Tigers To Bring Back Dombrowski, Leyland
Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch says that the club will bring back both manager Jim Leyland and GM Dave Dombrowski in 2011, according to Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press. After finishing the first half of the season ten games above .500, Detroit has gone 5-18 since that point and fallen nine games back of the division-leading White Sox.
Even though he is disappointed with the club's recent play, Ilitch says that he has faith in what the team can do starting next season.
“[This season] is very disappointing, “ the owner said, “[but] I’m staying with Dave and I’m staying with our manager. I feel that we’re going to move forward.”
Ilitch also admitted that he has been reckless in the past when signing off on large contract commitments. However, as noted earlier, he still vows to spend in the offseason with as much as $60MM coming off of the books. Detroit gained extra payroll flexibility when Magglio Ordonez suffered an ankle injury which will prevent his $15MM option from vesting.
Odds & Ends: Reds, Giants, Harper, Dodgers, Prior
Links for Saturday, as J.P. Arencibia homers on the first pitch he sees in the majors….
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets that he has not seen a year in which the Reds have faced so many difficult roster decisions in the last decade.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America (via Twitter) expects the Giants to eventually sign their first-round pick, center fielder Gary Brown.
- Barry Shlachter of the Dallas Morning News examines whether the group headed by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan overpaid for the Rangers.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America passes on news of a pair of draft picks signing for over-slot deals: The Blue Jays signed their second-round pick, while the Pirates locked up their fourth-rounder.
- Tigers owner Mike Ilitch acknowledged to Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News that he'd signed off on some bad contracts in the past, but said that won't stop him from spending money in the future.
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson hears that negotiations between the Nationals and Bryce Harper could "heat up" by Tuesday. The first overall pick in this year's draft enrolled for classes at the College of Southern Nevada, but that doesn't mean he won't end up signing with the Nats.
- The Dodgers still seem to be buyers, leading Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times to wonder if they put a waiver claim on Adam Dunn.
- Although he's pitching for the Orange County Flyers now, Mark Prior hopes to make his way back to the bigs, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger.
Odds & Ends: Yelich, Harper, Tigers, Minaya, Guillen
Links on a Friday night…
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that negotiations between the Marlins and first round pick Christian Yelich are progressing slowly, but all signs point to a deal being reached before the August 16th deadline.
- Meanwhile, Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post says there is nothing new to report about talks between the Nationals and first overall pick Bryce Harper.
- Like the Marlins and Yelich, talks between the Tigers and their top picks will go down to the wire according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Four of Detroit's top five selections remain unsigned, including their two first rounders Nick Castellanos and Chance Ruffin.
- When asked about his job security, Omar Minaya responded "The fact of the matter is that I have a contract beyond this year, two years beyond this," according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Owner Jeff Wilpon recently implied that Minaya's job is safe through 2011.
- Jack Curry of the YES Network says (via Twitter) we shouldn't expect the Yankees to have any interest in Jose Guillen. We heard this morning that they were going to keep an eye on the recently DFA'd outfielder.
- Mark Feinsand of The New York Daily News spoke to an American League GM who said he can't see Derek Jeter signing anywhere but back with the Yankees after the season. I suspect that's the general belief pretty much everywhere.
- The Tigers have expanded the roles of three front office members, reports Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.
Athletics Claim Jeff Larish
The Athletics claimed minor league corner infielder Jeff Larish off waivers from the Tigers, reports MLB.com's Jason Beck. He'd been designated for assignment on Friday to clear a spot for Jeff Frazier. To make room for Larish on the 40-man roster, the A's designated infielder Adam Heether for assignment.
Larish, 28 in October, hit .275/.373/.497 at Triple A this year, his third stint at the level. He was coming off September wrist surgery. He's played both infield corner positions in his minor league career, as the Tigers moved him to third base once he became blocked by Miguel Cabrera at first. Before the 2009 season, Baseball America ranked Larish fifth among Tigers prospects (just ahead of the recently-traded Wilkin Ramirez). BA called Larish a "polarizing player among scouts," praising his raw power but questioning his batting stance, ability to cover the outside part of the plate, and problems hitting breaking pitches.
Tigers’ Season Hanging In The Balance
The Tigers open up a four-game set with a doubleheader against the division-leading White Sox today. The series represents a crucial chance to gain ground, but a White Sox sweep would close the door on Detroit's season. One AL exec told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick the Tigers "would have to be pretty far back for something to happen" in terms of GM Dave Dombrowski trading veterans, but ten-plus games out might qualify, in my opinion.
On Wednesday, the Tigers gave up a pitching prospect to acquire Jhonny Peralta, with the Indians paying most of the infielder's salary. Detroit's only deadline day move was to ship Wilkin Ramirez to the Braves.
Should Dombrowski decide to sell off his impending free agents, he can shop Johnny Damon, Brandon Inge, Jeremy Bonderman, Gerald Laird, and Peralta. Carlos Guillen, signed through next year, may also be expendable. Ryan Raburn is another trade candidate, though perhaps such a deal is better suited for the offseason. Magglio Ordonez should clear waivers, but it's hard to imagine a team acquiring him as he recovers from a broken ankle.
Damon should draw interest if he's made available. He sports a .281/.373/.432 line, and he raked in July. He's been battling back spasms, but is in today's lineup. About $2.7MM remains on his $8MM contract, and he has no-trade protection.
Brandon Inge is ahead of schedule in returning from a broken left hand. For teams looking for a solid glove at the hot corner, Inge could fit. Bonderman might be able to fill a fourth starter role, especially in the National League. The $4.2MM owed to him would obviously be prohibitive; the Tigers would have to assume much of it.
Tigers Acquire Brandon Jones
The Tigers acquired Brandon Jones from the Pirates for a player to be named later, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch (Twitter link). Detroit assigned the minor league veteran to AA Erie, so he won't be an immediate addition to the Tigers' injury-depleted lineup.
Back in January, the Pirates claimed Jones from Atlanta, where he spent parts of three seasons. Jones picked up 166 plate appearances with the Braves, hitting one homer and posting a .257/.313/.365 line. In seven minor league seasons, the 26-year-old has shown more power and patience, as his .276/.353/.435 line shows. Jones has spent most of his time in left field, though he can also play right.
Waiver Trade Candidates: AL Central
The current AL Central picture: the White Sox and Twins are contenders, the Tigers are in the gray area, and the Royals and Indians are out of it. Waiver trade possibilities:
It's been an up-and-down year for White Sox closer Bobby Jenks; would he be claimed despite a $7.5MM salary? Would the Sox pull him back? I'd expect Scott Linebrink and Mark Teahen to clear waivers, although deals seem unlikely. Mark Kotsay and Tony Pena could be expendable in minor trades.
Twins such as Nick Punto, Nick Blackburn, and Brendan Harris should clear waivers, though Punto can't pass through until he returns from the DL.
Brandon Inge may return from the DL from a broken hand this week, and probably would clear waivers. Carlos Guillen, dealing with a calf strain, should clear if he returns from the DL this month. Jeremy Bonderman, Johnny Damon, Jhonny Peralta, Gerald Laird, and Brad Thomas are others who might make it through waivers. If the Tigers are out of it and one of these players is claimed, trimming a few hundred thousand dollars might be appealing.
Royals righty Gil Meche will attempt to finish the season as a reliever rather than undergo shoulder surgery, but it's hard to say if he'll return from the DL this month. Jose Guillen is a lock to clear, and perhaps a deal can be worked out. We'll be curious to see what happens when Yuniesky Betancourt, Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies, Willie Bloomquist, Wilson Betemit, and Bruce Chen hit the wire. Bloomquist may go.
The Indians' Travis Hafner will clear waivers and stay put, if he's activated from the DL for should inflammation later this month.
For our primer on the waiver trade process, click here.
Odds & Ends: Ankiel, Ohman, Tigers, Mets, Rangers
Links for Sunday, as a handful of players suit up for new teams….
- Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth are happy to be playing meaningful games with the Braves, writes Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
- Will Ohman had a hunch that he would be moved before the deadline, writes MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
- The Tigers have yet to make a blockbuster deadline deal under GM Dave Dombrowski, writes Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.
- Jim Callis of Baseball America (via Twitter) thinks it's very likely that the Mets will sign their first round selection, pitcher Matt Harvey. However, Callis doesn't feel that the pitcher is worth going over slot for.
- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban could be putting himself in position to buy the Rangers, writes Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
- Cristian Guzman initially vetoed a deal to the Rangers, but changed his mind, according to Anthony Andro of the Dallas Morning News. MASN's Ben Goessling notes that the Nationals will pay for the rest of Guzman's salary this year (approximately $2.78MM), but will also receive $1.1MM from the Rangers.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney looks back on the deadline deals in his latest Insider-only blog, writing that "what in the world was Washington thinking?" was a question frequently asked by frustrated rival executives.
- The Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin says that the price of bullpen help was too steep for the Red Sox, who made "competitive offers" on Scott Downs, Brandon League, and Brian Fuentes.
- Daniel Paulling of the Kansas City Star reports that Gil Meche won't have season-ending surgery after all, since doctors told the right-hander it would have kept him out of action in 2011 as well.
- The Brewers were never close to making any trades, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Odds & Ends: Duffy, Tigers, Yankees, Reds, Red Sox
Some leftovers in the wake of another trade deadline…
- I'll be appearing on Sporting News Radio at 8:25pm PT tonight to talk about the deadline. You can listen in here.
- ESPN's Jayson Stark named his trade deadline winners and losers, with the Rangers, Padres, and Yankees among the teams earning praise.
- The Phillies released Triple-A outfielder Chris Duffy, reports Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told Steve Kornacki of MLive.com that he "had a chance to do something surprising and big," and that it was like "getting the wind knocked out of you" when it fell through. He didn't elaborate any further, so we'll have to keep playing the guessing game.
- Joel Sherman of The New York Post says the Yankees took on $4.8MM at the deadline, more than any other team (Twitter links). The bankrupt Rangers came in second at $4.1MM.
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that he was working on some deals in recent days, but they "fell apart at the end."
- ESPN's Buster Olney tweets the Red Sox finished second in the Kerry Wood race, ditto the Rays and Lance Berkman, both of whom ended up with their biggest rival.
- Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider tweets that Yunesky Maya's deal with Washington will be made official within the hour.
- The Padres inquired about Jacoby Ellsbury before picking up Ryan Ludwick, but were told he's not available according to ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes (Twitter links).
- ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that the Dodgers took on about $3MM with all their deadline moves. Their financial situation has been in question basically all season.
- Chad Tracy has exercised an opt-out clause in his minor league contract with the Yankees and is now a free agent, tweet Conor Foley with the Triple-A Scranton Yankees.
- Barret Loux has joined the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League according to the team's official Twitter feed. Loux was the sixth overall pick in last month's draft, but recently failed his physical with the Diamondbacks and could be looking to rebuild his stock.
- The Royals traded minor league catcher Jeff Howell to the Twins for future considerations according to milb.com's official Twitter feed.
Braves Acquire Wilkin Ramirez
The Braves acquired outfielder Wilkin Ramirez from the Tigers for a player to be named later or cash considerations by November 20th, according to the team. The Tigers had designated Ramirez for assignment on Wednesday to clear a spot for Jhonny Peralta.
Ramirez, 24, has a .230/.295/.458 line between Double and Triple A this year. Heading into the season Baseball America ranked Ramirez eighth among Tigers prospects, but obviously his stock has dropped since then. Still, they did praise his "tantalizing five-tool ability."