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Have Injuries Knocked Tigers, Indians Out Of Contention?

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Frustration continues to mount as both the Indians and Tigers lost a key starter to injury this week. Jeremy Bonderman is out with a blood clot, and Jake Westbrook will undergo Tommy John surgery; both pitchers are likely out for the season.

Since these two teams where once considered favorites to contend for the AL Central crown, it seems highly implausible that they would forfeit the season in early June. So, dear readers, what options do these two teams have? Do they trade for pitching and hope their offenses carry them through? Do they try to spark their offense via free agency? Do they give up and hope for a better 2009?

For one, as an AL exec told Jayson Stark, the Tigers seem to be out of prospects good enough to trade for big league talent.

And the Indians’ pitching has been good enough, but it’s been their inconsistent offense (with a punch-less Travis Hafner in particular) that has them six games out of first.

Arguably, the Indians seem to be the team with the best shot at a comeback, so what’s the plan? Do the Tribe get another bat to replace Hafner? Do the Tigers trade a couple of big names for an arm?

Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com. You can reach him here.

Jayson Stark’s Latest

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Jayson Stark’s latest column is up and as usual he dips into the rumor-mill several times…

  • Indians: According to other clubs, Cleveland is starting to float C.C. Sabathia’s name, but are making it clear that they are not ready to trade him. Stark says the Indians are scouting the Red Sox heavily. One executive says that it is hard to imagine somebody giving up prospects for a guy that will almost certainly test the free agency waters. That same executive says they would have a hard time giving seven years to a pitcher as big as Sabathia.
  • Tigers: One AL executive says the Tigers don’t have any prospects of value left, but wonders if they won’t do something crazy in the trade market because of their "all in" payroll. Stark wonders if they would be willing to trade Jeremy Bonderman or a big bat for an arm.
  • Braves: Atlanta might be more interested in bringing back Kevin Millwood as opposed to Greg Maddux, but Stark says that is very unlikely.
  • Rockies: In addition to Matt Holiday and Brian Fuentes, there is a slim chance that Aaron Cook would be made available, but his salary goes up $1MM per year if he is dealt.
  • A’s: Apparently the bounty sought by Oakland for Joe Blanton ("three young building-block players") has not been lowered since last summer.
  • Royals: The Royals have already started listening to offers for a number of players but one executive says that list does not include their relief pitchers and those are the pieces of highest interest.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Francisco Cruceta Designated

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Casey Fossum had been tearing up Triple A, so the Tigers decided to designate Francisco Cruceta to make room for him.

Cruceta, 26, has only 26 big league innings under his belt.  He’s been knocked around, and lousy control hasn’t helped.  Cruceta missed all of spring training with visa issues.  The Tigers are the fifth organization seduced by Cruceta’s high ceiling (according to Baseball America).

Possible Sellers: Detroit Tigers

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Once again, we’re only two months into the season, and a lot can change between now and July. Using a familiar anecdote, the Yankees were 22-29 last May 31, and ended up being the best team in baseball in the second half. So while they looked like possible sellers on May 31, when July rolled around that would no longer be the case. The Detroit Tigers have a similar possibility this year.

Touted by a to-be-unnamed ESPN analyst as having the best offense in baseball history, the Tigers have faltered in 2008. They’re 23-31, good for fourth place in the AL Central. The good news is that they can turn it around. The bad news is that the division rival Cleveland Indians are also having a poor run, sitting at 25-29. Any potential run by the Tigers could be dampened by a potential Cleveland streak.

So if you’re Dave Dombrowski, do you consider reloading for next year? The armchair GM in us is likely to say yes. Clearly, though, Dombrowski won’t be so impulsive. He and manager Jim Leyland have been tinkering with the lineup to see if they can spark anything. Namely, the idea is to move Carlos Guillen, who has already switched from first to third this season, to left field. That would open up third base for Brandon Inge.

I’m not quite sure that’s the best idea, considering Marcus Thames is hitting better than Inge, though in fewer at bats. So it’s doubtful that this tinkering really gets things going. Just ask Joe Girardi. He’s been tweaking his lineup since Day 1. And while the Yankees have started hitting, I don’t think anyone is attributing it to his daily lineup shifts. Your players have to hit, plain and simple. And it stands to reason that the Tigers will hit, regardless of the lineup.

Who’s expendable? Magglio Ordonez? It’s not often you see a team trade their best hitter. But Maggs is 34 this year. I’m not saying he’ll tank next year, but the Tigers could be seeing his peak value pass this July. If they’re truly out of it, they could consider a Maggs move. Conversely, they could consider his potential production next year far too valuable to sacrifice. He’s signed through 2009, with a pair of $15MM team options for 2010 and 2011.

Edgar Renteria? He’s in the final year of his four-year deal, though he does have a $11MM club option for next year. That could be an attractive contract for an acquiring team. Placido Polanco? I only mention his name because he’s signed on the cheap, $4.6MM, through 2009. He could net some return for the Tigers because of his cheapness and consistency at the plate.

I know Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson will enter the conversation at some point. I just don’t think the pair of lefties will get the Tigers anything attractive in return. They could be token trades for players in the lower minors, for high-risk players. But if they consider themselves out of contention, it’s better than nothing, I suppose.

Joe Pawlikowski is a writer for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog, and can be reached here.

Stark’s Latest: Braves, Robertson, Igawa

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Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings column up.  Let’s take a look.

  • While Greg Maddux is not out of the question, the Braves are more interested in a younger starter they can control for multiple years.
  • One possibly available starter who hasn’t gotten much buzz: Nate Robertson.  The 30 year-old southpaw hasn’t pitched well since ’06, and he’s signed through 2010.
  • The Mariners will probably talk about Miguel Batista and Jarrod Washburn, but not Erik Bedard.  No big surprise there.  Both Batista and Washburn are signed through ’09.
  • Stark rattles off a bunch of available relievers.  Mostly names you’d expect, but click through and take a look.
  • Kei Igawa, signed through 2011, asked the Yankees if they could find a way to ship him back to Japan during the winter.  They couldn’t find a way to make it work.

Odds and Ends: Ivan Rodriguez, Hall, Street

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Time for today’s link roundup.

  • MLBTR live chat here at 2pm CST, don’t miss it!
  • Ivan Rodriguez expects to play ball beyond this season.
  • Bill Hall isn’t happy with the Brewers’ callup of Russell Branyan.  Hall is hitting .220/.292/.418 in 196 plate appearances.  He’s signed through 2010.
  • Susan Slusser ponders the future of A’s relievers Huston Street, Alan Embree, Santiago Casilla, and Joey Devine.  Might be tough to deal anyone unless the team drops out of contention.
  • Part 2 of AN’s Billy Beane interview.

Odds and Ends: Jacque, Lee Hak-ju, Tavarez

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Here’s today’s collection of links.

Odds and Ends: Jacque, Vizquel, Greinke

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Today’s linkage…

Rosenthal’s Latest: Lidge, Daniel Cabrera, Bonds, Edmonds

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  I put the Griffey info in a separate post; let’s discuss the rest.

  • Rosenthal suggests that Brad Lidge would be harder to replace than Pat Burrell, and for that reason the Phillies will make a bigger effort to re-sign him.  I imagine Phillies fans would prefer that course of action.  The problem?  The Phillies have little chance of offering four years, according to Jayson Stark.
  • The Rangers will face a delicate situation in coming years: moving Michael Young to a different position.  The chain reaction could make Hank Blalock available.  Blalock has a club option for ’09 at $6.2MM.
  • Aside from Rick Porcello replacing Kenny Rogers at some point, the questionable Detroit rotation is set and signed through 2010.
  • One scout seems to think Daniel Cabrera has turned the corner and shouldn’t be traded.  He’ll become a free agent after the 2010 season and earns $2.875MM this year.
  • Though it might be seen as a desperation move, the Tigers don’t have much to lose by signing Barry Bonds.  Gary Sheffield endorsed it.
  • Rosenthal says the Rays and Jays are teams with "possible interest" in Jim Edmonds but are likely to pass.  That leaves the Cubs.
  • Will Jason Giambi find a job next year after the Yankees decline his option?  He plans to try.
  • The Red Sox asked about Mark Loretta during Spring Training as "infield insurance."  Rosenthal suggests the Sox consider Omar Vizquel, a defensive upgrade over Julio Lugo.

Rosenthal’s Full Count: Bonds, Webb, Hanley

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Let’s hit up Ken Rosenthal’s latest Full Count video:

  • Rosenthal thinks the Tigers should sign Barry Bonds.  Sure, Detroit already has too many DHs, and Bonds wouldn’t help their need for improved defense and speed, but they absolutely need another lefthanded bat.  Rosenthal points out that the team is 11-20 in games started by RHP.  As for the fear of a clubhouse problem, Gary Sheffield – who has feuded with Bonds in the past – has no problem and I would presume that the other players, particularly veterans, on the Tigers would echo that sentiment.
  • The 3-year contract extension for Brandon Webb does not have "a lot of momentum."  Like Jake Peavy last year, Webb is looking for around 3 years, 52 million despite being 2 years older than Peavy.
  • KR loves the Hanley deal.  It keeps them from having to deal another player before his contract becomes too expensive and that there shouldn’t be any concern for Hanley’s production to drop off.

By Nat Boyle

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