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Quick Hits: Leyland, Orioles, Chris Perez

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Let's take a look at the latest news and notes on what could be the final day of the 2012 baseball season.

  • Jim Leyland's future as manager of the Tigers is still unclear, tweets Tom Gage of the Detroit News. Before tonight's World Series game, Leyland said nobody puts a team together better than team President/CEO/GM Dave Dombrowski adding "hopefully he feels I'm the guy to manage it."
  • The Orioles' most pressing needs for 2013 are a frontline starter, a second baseman, and dealing with the unsettled positions of left field and first base, writes MASN.com's Roch Kubatko. 
  • Manny Machado and Dylan Bundy are among the Orioles who could make a big step in 2013, according to Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com.
  • The Indians should only trade Chris Perez if they feel Vinnie Pestano can replace him as closer, opined Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer as he delved into his readers' mailbag. Hoynes also believes Lonnie Chisenhall will be given every opportunity to be the everyday third baseman and Sandy Alomar, Jr. would have been the slam-dunk choice as manager, if Terry Francona hadn’t been so adamant about getting back in the dugout.
  • In the wake of Shohei Otani's announced intention to pursue a MLB career rather than play in Japan, Japanese baseball officials are considering stricter rules for amateur players who want to do the same, reports the Associated Press (via the Boston Herald).
  • Tom Kotchman denied he was forced out by the Angels insisting his decision to leave was due to a desire to find something closer to his Tampa-St. Petersburg area home, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. 
  • Congratulations to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, who was named the first female president in the 104-year history of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
  • Manny Ramirez's quest to resurrect his baseball career has the slugger heading to the Dominican Republic in hopes of catching the eye of a potential suitor during a tryout for three Japanese teams, writes George A. King III of the New York Post. 

Daniel Seco contributed to this post.

Olney’s Latest: Sanchez, Royals, Hosmer

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Here's the latest from ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider req'd)…

  • Some executives and agents predict that Anibal Sanchez could sign for anywhere from $30MM to $60MM as a free agent this offseason. I'd expect something closer to the high-end of that range.
  • The Royals desperately need at least two quality starting pitchers, though Gil Meche's shoulder problems could make GM Dayton Moore tentative on the free agent market. Otherwise players like Sanchez, Kyle Lohse, and Edwin Jackson would make sense.
  • Olney says no one should be surprised if the Royals deal one of their core hitters – Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler, Mike Moustakas, etc. – to acquire pitching this winter. Hosmer presumably has the most value of the group despite his down 2012 season.
  • The Rays could match-up for such a trade with the Royals since they have a wide array of starting pitching to offer. The Mariners, Diamondbacks, and Athletics could be matches as well.

Quick Hits: Verlander, Hamilton, Rangers, Lincecum

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It’s not a huge surprise, but Tigers president and General Manager Dave Dombrowski said that he would like to make Justin Verlander a Tiger for life, writes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  The right-hander still has two years remaining on his five-year, $80MM deal and extending him won’t be cheap.  However, the Tigers made a similar move when they inked Miguel Cabrera to his eight-year, $152.3MM deal two years before he was set to hit the open market.  Here’s more from around baseball as the Giants celebrate their Game 2 victory..

  • People familiar with the Brewers’ thinking told Heyman that the club is seriously considering a run at Josh Hamilton this winter.  Owner Mark Attanasio declined comment on the possibility, but the team is said to believe that Milwaukee is a viable market for the slugger.  The Brewers would obviously have a hard time competing with major market teams for Hamilton, but it helps that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers likely won’t be in the mix.
  • Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels said that he sees some similarities between what his club did in 2007 and the Red Sox’s blockbuster deal this year, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com.  Texas traded star first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Braves in the summer of 2007, netting the club Elvis Andrus and freedom to build the roster.  Daniels, who was a guest on WEEI’s Red Sox Hot Stove show, also said that he doesn’t expect to trade Andrus or Kinsler despite having Jurickson Profar close to being major league-ready.
  • Despite his struggles in 2012, General Manager Brian Sabean ruled out the possibility of Tim Lincecum moving to the bullpen next season, tweets Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Lincecum is entering his walk year in the 2013 season and will earn $22MM.
  • One person connected to the Giants told Heyman that there’s no way that Lincecum will be traded, in part because of how the fans in San Francisco respond to him.
  • Commissioner Bud Selig told reporters before tonight’s game that he has spoken with Blue Jays president Paul Beeston and has yet to hear a complaint from the organization regarding possible tampering with manager John Farrell, tweets Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.

Austin Jackson To Be Represented By Scott Boras

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Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson signed on to be represented by agent Scott Boras, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com (via Twitter).  Jackson was previously represented by Hendricks Sports.

Jackson, 25, is set to be arbitration eligible for the first time this winter and can hit the open market after the 2015 season.  The centerfielder joined the club in the winter of 2009 in a three-way deal that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees.  Jackson has had a strong season in his third year with Detroit, hitting .300/.377/.479 with 16 homers in 617 plate appearances.  For other Boras clients and clients of other agents, check out MLBTR's Agency Database.

Tigers Expected To Exercise Peralta’s Option

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The Tigers are expected to exercise their 2013 option for Jhonny Peralta following a strong postseason showing from the shortstop, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The Tigers consider the $6MM option “reasonable,” according to Heyman.

The Tigers would ideally like to have a shortstop with more range than Peralta, especially with Miguel Cabrera beside him at third base. There’s a chance GM Dave Dombrowski could explore deals for shortstops after exercising the option, Heyman reports. Yunel Escobar figures to be available, but he doesn’t appear to interest the Tigers.

Peralta, who homered in Game One of the World Series last night, posted a .239/.305/.384 batting line in 585 plate appearances with Detroit this past year. The Tigers would have to pay the 30-year-old a $500K buyout if they don't exercise his option. Back in September I explained that the option would likely appeal to the Tigers given the scarcity of alternatives available.

AL Central Notes: Royals, Twins, Tigers

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The Royals won their first World Series contest on this date in 1985 thanks to a complete game from Bret Saberhagen. Kansas City would go on to win the ’85 World Series, but they haven’t returned to the postseason since. Here’s the latest from their division…

  • If Zack Greinke isn't a fit in Kansas City, the Royals should go all-in to sign free agent right-hander Anibal Sanchez, Rany Jazayerli writes. Edwin Jackson could be another worthwhile free agent target, but GM Dayton Moore should avoid Kyle Lohse, in Jazayerli's view.
  • I previewed the Royals’ offseason earlier in the month.
  • The Twins announced the hiring of three coaches, including longtime MLB catcher Terry Steinbach. Steinbach will become the team's bench coach and catching instructor, Tom Brunansky has been named the hitting coach, and Bobby Cuellar has been named bullpen coach.
  • The Tigers announced the hiring of Scott Bream as their pro scouting director. Bream spent the past two seasons as a scout and special assistant with the Padres after spending more than a decade with the Tigers from 1999-2010.
  • I compiled some more Tigers-related notes from this morning.

Tigers Notes: Dombrowski, Ilitch, Leyland

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The Tigers, American League champions for the second time in seven years, won’t know who they’re playing in the World Series until the NLCS ends tonight. Here are some Tigers-related links in the meantime…

  • Tigers president and GM Dave Dombrowski acknowledged that he targets hard-throwing pitchers, Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press reports. "But so do a lot of other people, too,” Dombrowski said. “I think everybody likes them." The GM declined to elaborate beyond that. “I don't want to Moneyball you and give away my thought processes, either. Why should I?”
  • Longtime Tigers owner Mike Ilitch told Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News that he wants a World Series title, no matter the costs. "I don't worry about the investment, I want to win," Ilitch said. Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland say they want to win a championship for the 83-year-old owner.
  • Leyland says his team is ready to play in the World Series even after an extended break, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Tigers Notes: Leyland, Scherzer, Jackson, Lamont

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Congratulations to the Detroit Tigers, who clinched their 11th American League pennant with today's 8-1 win over the Yankees in Game Four of the ALCS.  It was just the fifth "annihilation" sweep in a seven-game series in baseball history, as the Tigers not only won all four games, but never trailed at any point.  The Detroit victory could also be a good omen for the Cardinals in the NLCS — nine of the Tigers' 10 previous World Series opponents (the Cubs four times, the Cardinals thrice and the Pirates and Reds once each) have been NL Central teams.

Here's the latest from the Motor City as the Tigers look for their first Series win since 1984…

  • GM Dave Drombrowski told reporters (including Chris Iott of MLive.com) that Jim Leyland is welcome back to manage the Tigers in 2013. "He knows that. He's in a situation where we want him back, and I'm sure that he wants to come back," Dombrowski said. "But there's a time and a place for that. It's not right now." Leyland isn't under contract for 2013 but said last week that he wants to manage next season.
  • The contributions of Phil Coke, Austin Jackson and Max Scherzer have made the Tigers the winner of their blockbuster 2009 trade with the Yankees and Diamondbacks, writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.  The D'Backs received Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson while the Yankees received Curtis Granderson, who struggled horribly in the ALCS and wasn't started in Game Four.
  • Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont tells Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that he hasn't been contacted by the Red Sox about the manager's job.  Lamont was Boston's second choice behind Bobby Valentine last winter, and Lamont says that he wishes he'd been hired.  “I don’t know what the record would’ve been,” Lamont said, “but I’m positive it wouldn’t have been as chaotic.”

Quick Hits: Hunter, Leyland, Otani, Astros

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The Angels have offered Torii Hunter a one-year contract at a heavy pay cut from his previous $18MM salary, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported today. Hunter, who’s eligible for free agency this offseason, seeks at least a two-year deal. The Angels are interested in bringing him back, so there’s a potential fit here if the sides can agree on the value and length of the contract. Here are today’s links…

  • Longtime MLB manager Tony La Russa says Jim Leyland of the Tigers seems "as passionate now as he was the first day he managed,”Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. Leyland, 67, doesn't have a contract for the 2013 season.
  • Shohei Otani throws a slider and a curve to go along with his explosive fastball, Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker writes. The 18-year-old right-hander is one of the top high school pitching prospects to emerge from Japan in years. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Rangers all have some interest in Otani.
  • Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said special assistant Matt Galante was offered the chance to return but will explore other options, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).

Tigers Notes: Verlander, Sanchez, Leyland

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Right-hander Phil Hughes has one tough assignment tonight: defeat Justin Verlander and the Tigers in an immensely important game at a time that the Yankees' offense is scuffling. Here are some notes on the Tigers, who will look to take a 3-0 lead in the ALCS when they host the Yankees tonight…

  • The Tigers can't be sure they'll get another equally good opportunity to win the World Series, so they must take advantage of their current position, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes. Though Verlander has said he loves playing in Detroit, the right-hander knows he's just two seasons away from free agency. The Tigers could look to extend Verlander this coming offseason, but they’d have to pay him a salary commensurate with his status as baseball’s best pitcher.
  • Tigers executives believe there’s a good chance Anibal Sanchez will want to re-sign in Detroit if they make him a competitive offer when he hits free agency after the season, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports.
  • The Red Sox would be crazy not to make a serious run at Tigers manager Jim Leyland if he becomes available, John Tomase of the Boston Herald writes. Leyland's contract expires at the end of the 2012 season at which point he could discuss a new deal with the Tigers.
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