Tigers Rumors

Leyland’s Contract Extended Through 2011

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 19, 2009 at 2:52pm CDT

ESPN.com's Amy Nelson reports that Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski announced Jim Leyland has agreed to manage the team through 2011. Leyland says he's "absolutely flattered" by the deal, which he describes as a "total shock."

The Tigers lead the AL Central with a 35-31 record even though they've had next to no production from Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen (injured) or Gary Sheffield (now on the Mets), three hitters who were expected to contribute.

Leyland has led the Tigers to a 292-260 record over the course of his three and a half years in Detroit. The Tigers won the AL pennant in Leyland's first year, 2006.

Odds And Ends: Cuban, Harper, Sano

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 19, 2009 at 12:57pm CDT

Tigers Bench Magglio Ordonez Indefinitely

By Howard Megdal | June 18, 2009 at 7:13pm CDT

News comes from Tom Gage of the Detroit News that the Tigers are benching Magglio Ordonez indefinitely.

Ordonez hasn't been terrible with the average or plate discipline, but his power has disappeared. His season line is .273/.347/.343 entering Thursday's game, and with two home runs all year, he simply hasn't been a middle-of-the-order hitter.

Between Ordonez's benching and the news that Carlos Guillen may not return this season, the Tigers are facing a power deficit. While they are in first place now, it is hard to imagine they will stay there all season without adding some offense.

Keep in mind, Ordonez receives $18MM in 2010 if he gets 135 starts or 540 plate appearances in 2009, or 270 starts or 1,080 plate appearances in 2008-2009 combined. Considering he had 144 starts and 623 plate appearances in 2008, that means his benchmarks are actually 126 starts or 457 plate appearances in 2009.

Consider that Ordonez is already at 57 starts, 242 plate appearances in 2009, and figure "indefinitely" will mean "most of the time" for the remainder of the season.

Teams Willing To Add Payroll

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 18, 2009 at 4:27pm CDT

Deep-pocketed teams like the Cubs and Yankees say they'll have trouble adding salary this year, and they're far from the only ones. Here's a quick list of teams that could add payroll:

Mike Ilitch's Red Wings just made it to the Stanley Cup final and he says the Tigers can add salary if it'll make them winners, too.
Earlier in the week we heard that the Phillies can take on payroll.
The Cardinals are in a position to add salary as well.
The Dodgers are spending $2.7MM less than expected this year because of the Manny Ramirez suspension. This could give them the flexibility to take on a contract.
The White Sox would have taken on payroll in the failed Jake Peavy trade.
The Mets have about $5MM in payroll flexibility.

Add any teams I've missed in the comments and we can flesh this list out.

Odds And Ends: Strasburg, Guillen, Smoltz

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 17, 2009 at 2:19pm CDT

Links for Wednesday afternoon…

Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball points out that a $5MM annual salary would place Stephen Strasburg within the top third of arbitration-eligible pitchers from last offseason.
John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reports that Carlos Guillen will have to undergo season-ending surgery if his shoulder doesn't heal soon.
Alex Speier of WEEI.com looks at the impact John Smoltz's return will have on each of the five other Boston starters.
In an article for SI.com Joel Sherman argues the Indians shouldn't trade Cliff Lee this year. They can contend with Lee in 2010, if not this year, so Sherman says it makes sense to try to win with him.
Jorge Says No! outlines possible fire sales for the Nationals and Orioles.
Yankees first rounder Slade Heathcott and his agent were in New York last night, but the Yankees aren't expected to sign their selection quickly, according to Peter Abraham.

Discussion: What Should The Tigers Do?

By Nat Boyle | June 16, 2009 at 7:04pm CDT

With Carlos Guillen's season in jeopardy due to a disclosed shoulder injury, and the AL Central very much up for grabs, Rob Neyer wonders if the Tigers will now be motivated to trade for an impact hitter. Neyer notes Detroit's left field ranks 13th in the AL in OPS and their internal options are not the solution.

The Tigers are ready to deal and can add payroll, as reported earlier today by Drew Sharp. But do they need hitting or pitching?

Mario Impemba, the Tigers play-by-play announcer thinks the Tigers "have some hard decisions to make in the upcoming weeks or so and I think they'll make them," reports James Schmehl of MLive.com.

It wouldn't be unconscionable to see Dontrelle Willis be released, and for the Tigers to devour his $10MM owed in '09 and $12MM in '10. Armando Galarraga continues to get hit hard. Impemba also notes Rick Porcello's arm needs to be protected and the youngster can't be relied on to throw 200 innings. Yet Impemba feels the Tigers won't win if Miguel Cabrera, Placido Polanco, and Magglio Ordonez don't meet expectations.

It seems logical to slot Zach Miner into the rotation for Willis or Galarraga, but what else can the team do? If a left field power bat is what they need, and they're willing to expand payroll, could Matt Holliday (if available) be a realistic option? Brad Hawpe? Or do they need pitching more? The Tigers are currently in first place, three games up on the Twins in the AL Central.

Tigers Ready To Deal, Can Add Payroll

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 16, 2009 at 10:34am CDT

The Tigers averaged 11,000 more fans per game last year, but their owner is prepared to add payroll to keep his team in first place, according to Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press. Tigers owner Mike Ilitch told GM Dave Dombrowski to do whatever it takes to improve the team, even if it means adding salary.

"What are we going to do? There are a lot of things we can do," Ilitch said. "We're going to try to improve one way or the other."

The Tigers could improve in a number of ways. Dontrelle Willis has not pitched well enough to deserve his rotation spot, and with Carlos Guillen out for at least a month, Detroit's offense isn't at full strength either.

Odds And Ends: Harper, Pirates, Hanley

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 16, 2009 at 10:13am CDT

Some links for Tuesday morning…

Be here at 2pm CST for this week's chat.
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says one Nationals official broke into a broad grin after describing Bryce Harper's ability.
In a piece that's worth reading completely, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tries to determine when the Pirates expect to contend. Some within the organization can imagine results by 2011 and Neal Huntington says Pirates fans won't have to wait until 2015.
Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says top pick Matt Purke expects to complete a deal with the Rangers.
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says the Rangers have a better, younger, cheaper team than the Astros, but that doesn't mean Houston couldn't make things interesting this year.
Eric Chavez told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he's "dreading" his upcoming back surgery.
Carlos Guillen may not play again this season, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwuakee Journal Sentinel says it's clear the Brewers need a starter.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that Torii Hunter talked with the Giants when he was a free agent after the 2007 season.
Hanley Ramirez doesn't think Theo Epstein wanted to trade him to the Marlins, according to John Tomase of the Boston Herald.

Minor League Transactions

By Mike Axisa | June 15, 2009 at 5:57pm CDT

Baseball America released this week's set of minor league transactions, and there was plenty of interesting movement. Let's break it down.

The Indians signed reliever Mike Gosling to a minor league pact. The Twins released Gosling earlier this month. He last pitched in the big leagues for the Reds in 2007.
The Tigers released Jason Tyner. You probably remember that the Brewers traded Tyner to the Tigers back in April for literally nothing.
Marlins youngster Cameron Maybin was suspended for "aggressively arguing a call and bumping an umpire."
The Astros removed Geoff Geary from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to Triple-A.
The Angels signed former Orioles wunderkind Val Majewski to a minor league pact.
Chris Burke was granted free agency by the Padres. He fashioned just a .207-.270-.305 batting line in 89 plate appearances this season.
The Giants released Jesse Foppert, who was once the best pitching prospect in the game. He hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005.

Odds And Ends: Crow, Willis, Bay

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 15, 2009 at 3:05pm CDT

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