Tigers Rumors

Orioles Claim Chris Lambert From Tigers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 20, 2009 at 12:32pm CDT

Via Twitter, MLB.com's Jason Beck notes that the Orioles claimed Tigers minor leaguer Chris Lambert off of waivers. The Tigers designated Lambert for assignment to make room for top pick Jacob Turner on the 40-man roster.

Lambert, a 26-year-old righty, allowed 121 hits and 31 walks in 126.2 innings at Triple A Toledo, striking out 106. His major league ERA this year is 14.85 in just two appearances, but his minor league ERA is a quarter of that.

Odds And Ends: Gordon, Crow, Ordonez, Tate

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 19, 2009 at 9:32am CDT

Links for Wednesday…

Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star says the Royals' decision to demote Alex Gordon has more to do with performance than service time.
Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press says the Tigers had better win, especially since they'll be stuck paying Magglio Ordonez $18MM next year, "barring an influx of common sense."
Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune says Donavan Tate was eager and respectful throughout his first visit to Petco Park.
Doug Tucker of the Associated Press reports that the Royals hope to start talking contract with top pick Aaron Crow now that they've seen what other first rounders signed for. Monday's deadline did not apply to Crow because he played independent ball this year.

Smoltz “Probably Not” A Fit In Detroit

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 18, 2009 at 1:11pm CDT

More than two decades ago, before Rick Porcello was born, the Tigers traded John Smoltz to the Braves for Doyle Alexander. Now that he's free to join any team, could Smoltz return to the club that drafted him? Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that it doesn't seem likely.

"It's probably not a fit for us," Dombrowski said. "But we could still sit down and talk about it."

Dombrowski likes his bullpen and expects Jeremy Bonderman to fortify it when he returns from a minor league rehab assignment, so the GM doesn't feel an urgent need to add arms.

Signing Deadline Roundup: Ackley, Turner

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 18, 2009 at 12:54pm CDT

Some more links in the aftermath of yesterday's deadline to sign draft picks…

Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star explains in detail that the MLB draft is broken. It certainly seems like things will change after next year, when the CBA expires.
Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that Dustin Ackley says he'd like to play outfield.
Click here to read what Divish did as he awaited word on the Ackley signing last night.
MLB.com's Jason Beck reports that the Tigers designated minor leaguer Chris Lambert for assignment, presumably to make room for top pick Jacob Turner on the 40-man roster.
The Astros had a much more relaxing evening than most teams last night, as Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Tigers Sign Jacob Turner

By Mike Axisa | August 17, 2009 at 9:57pm CDT

9:57pm: Baseball America's Jim Callis says it's a Major League deal with a guaranteed value of $5.5MM and the potential to reach $7MM. Callis says the net present value is around $5MM; spreading it out is the main advantage the club gets from a Major League deal.

9:49pm: According to ESPN's Keith Law, the Tigers have signed first round pick Jacob Turner to a $5.5MM bonus, which is considerably over slot. The ninth overall pick "had the fastest arm and best fastball of any high school pitcher in this draft," and could develop into a number one starter down the road according to KLaw.

Tigers Sign Second Rounder Andy Oliver

By Mike Axisa | August 17, 2009 at 9:44pm CDT

ESPN.com's Keith Law reports that the Tigers have signed second rounder Andy Oliver to $1.495MM bonus. He notes that his "best attributes are his left-handedness and his plus fastball," but that he's struggled with a breaking ball. He coud develop into a number two or three starter with help from the club's player development staff.

Tigers Sign 6th Round Pick Daniel Fields

By Mike Axisa | August 17, 2009 at 9:34pm CDT

According to MLB.com's Jason Beck, the Tigers have signed sixth rounder Daniel Fields to a contract believed to be worth seven figures.

Gammons’ Latest: Tate, Turner, Oliver

By Mike Axisa | August 17, 2009 at 9:32pm CDT

In his latest blog post at ESPN.com, Peter Gammons says that there "are rumblings that the commissioner's office wants to hold off the announcement of some of the bigger deals so they do not impact others." He hears the following deals are done according to GMs:

Padres and first rounder Donovan Tate at $6.7MM, which had been done for five days
Tigers and first rounder Jacob Turner at $6.7MM
Tigers and second rounder Andy Oliver at $1MM

Gammons also says that the Giants and first rounder Zack Wheeler are close to a deal at $3.4MM, and that there are "conflicting reports" on Colorado signing Tyler Matzek and Texas signing Matt Purke, both first round picks. The Indians and Alex White are deadlocked, but the Tribe could go near $2MM.

Draft Updates: Unsigned Picks, Tigers, Brewers

By Mike Axisa | August 17, 2009 at 9:00pm CDT

Two hours to go…

ESPN's Keith Law says he's hearing "lots of reports of deals that are done, including "unsigned" first-rounders, whose contracts are being throttled by MLB to prevent other players/agents from using them as leverage." He expects there to be a flood of announcements from 11pm-12:30am ET tonight, so stay tuned.
MLB.com's Jason Beck reports that the Tigers continue to negotiate with the agents for first rounder Jacob Turner, second rounder Andrew Oliver, and sixth rounder Daniel Fields. Turner and Oliver are Scott Boras clients, Fields isn't.
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo says the Brewers continue to be aggressive in the later rounds, landing 16th rounder Scooter Gennett.

Odds & Ends: Strasburg, Magglio, Marlins, Yanks

By Mike Axisa | August 17, 2009 at 6:04pm CDT

It's going to be a busy night, so I hope you've got a comfy chair…

ESPN's Peter Gammons writes that the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg need each other. I have to agree with that.
MLB.com's Jason Beck notes that the Tigers still have to make a roster move to get the newly acquired Aubrey Huff on the 25-man roster, but GM Dave Dombrowski confirmed it would not involve Magglio Ordonez.
The Marlins signed second rounder Bryan Berglund for $572,500 according to Baseball America's Jim Callis, a touch over slot. We first learned of this signing over the weekend, but now we have a dollar figure.
Callis also reports that the Yankees have signed 16th rounder Bryan Mitchell to a deal worth $800,000. Obviously, that's way over slot.
Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus tweets that 10 of top 15 picks were still unsigned when we woke up this morning, and that that's still the case with less than six hours until the deadline. Should be a fun night.
Kiley McDaniel of BP says he was told that another club fired an international scout last week for bonus skimming.

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