Tigers Rumors

Odds and Ends: Blue Jays, Dodgers, Dunn

By Tim Dierkes | November 27, 2008 at 9:08pm CDT

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are some links to snack on before the big meal.

Blue Jays interim CEO Paul Beeston believes they have a chance to re-sign A.J. Burnett, but may choose to save the money earmarked for him if he signs elsewhere.
ESPN’s Jayson Stark assesses the Tigers. Catching seems to be their top priority this winter, though they need a shortstop and closer too.
There is a growing sentiment that the Blue Jays will have less to spend this winter than originally anticipated.
Bill Plaschke attempts to get clarification from Jamie McCourt on her recent quotes.
Curt Schilling remembers the events leading up to his trade to the Red Sox.
SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the market is eerily quiet for Adam Dunn so far.

Red Sox Rumors: Lugo, Varitek

By Tim Dierkes | November 27, 2008 at 9:04am CDT

According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald, the Tigers’ talks for Julio Lugo have stalled and a deal is unlikely. It seemed simple on the surface: Lugo for Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson.

Also, the Red Sox plan to offer arbitration to Type A free agent Jason Varitek. McAdam says Tek "almost certainly won’t accept the offer." In a recent poll, about 40% of MLBTR readers surveyed expected the Red Sox to offer arbitration to Varitek.

Tigers Considering Alex Cora

By Tim Dierkes | November 26, 2008 at 5:47pm CDT

According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers have considered pursuing free agent shortstop Alex Cora. Cora could be used in a platoon with Ramon Santiago.

Cora, 33, hit .270/.371/.349 in 179 plate appearances this year while playing a below-average shortstop. He earned $2MM.

Crasnick’s Free Agent Bargains

By Tim Dierkes | November 26, 2008 at 11:13am CDT

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick lists nine possible free agent bargains in his column today. A few notes:

Randy Johnson is looking for a one-year deal, and his agent says the list of interested clubs is approaching double figures. The Dodgers may make sense, though Johnson is on the backburner for them.
Crasnick speculates that Philadelphia could be a nice fit for Felipe Lopez.
Scott Boras seemingly wants a multiyear deal for Joe Crede, as he’s using the Magglio Ordonez contract as a model. Maybe his new team would have the ability to opt out after the season if Crede hits the DL for back problems again. Crasnick mentions the Rangers as an interesting fit for Crede.
Crasnick talked to execs who see Juan Rivera signing a two-year deal in the $6-8MM range.
Also weighing in on free agent bargains: Dave Cameron at FanGraphs and ESPN’s Keith Law.

Shouse Seeks Two Years

By Tim Dierkes | November 26, 2008 at 10:43am CDT

According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, free agent reliever Brian Shouse is looking for a two-year deal. MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy first reported this on October 30th. The Brewers want to do one year, and their recent signing of lefty R.J. Swindle may mean Shouse is less likely to re-sign. The Rockies have discussed Shouse internally, according to Troy Renck. The Tigers are another possibility.

Haudricourt also notes that Doug Melvin talked to Gabe Kapler but did not make an offer. Melvin may be more focused on lefthanded hitters. It’s been suggested that the Red Sox could bring Kapler back.

Rogers’ Latest: Royals/Cubs, Peavy, Phillies

By Steve Adams | November 23, 2008 at 4:08pm CDT

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune has an interesting piece covering many topics throughout MLB:

The Royals are specifically eyeing Sean Marshall and Mike Fontenot as targets while discussing a trade for Mark Teahen with the Chicago Cubs. We’ve heard some conflicting reports recently about whether or not this trade was actually being talked about. Teahen could fill the Cubs’ right field vacancy, but his offensive struggles since moving to the outfield have been well-documented.
Houston could still be a dark-horse candidate for Jake Peavy. Roy Oswalt has been telling Peavy the two of them could make Houston contenders together. I can’t see a sensible package coming from Houston without opening new holes, however.
The Phillies don’t plan on making any drastic moves, despite Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz undergoing surgery.
The Dodgers and Tigers are both interested in Orlando Cabrera.

Tigers Interested In Jack Wilson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 22, 2008 at 11:10am CDT

Ken Rosethal just updated his column to include the latest on Jack Wilson.

According to Rosenthal’s source, the Tigers are one of several teams interested in trading for Wilson. The 30-year-old shortstop will earn just over $7MM next year and he has a club option for 2010.

Rosenthal adds that the Pirates would like to acquire Marlins catcher Matt Treanor and then trade him to Detroit along with Wilson.

Wilson could start at short for the Tigers, and Treanor could become their back-up catcher.

Odds And Ends: Lowell, Vazquez, Tazawa

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 22, 2008 at 10:46am CDT

Links for Saturday…

Ken Rosenthal comes up with a few possible suitors for Mike Lowell if the Red Sox sign Mark Teixeira. He lists the Dodgers, White Sox, Tigers and Brewers as possible fits.
Nick Piecoro likes Ramon Vazquez as a fit for the D-Backs.
Highly coveted Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa pitched a complete game shutout in Osaka, walking no one and striking out 10.
John Van Benschoten will move on from the Pirates and try to sign with another team.
Luke Hudson will also leave his old club, moving on from the Royals instead of accepting an assignment to AAA.
Bobby Crosby is out of the loop amid the rumors swirling about Rafael Furcal.
Mike Scarr takes a look at the market for middle infielders.

Dodgers Will Let Beimel Leave

By Tim Dierkes | November 21, 2008 at 9:57pm CDT

Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times talked to Joe Beimel’s agent Joe Sroba, who said he hasn’t been contacted by the Dodgers. Sroba and Ned Colletti agree – the Dodgers are going in a different direction.

Beimel has drawn interest from the Mets, Reds, Tigers, Cardinals, and Rockies. He’s probably fishing around for a three-year deal at this point.

Heyman’s Latest: Lowe, Teixeira, Guillen

By Tim Dierkes | November 21, 2008 at 8:02pm CDT

SI.com’s Jon Heyman recently published several new blog posts.

Free agent outfielder Garret Anderson has a new agent: Scott Boras. Click here for our full list of Boras clients.
Rangers starters Vicente Padilla and Kevin Millwood are drawing interest from the Braves, Dodgers, and Mets. Padilla is owed $12MM in 2009 with a 2010 option for the same ($1.75MM buyout). Millwood gets $23MM over the next two seasons and has a limited no-trade clause.
Heyman says rather than battle for A.J. Burnett, the Red Sox and Yankees may duke it out for Derek Lowe. Other suitors for Lowe: the Mets, Braves, Phillies, Giants, Mariners and Dodgers. There he goes naming the Mariners again as a player for a major free agent…interesting. The Giants are a new one as well, though Heyman says Lowe may prefer to head back east.
Heyman agrees with info from Nick Cafardo, that the Red Sox and Tigers have discussed swapping Julio Lugo for Dontrelle Willis.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti admitted to interest in C.C. Sabathia. Colletti said he’s waiting to hear from Scott Boras regarding Manny Ramirez, even though the Dodgers pulled their two-year, $45MM offer.
It hasn’t happened yet, but the Angels plan to make a "very serious" offer to Mark Teixeira. A competing exec guessed eight years, $160MM. Remember, that’s a non-Angels exec making a guess. Heyman tosses a new team into the mix for Tex: the Mariners.
The Royals are "quietly shopping" Jose Guillen. Guillen, 33 in May, hit .264/.300/.438 in 633 plate appearances this year while playing below-average defense. He’s owed $24MM for the 2009-10 seasons.
Competing execs tell Heyman the Mets appear open to trading Ramon Castro or Brian Schneider. The Mets would then presumably sign a free agent catcher.

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