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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

Scenarios: Bonds In The American League

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In his latest column, Baltimore Sun writer Peter Schmuck doesn’t buy the collusion talk going around baseball circles regarding one Barry Bonds. He argues that the owners have no need to collude when Bonds’ bad health, bad ’tude, bad rep, and age are doing just fine in keeping bidders at bay.

Like many other baseball pundits, Schmuck thinks Bonds could be of some service to an American League team in need of a DH, but the reality is that only a few teams have a hole at that spot.

He does raise a good point, mentioning the Tigers’ decision to plop Gary Sheffield in left field (and cut Jacque Jones), creating an "apparent" need for a pure DH. For those of us too young to remember, Tigers manager Jim Leyland was instrumental during the early part of Bonds’ carreer in Pittsburgh, and Schmuck believes the 43-year-old slugger helped build Leyland’s reputation in return. (Another former Leyland protegé, Edgar Rentería, was acquired by the Tigers in the off-season).

But don’t add Bonds to your fantasy yeam just yet,  because as Schmuck points out, "it probably wouldn’t be a great idea reuniting Sheffield and Bonds after the BALCO mess."

Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com

Padres, Marlins Interested In Jacque Jones

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According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins and Padres have inquired on recently designated outfielder Jacque Jones.  The Tigers, on the hook for $3MM of Jones’ salary this year, would obviously prefer a trade.

Many Padres are not hitting, including outfielders Jim Edmonds and Scott Hairston.  Jones might not hit for much power anymore, but he can play a quality center field.

The Fish nearly acquired Jones last summer.  They haven’t gotten much out of Alfredo Amezaga and Cody Ross in center, and left fielder Josh Willingham is on the DL with a sore lower back.  The Marlins are just a game back in the NL East.

Tigers Release Jacque Jones

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According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers released outfielder Jacque Jones today. 

Jones, 33, received only 90 plate appearances before the Tigers gave up on him.  He makes $5MM this year, of which the Cubs are paying $2MM.  Given Jones’ ability to play all three outfield positions, he shouldn’t have a problem finding a new team.

Rockies Acquire Jason Grilli, Jorge de la Rosa

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The Rockies and Tigers made a swap today.  The Rockies get 31 year-old pitcher Jason Grilli, while the Tigers receive 22 year-old pitcher Zach Simons.

Grilli has served as a mop-up man for the Tigers the past two years, eating bullpen innings at a mediocre ERA.  The Rox may have been drawn to his typically decent groundball rates.

Simons appears to be a long shot to reach the bigs; he wasn’t among the Rockies’ top 30 prospects.

The Rox also completed their long-rumored deal for lefty Jorge de la Rosa.  He’ll jump right into the rotation.  The 27 year-old is an interesting arm when healthy.

Retirement A Possibility For Sheffield

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Because of shoulder woes, 39 year-old DH Gary Sheffield hasn’t hit well since July of last year.  He’s an elite slugger when he’s on but terrible when he’s off.  In the midst of a third cortisone shot, Sheffield suggested that retirement is not out of the question.   He’s dealing with all kinds of pain and won’t undergo another surgery.  Retirement sounds like a worst-case scenario though.  After all, he is set to earn $14MM in ’09.

If Sheff retires or hits the 60-day DL, talk of Barry Bonds or Mike Piazza could heighten.  The Tigers, however, have consistently denied interest in Bonds.  They could simply shift Carlos Guillen to DH and Brandon Inge to third if Sheffield is out of the picture. 

Cabrera-Guillen Position Switch Upsets Inge

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We haven’t discussed the Miguel Cabrera–Carlos Guillen position swap here on MLBTR – on the surface it doesn’t appear to have hot stove implications.

However, Ken Rosenthal heard from a Major League source that Brandon Inge is "livid" that Cabrera was moved off third yet Inge still doesn’t have a starting gig.

Inge, 31 in May, is off to a decent start this year with a .246/.357/.439 line in 20 games.  His versatility is especially valuable for the Tigers, who have multiple injury-prone starters.  Trading Inge now only makes sense if a respectable reliever comes in return (even if $6.2MM is pricey for a supersub).

Bazardo Clears Waivers

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23 year-old Tigers pitcher Yorman Bazardo cleared waivers; he’ll head to Triple A.

Bazardo has already spent time in the Florida and Seattle organizations as well.  Why is he unwanted?  His strikeout rates have been weak in the minors, but his control is solid.  Baseball America seems fairly fond of him, though they note he’ll probably top out in middle relief.

Snyder Accepts Minor League Assignment

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MONDAY: Snyder has cleared waivers and accepted his assignment to Triple A, as suggested by Sarah Green back on April 5th.

FRIDAY: According to Jeff Horrigan of the Boston Herald, the Tigers, Rays, and Phillies have interest in recently-designated pitcher Kyle Snyder.

Snyder, now 30 years old, was the seventh overall pick by the Royals in the 1999 draft.  He was tolerable as a middle reliever for the Red Sox last year, though his control was poor.  He had two labrum surgeries in ’03 and ’04, and that injury reoccurred in ’05.  The Royals designated him the following year, and the Sox claimed him off waivers. 

Here’s a look at Snyder’s pitch type data from last year.  Most projection systems predict an ERA around 4.80 this year for him.

By the way, the Red Sox will also be designating Bryan Corey tonight.

Despite Tiger Woes, Bonds Not An Option

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John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle addresses the possibility of adding Barry Bonds to a Tigers team with a struggling offense out of the gate.  The team is currently 2-9 with a league-low 33 runs scored.

GM Dave Dombrowski responded to concerns raised about the offensive production thus far with his best Alfred E. Neuman impersonation, saying, "What!  Me worry?"

"If we hit the same all year, I’d be the most surprised I’ve ever been in my career," he said.  On signing Bonds, Dombrowski replied, "Our everyday lineup is set.  It’s not even a situation with us."

All this hand wringing over the offense, while understandable, seems misdirected.  The real concern has to be the pitching staff.  As Shea points out, the starting staff had just one quality start in the team’s first nine games.  With or without adding the recently DFA’d Kyle Snyder, Detroit should be much more concerned about solidifying its rotation and relief corps.  That offense is going to produce.  But pinning all hopes on it while neglecting the team’s arms could lead to a lot of disappointed fans.

Posted by Matt Birt

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