Tigers Rumors

Odds and Ends: Astros, Saito, Yankees

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 15, 2008 at 8:14pm CDT

Links for Monday night…

Astros GM Ed Wade is "kicking the tires" on players to share time with Geoff Blum at third next year. It seems unlikely that they can afford Ty Wigginton.
The Marlins haven’t yet inquired on Takashi Saito, a recent non-tender.
It’s "very unlikely" though "not impossible" that Mark Teixeira or Manny Ramirez becomes a Yankee according to Tyler Kepner. He also thinks that the longer Andy Pettitte waits, the lower the chances are of a return to the Yankees.
Adam Everett thinks the Tigers are a great fit for him. Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said Everett’s in line to get most of the starts at shortstop.
Felipe Lopez could be a positive for the D’Backs in spite of his questionable effort and unspectacular defense, writes Keith Law.
Rob Neyer thinks that the Yankees "pretty obviously overpaid" for A.J. Burnett.
Here’s a video clip of Bronx Banter authors and Anthony McCarron debating the pros and cons of the Burnett signing.
Sarah D. Morris weighs in on the Dodgers’ offseason moves.
Tony Massarotti ranks the five worst current pitching contracts.

Odds and Ends: Teixeira, Hunsicker, Burrell

By Tim Dierkes | December 15, 2008 at 2:30pm CDT

Links for Monday…

According to the Newberg Report mailing list and CBSSports.com, the Rangers re-signed pitcher Doug Mathis to a minor league deal.
Joe Nelson’s been popular since being non-tendered – he’s heard from "at least 12-14 teams." Ruben Amaro Jr. said today the Phillies inquired on "20 or so" non-tendered players.
Adam Everett’s deal with the Tigers is official – $1MM plus incentives.
MLB.com’s Barry Bloom spoke to Padres owner John Moores.
Richard Justice doesn’t think Drayton McLane would ask Ed Wade to trade Roy Oswalt, but he could see Oswalt requesting a trade.
Dave Sheinin says nothing has happened with Mark Teixeira since the Winter Meetings ended, and it’s no coincidence that we haven’t heard much about offers from the Red Sox or Yankees. Michael Silverman says Boston’s eventual offer to Tex will easily be a record for this ownership group. He guesses eight years in the $145-175MM range, noting that the Red Sox do not like to have players signed beyond age 36.
Buster Olney says the Orioles and Nationals bidding on Tex is "nothing less than lunacy."
Gerry Hunsicker has signed an extension to stay with the Rays.
RotoAuthority takes a look at Jonathan Sanchez.
George King says Kenny Lofton attempted to dissuade C.C. Sabathia from signing with the Yankees.
Ken Davidoff says it seems that the Yankees will avoid Scott Boras this offseason.
Steve Serby did a Q&A with Omar Minaya, learning details of Minaya’s Winter Meetings dealings.
Pat Burrell says he never received a formal offer from the Phillies. His replacement, Raul Ibanez, will receive three years and $31.5MM.

Odds and Ends: Sheets, Moeller, Yankees

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 13, 2008 at 11:24am CDT

Links for Saturday…

As more teams lock up lefty relievers, Jon Paul Morosi sees the Tigers as more likely to land Joe Beimel.
Tom Haudricourt has heard that Ben Sheets is more likely to sign with the Rangers, who have Mike Maddux campaigning for them, than the Yankees.
Peter Schmuck hears that the Orioles have signed catcher Chad Moeller to a minor league deal.
Ken Davidoff writes that the Yankees shouldn’t concern themselves with Andy Pettitte just yet.
Dave Perkins of the Toronto Star doesn’t like the Yankees’ aggressive spending.
Jack Curry of the New York Times writes that the Yankees are instant favorites for the World Series.
Another New York Times writer, Ben Shpigel, writes that the Mets especially need Oliver Perez now that the Phillies have signed Raul Ibanez.
RotoAuthority breaks down the re-vamped San Francisco bullpen for fantasy baseball purposes.
Matt Clement’s optimistic about his fresh start with the Jays.
Two players re-signed with their clubs after being non-tendered: Norris Hopper of the Reds and Scott Mathieson of the Phils.
Hideki Okajima will run a marathon Sunday, and the Red Sox aren’t thrilled.

Odds and Ends: Burrell, Braves, Red Sox

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 12, 2008 at 7:53pm CDT

Links for Friday night…

The Reds are going to call Pat Burrell’s agent.
Ken Rosenthal breaks down the Braves’ options now that they’ve lost out on A.J. Burnett. Could they sign Rafael Furcal as a second baseman and move Kelly Johnson to left field?
The Red Sox signed five players to minor league deals, including Paul McAnulty and Billy Traber.
T.R. Sullivan takes a look at the market for Ben Sheets from the Rangers’ perspective.
Keith Law calls the Raul Ibanez signing ’absurd’ for the Phillies.
Orioles manager Dave Trembley thinks his team is still in the running for Mark Teixeira.
Dean Jones Jr. breaks down the Orioles’ Rule 5 draft selections.
Dave Dombrowski isn’t the only one who’d like to bring John Smoltz to Detroit. Even college basketball coach Tom Izzo likes the fit.
Jay Bruce also plays GM; he wants the Reds to keep their young pitching. Bruce also revealed that Jerry Hairston Jr. is considering the Phillies and Mariners in addition to the Reds.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Tigers, Braves, Red Sox, Pirates

By Cork Gaines | December 12, 2008 at 11:50am CDT

Today is free agent Orlando Hudson’s 31st birthday and the 29th birthday of Garrett Atkins, the subject of many recent trade rumors.

Also, on this date 10 years ago, Kevin Brown became the first player to sign a contract worth at least $100MM, when he signed a seven-year/$105MM contract with the Dodgers. The deal came when Brown was 34, one season after going 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA. Brown’s first two seasons with the Dodgers (18-9, 3.00 and 13-6, 2.58) were solid, but he would only make 29 starts in years three and four combined. Since then, two pitchers have signed deals for at least six years. Mike Hampton and Barry Zito. That doesn’t bode well for C.C. Sabathia, but it’s a small sample size…With the winter meetings now wrapped up, let’s take a look at what is being said in the Blogosphere…

T ake 75 North feels the Tigers are going to regret acquiring Edwin Jackson and lament the loss of Matt Joyce.
The Detroit Tigers Weblog does not get the Edwin Jackson/Matt Joyce deal noting that at least Joyce has shown signs of being a very good player.
When Sid Slid weighs the merits of acquiring Jake Peavy or A.J. Burnett and sees Burnett as the better option.
Infield Chatter warns the Red Sox about signing Mark Teixeira, feeling Theo Epstein should be more concerned with acquiring a pitcher and noting the Red Sox have Lars Anderson waiting in the minors.
Pirate Revolution feels the Pirates need to move Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson and John Grabow to unblock the paths of younger players.
DraftInfo has a Q&A with Max Stassi, a high school catcher that is projected to be selected in the first round.
Fire Brand of the American League takes a look at the impact C.C. Sabathia will have on the AL East.

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

Tigers Sign Santiago, Eye Turnbow

By Tim Dierkes | December 12, 2008 at 9:48am CDT

According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers avoided arbitration with shortstop Ramon Santiago. He’ll get $825K in 2009.

Morosi also reports that the Tigers have been in contract with Derrick Turnbow’s agent. Turnbow has also drawn interest from the Rockies, Pirates, and Giants. He’ll have a throwing session for scouts in mid-January.

Details On Tigers’ Failed Putz Bid

By Tim Dierkes | December 12, 2008 at 9:20am CDT

Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press has the details on the Tigers’ failed bid for J.J. Putz:

One proposal involved the Tigers sending Matt Joyce to Tampa Bay and outfielders Wilkin Ramirez and Casper Wells to Seattle. Putz was the only player the Tigers would have received.

According to Joe Strauss, the Cardinals also pursued Putz (as well as Aaron Heilman).

After the proposal failed, the Tigers shipped Joyce to Tampa Bay for Edwin Jackson. Brian Fuentes may be the Tigers’ best remaining option from a baseball standpoint, but Morosi believes they’d have to move other contracts off the books to afford him. I’m surprised – they’ll spend less than $10MM in ’09 on their new catcher, shortstop, and starter.

Tigers Unlikely To Add Closer

By Steve Adams | December 11, 2008 at 8:04pm CDT

8:04: Steve Kornacki doesn’t feel that the Tigers are done adding to their bullpen yet. He feels Dave Dombrowski will pursue Fuentes is the price comes down.

He also looks at what he deems the other six viable options left: John Smoltz, Trevor Hoffman, Brandon Lyon, David Weathers, Chad Cordero, and Eric Gagne. Hardly an impressive crop. Kornacki lists Lyon and Weathers as the most attractive options, unless the Tigers can luck out and pry Smoltz away from Atlanta. Smoltz is a Michigan native.

6:44: Danny Knobler of CBS Sports says that getting a closer is no longer a priority for the Tigers.

Detroit isn’t interested in Trevor Hoffman, can’t afford Brian Fuentes, and they tried for Kerry Wood but missed. The Tigers feel they could have landed J.J. Putz, but the Mets swooped in with a last minute offer and won his services.

Knobler also wonders if the Tigers could release Dontrelle Willis if he doesn’t show something in Spring Training.

Sheffield Staying Put For Now

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | December 11, 2008 at 6:41pm CDT

According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers don’t expect to deal for Gary Sheffield. A Rangers official said the club would “consider it” if the Tigers took on enough of Sheffield’s $14MM 2009 salary, but the Tigers aren’t going to give him away.

Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski thinks that Sheffield “can still hit,” so he’s in no rush to trade him.

The Rangers inquired on Sheffield yesterday, but Sullivan says it “was not a serious conversation.”

Odds and Ends: Giambi, Saberhagen, Chacon

By Tim Dierkes | December 11, 2008 at 3:25pm CDT

Today’s stray Winter Meetings links as everyone heads home…

Jason Giambi maintains hopes of returning to the Yankees; he may be willing to take a discount.
Dave Cameron believes the Rays won the Edwin Jackson–Matt Joyce swap, handily.
Brett Saberhagen was hired as an agent for Dan Evans’ firm. He’ll focus on pitchers.
Shawn Chacon’s agent is trying to find his client a job. Troy Renck also notes that the Rockies’ offer to Glendon Rusch is a $750K minor league deal.
Kevin Kaduk relays his first Winter Meetings experience.

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