Tigers Rumors

Maggs In Platoon; 2010 Option May Not Kick In

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 9, 2009 at 10:35am CDT

Magglio Ordonez and Clete Thomas are now platooning in right field, which could prevent Magglio's $18MM option from vesting for next year. Because he played regularly last season, Maggs needs to start 126 games or bat 457 times for his option to kick in. He won't likely start 126 games, since Thomas will get the call against righties, but 457 plate appearances remain within Maggs' grasp.

He has already hit 291 times, so he needs just 166 more plate appearances this year, or slightly more than two per game. If he's just starting two or three times a week and pinch hitting, Magglio could pick up enough plate appearances for his option to kick in, but it will be close.

Rosenthal On Vazquez, Hairston, Teahen

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 7, 2009 at 4:58pm CDT

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Javier Vazquez has more value than any available hitter. Here are the details and the rest of Rosenthal's rumors:

Not even Matt Holliday or Corey Hart would be fair value for Vazquez, so Rosenthal asks why the Braves would want to trade him at all.
The Mets inquired on Scott Hairston, who could have been an affordable stopgap, but balked when the Padres asked for Bobby Parnell.
The Marlins offered Gaby Sanchez for Manny Delcarmen, but the Red Sox weren't interested.
The Mariners, Tigers and Rays weren't far from agreeing to a deal that would have sent Edwin Jackson to Seattle and J.J. Putz to Detroit last offseason.
Kevin Towers compares Rule 5 pick Everth Cabrera to Rafael Furcal.
The Royals "do not seem terribly inclined" to deal Mark Teahen.
The Pirates covet Eric Young Jr. of the Rockies.
Some predict that the distribution of amateur talent- through the draft and international signings- will be the biggest issue in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Odds And Ends: O’s, Phillies, Braun, DeRosa

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 7, 2009 at 12:45pm CDT

Odds And Ends: Escobar, Sanchez, Beimel

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 6, 2009 at 9:03am CDT

Some odds and ends to start the week off…

Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution hears the Royals "covet" Yunel Escobar. As O'Brien says, Mark Teahen alone would not likely be enough to acquire the Braves' shortstop.
Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus reports that the Tigers signed a pair of shortstops from Panama.
Almost 70% of Cleveland Plain Dealer readers don't think Eric Wedge should be around for the rest of the year.
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle tells us how some well-placed calls by Ryan Sadowski's mother helped the Giants starter make the big leagues.
Remember that Freddy Sanchez's All-Star Game berth means he only needs 600 plate appearances for his $8MM option to vest in 2010. He needs just 271 more.
As Ben Bolch of the LA Times reports, Joe Beimel would return to the Dodgers if he could.
Scott Hairston had a tough departure from his Padres teammates last night, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock.
The D'Backs are making progress with first round pick Bobby Borchering and hope to sign him this month, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.

Odds And Ends: Blue Jays, Cotts, Indians

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 3, 2009 at 11:38am CDT

Manny's back to help celebrate the Fourth of July weekend! Here are some links to start the day off…

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Blue Jays execs will decide what course of action to take this month once they see how the team performs on its ten-game road trip against divisional rivals.
Jamey Newberg ranks this week's top 20 Rangers prospects for MLB.com. Texas just keeps churning out quality players; this week it's Julio Borbon.
Cubs reliever Neal Cotts underwent Tommy John surgery, according to the Sports Network, via the Miami Herald.
Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says the Mariners and Angels have a serious advantage over the Rangers when it comes to making deadline deals now that the Rangers are borrowing money from MLB.
Steve Kornacki of MLive provides five reasons why the Tigers may not make the playoffs and five reasons why they're in first.
As Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, Seth McClung's preformance has made the Brewers' need for a starter more glaring.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Indians would need a "staggering" return for either Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez.

Morosi On Yankees, Qualls, Tigers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 3, 2009 at 9:19am CDT

Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports has a few more rumors worth passing along:

The Yankees' bullpen has been performing well, but that's not stopping the team from keeping a close eye on D'Backs closer Chad Qualls.
If Brian Bruney doesn't start pitching more consistently, the Yankees may feel more pressure to acquire Qualls, who won't be a free agent until after next season and makes an affordable $2.5MM this year.
The Tigers are still looking for an outfield bat as Magglio Ordonez's hitting woes continue. The haircut may not have been the answer, as he has just two hits in his last 20 at bats.

Stark On Dodgers, Giants, Brewers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 1, 2009 at 4:44pm CDT

In this ESPN Radio segment, Jayson Stark says the Dodgers will go after the best starting pitcher they can find. There's no elite starting pitching out there now, but Ned Colletti is looking to turn some up. Here are the rest of Stark's rumors:

The Giants need an impact hitter and they're "in on every bat out there."
Matt Holliday is not a likely fit for the Cardinals.
Stark says Doug Davis is a good fit in Milwaukee.
The Mets are more interested in left-handed first basemen, so Nick Johnson still looks like a good fit for them.
The Tigers are looking for a bat, The White Sox could add pitching and the Twins want relievers.

Odds And Ends: Snell, Tigers, Dotel

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 25, 2009 at 3:47pm CDT

Some more links for a quiet Thursday…

MLB.com's Jen Langosch says it's "almost certain" that Ian Snell will be demoted to Triple A and Dejan Kovacevic confirms the news. Snell has been mentioned in some rumors, but his value's pretty low at this point.
Chris Iott of MLive.com reports that the Tigers signed two of their picks and a non-drafted free agent.
Octavio Dotel realizes he could be traded and says nothing will surprise him, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
In a piece for MLB.com, Jamey Newberg says Justin Smoak and Martin Perez lead the list of top Rangers prospects.
Don't forget to tune in at 6:20 CST when I'll be talking rumors on the TEAM 1380 in St. Louis.

Tigers Rumors: Polanco, Rodney, Lyon, Everett

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 25, 2009 at 10:59am CDT

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News predicts how the Tigers will handle four impending free agents this offseason:

Placido Polanco "will likely be allowed to chase free agency" as the Tigers look for another second baseman.
The Tigers are thinking about Joel Zumaya as their 2010 closer, but they'll likely offer Fernando Rodney arbitration anyways. Henning says Rodney's a good bet to sign a multi-year deal elsewhere.
Henning expects Brandon Lyon to receive an offer of arbitration.
The Tigers love Adam Everett and want him back, so much so that they may offer him a contract before he hits free agency.

Odds And Ends: Brewers, Magglio, White Sox

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 23, 2009 at 3:49pm CDT

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