Tigers Rumors

Verducci: “It’s A Young Man’s Game”

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 16, 2009 at 10:23am CDT

SI.com's Tom Verducci links two of the year's most-discussed trends: the demand for young players and the demand for good defense, writing that "the renewed emphasis on defense hasn't helped the value of older players." As a result, teams are reluctant to sign older free agents like Frank Thomas and Jim Edmonds. Many of the older players who signed contracts this offseason are struggling; Verducci mentions Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera among others. Of course it's too early in the season to make sweeping generalizations, but Verducci concludes that baseball's "a young man's game."

Verducci adds that teams like the Tigers and Rangers are playing better because they're defending better. Elvis Andrus has made his mistakes at short for the Rangers, but they're a stronger defensive team this year. Similarly, Brandon Inge and Adam Everett have strengthened the Tigers' defense and helped the team to an 18-16 start. The Rangers (1st) and the Tigers (3rd) are among the best teams in the league at converting balls in play into outs.

Juan Rincon Declines Assignment

By Tim Dierkes | May 15, 2009 at 4:16pm CDT

According to MLB.com's Jason Beck, reliever Juan Rincon declined the Tigers' assignment to Triple A. He will become a free agent if he's not claimed off waivers. Rincon, 30, gave up six runs and 12 hits in 10.3 innings for the Tigers this year. He hasn't done much since '06.

Stark’s Latest: Willis, Peavy, Astros, O’s

By | May 14, 2009 at 1:49pm CDT

A summary of Jayson Stark's latest "Rumblings and Grumblings" column…

Why did the Tigers bother giving Dontrelle Willis another shot? Frustration, perhaps. "It was pretty obvious, wasn't it?" said one longtime front-office man. "They invested $29 million in the guy. They had $22 million left… They'd already eaten Gary Sheffield's money."
As for a possible Jake Peavy-to-the-Cubs deal, Stark writes "The Cubs' ownership limbo now looks as if it might stretch until Christmas Eve. So who knows whether Cubs GM Jim Hendry will even be released from captivity in time to pursue another Peavy deal come July."
The chances of Roy Oswalt, along with a few other of Houston's high profile stars being placed on the trade market this summer? "Based on the history?" an executive of one club said, laughing. "I'd say zero."
The Orioles should have relievers available come July. Scouts are drooling over Danys Baez, who seems to have regained his form this year with a 2.37 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. Closer George Sherrill could also draw plenty of interest.

The Magglio Ordonez Situation

By Tim Dierkes | May 13, 2009 at 11:30am CDT

Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press has a new column about the Magglio Ordonez situation. It's bad enough that the 35 year-old right fielder is off to a .241/.331/.304 start in 127 plate appearances. The other issue is that his 2010 option for $18MM vests if Ordonez reaches 457 total plate appearances this year. He's got just 330 to go, with a current pace of 4.2 per game.

It'd take serious manipulation by Jim Leyland to prevent Ordonez from getting those 330 additional plate appearances. Rosenberg figures that'd result in a grievance by the players union and Scott Boras. Ordonez also has a $15MM vesting option for 2011 based on playing time in 2009 and/or 2010.

How about releasing him? Ignoring deferred money, Ordonez is guaranteed another $14.5MM this year plus a $3MM buyout for 2010. Eating $17.5MM now beats paying Ordonez the remaining $14.5MM for this year and the $18MM for '10. Would that result in a grievance, or are the Tigers free to release him and only be on the hook for this year plus the 2010 buyout?

Juan Rincon Designated For Assignment

By Tim Dierkes | May 12, 2009 at 11:00pm CDT

According to John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers designated reliever Juan Rincon for assignment to make room for Dontrelle Willis. Rincon, 30, posted a 5.23 ERA in 10.3 innings for the Tigers this year. The Tigers had signed Rincon to a minor league deal back on January 20th.

Willis made four minor league starts at various levels, posting a 3.86 ERA and 3.16 BB/9. Under the contract extension signed in December of '07, Willis will earn $10MM this year and $12MM in '10.

Odds & Ends: Nationals, Teixeira, Ligtenberg

By Tim Dierkes | May 1, 2009 at 11:32am CDT

Links for Friday…

RotoAuthority looks at the April offensive stat leaders.
Jim Callis of Baseball America discussed Jim Bowden's Stephen Strasburg comments. Bowden says the Nationals' decision to draft Strasburg has been made, and predicts they'll sign him for around $15MM minutes before the deadline.
ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. talked to Nats interim GM Mike Rizzo about their revamped Latin American plan.
Mark Teixeira talked to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times about his decision to sign with the Yankees.
Brian Stensaas of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes about Kerry Ligtenberg, who is attempting a comeback with the St. Paul Saints.
SI.com's Tom Verducci spoke with one GM who points to struggling older teams and says "it's better to be young these days."
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press writes that the Tigers are being patient with pitchers Ryan Perry and Rick Porcello.
MLB.com's Corey Brock doesn't expect GM Kevin Towers to sit back and watch if the Padres continues to struggle.
Here's Baseball America's list of the hottest prospects in the minors right now.
ESPN.com's Keith Law scouts a pair of college players who could turn up on BA's list next year: Tim Wheeler and Drew Storen.
Twins reliever Juan Morillo cleared waivers, so he'll head to Triple A according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

2010 Options: Detroit Tigers

By Tim Dierkes | May 1, 2009 at 11:04am CDT

Let's take a look at the 2010 options facing the Tigers.

Magglio Ordonez – $18MM club option with a $3MM buyout; becomes guaranteed with 457 plate appearances this year. Maggs already has 90 PAs, so he needs just 367 to lock in his '10 salary.

That's it for the options, and it's not really an option. After the 2010 season, the Tigers have good money coming off the books: Jeremy Bonderman ($12.5MM), Dontrelle Willis ($12MM), Nate Robertson ($10MM), and Brandon Inge ($6.6MM).

Odds & Ends: Glavine, Thorman, Sheffield

By Tim Dierkes | April 28, 2009 at 11:59am CDT

Links for Tuesday…

Chat today, 2pm CST.
ESPN's Buster Olney talked to Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, who has no plans to pursue the available free agent pitchers.
MLB.com's Mark Bowman has the latest on Tom Glavine's shoulder rehab. Glavine seems more optimistic than when he last addressed the media.
Jamey Newberg says the Rangers released first baseman Scott Thorman after 32 Triple A at-bats.
Steve Lombardi at WasWatching.com did a Q&A with Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
Jorge Says No! creates a roster of the worst free agent contracts of 2000-04.
Benjamin Kabak of River Ave. Blues says the Gary Sheffield-Tigers trade was still a win for the Yankees even though the prospects haven't panned out.
Over at RotoAuthority, I talked about three pitchers I drafted but already gave up on.

Tigers Release Scott Williamson

By Tim Dierkes | April 27, 2009 at 8:31am CDT

According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers' Scott Williamson experiment is over. They released the righty to clear a spot for Eddie Bonine on the Triple A club. Williamson's comeback attempt resulted in runs allowed in three of five appearances for the Toledo Mud Hens. He hasn't pitched in the Majors since '07, but spent time last year with the Atlanta and Seattle Triple A clubs.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Mulder, Pedro, Cabrera, Holliday

By Cork Gaines | April 24, 2009 at 8:09am CDT

On this date 32 years ago, Carlos Beltran was born. Beltran is still one of only 19 players to ever sign a contract for at least $100MM (four currently play for the Yankees). With three years left on Beltran's seven-year, $119MM deal signed in 2005, let's take a look a what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Feeling Dodger Blue wonders if Mark Mulder is the Dodgers' best option.
Never Forget '69 wonders if the Mets should explore adding Pedro Martinez.
The Detroit Tigers Weblog addresses the recent rumors that the Tigers will look to trade Miguel Cabrera.
The Baseball Opinion takes a closer look at the Nationals' attempt to remake their roster.
River Ave. Blues says the Yankees' series against the A's was an audition for Matt Holliday.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

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