors. The list includes Huston Street, who may move again before the 2009 season begins, along with JJ Putz, Jose Valverde, and Bobby Jenks, mentions Sherman.
Sherman also provides a short list of teams, beyond the Mets, that may need a reliever with closing experience for 2009. The Texas Rangers, seemingly always short on pitching these days, may be a good fit for Kerry Wood; the Detroit Tigers, the St. Louis Cardinals, and most recently the Milwaukee Brewers, faced with the sudden retirement of Salomon Torres, are also in need of 9th inning help.
Sherman suggests Fuentes may be the favorite for the Mets’ closing job at this point.
Tigers Not Actively Shopping Ordonez
Tigers president/GM Dave Dombrowski says he isn’t looking to trade Magglio Ordonez, despite speculation that the right fielder is available.
Dombrowski said he hasn’t made a single call about Ordonez.
"We’re not looking to trade Magglio," Dombrowski said. "He’s one of the best hitters in baseball and an important part of our club."
As MLB.com’s Jason Beck rightly points out, this doesn’t mean the Tigers won’t listen to offers for Ordonez.
In September, the Detroit Free Press’ John Paul Morosi said the Tigers would need to trade Ordonez if they were going to fill their many needs. The Tigers are in the market for a shortstop to replace Edgar Renteria, and could also use an upgrade in the rotation, at closer and at catcher. Considering their stated intention not to raise payroll, it’s hard to see how Detroit is going to do all that, or even some of that, without trading Ordonez. But I guess that’s why they pay Dombrowski the big bucks.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. You can reach him here.
Kerry Wood Comments
The Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan spoke to free agent reliever Kerry Wood, with whom the Cubs recently cut ties.
Wood says he would have done anything to stay with the Cubs, including signing a one-year deal. In light of that information, the Cubs’ decision seems more questionable.
While Wood has a preference for the National League, he’s open to pitching anywhere. It doesn’t sound like the Tigers are interested, while Adam McCalvy makes a case against the Brewers. ESPN’s Keith Law ranked Wood as the top free agent reliever despite the health risk.
Odds and Ends: Perez, Torres, Beimel
Links for Friday, with an unplanned emphasis on relievers…
- The Tigers and Trevor Hoffman may be a match. Hoffman’s agent closed the door on the Padres.
- The Royals brought Mike Arbuckle aboard, formerly of the Phillies.
- The Nationals have interest in re-signing Aaron Boone and Odalis Perez. MLB.com’s Bill Ladson gives it a 50-50 chance. The Nats re-signed infielder Pete Orr, who could earn $600K.
- The Brewers picked up Salomon Torres‘ 2009 option, more of a procedural move than anything.
- The Marlins have an eye on minor league free agent Zach McClellan.
- Ken Davidoff makes contract and destination predictions for top free agents. K-Rod, Juan Cruz, and Russ Springer to the Cardinals for a combined $73MM?
- The Rockies have Joe Beimel and Jeremy Affeldt on the radar, among others.
- The New York Daily News has a cool free agent tracker.
Tigers Interested In Darren Oliver
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press talked to Darren Oliver‘s agent, who said the Tigers and Angels are two of four teams interested in his client. Morosi says the Tigers have also contacted the agents for Trevor Hoffman, Brandon Lyon, David Weathers, and Arthur Rhodes while also expressing interest in Florida’s Kevin Gregg.
Oliver, 38, posted a 2.88 ERA in 72 innings. His strikeout rate wasn’t great, but he limited walks and home runs. He earned $2MM this year. As a Type A free agent, Oliver comes with the added tax of Detroit’s second-round pick in the June ’09 draft (assuming the Halos offer arbitration and he declines).
In other Tigers news, MLB.com’s Jason Beck says they’ve yet to contact Freddy Garcia‘s agent.
Montero Drawing Interest
According to Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune, D’Backs catcher Miguel Montero is a popular name in trade discussions. He may be traded to address the team’s second base vacancy. Mark Loretta and Adam Kennedy, who are in the $4MM or less range, were deemed too expensive.
Montero, 25, hit .255/.330/.435 in 207 plate appearances this year. He’s under team control through 2012. Magruder suggests the Red Sox, Tigers, Reds, Astros, and Brewers as possible matches. Some of those clubs do have decent second base prospects.
Magruder adds that the D’Backs have received inquiries on Eric Byrnes, but don’t see a contract swap that’d make sense.
Tigers Rumors: Santiago, K-Rod, Ordonez
Let’s see what’s going on with the Tigers.
- GM Dave Dombrowski does not see Ramon Santiago as a starting shortstop. But aside from Rafael Furcal, what better player could the Tigers add? Dombrowski is also looking to add a reliever and a catcher.
- Dombrowski doesn’t expect to bid on Francisco Rodriguez; Lynn Henning sees the Tigers signing "a second tier reliever who could perhaps function as a closer." Juan Cruz and Jeremy Affeldt could fit that description.
- Henning still sees a Magglio Ordonez trade as the best route to fill the team’s needs. Jon Paul Morosi likes the Angels as a match.
- Detroit Tigers Thoughts runs through some options at catcher.