Tigers Rumors

Marlins Inquire On Ivan Rodriguez

By Tim Dierkes | July 16, 2008 at 1:04pm CDT

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes of the Marlins’ pursuit of a catcher, which has been going on for several weeks now.

The Fish would like to find an upgrade on Matt Treanor, who is currently on the DL with a hip strain. However, they’re not impressed by available backstops Paul Lo Duca, Yorvit Torrealba, and Dave Ross. Jackson adds an interesting name – the Marlins asked the Tigers about Ivan Rodriguez, but he’s not available at this time. They could always sign him in the offseason if the price is right.

We revisited the trade market for catchers about a week ago. Two names I haven’t heard much for the Marlins are Gregg Zaun and Rod Barajas of the Jays.

Sherman’s Latest: Adenhart, Burnett, Niese, Ibanez

By Tim Dierkes | July 14, 2008 at 5:38pm CDT

Joel Sherman of the New York Post has been digging up rumors left and right – here, here, and here in recent days. Let’s discuss.

The Angels have "hinted at a willingness to build a deal around pitching prospect Nick Adenhart." This would apparently involve Mark Teixeira or Matt Holliday.
The Phillies made an initial offer last week for A.J. Burnett, and the Jays were thoroughly unimpressed. The Phillies won’t discuss prospects Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, or Greg Golson in trades.
The Yankees have zero interest in Burnett.
The A’s are willing to move Joe Blanton. He’s not perfect, but he can eat innings and is under team control through 2010.
Six games out of the wild card with a league-best offense, the Rangers don’t look like sellers.
At least ten teams watched Mets’ Double A starter Jon Niese pitch Saturday. He’s their top trade chip given the unavailability of Fernando Martinez.
The Pirates have their eye on the Yankees’ Ross Ohlendorf, if the Yanks become buyers for players like Damaso Marte or Xavier Nady.
Three Raul Ibanez suitors are named: the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and Red Sox.
At least nine teams are monitoring Freddy Garcia: the Yankees, Mets, Astros, Rangers, Royals, Red Sox, Phillies, Tigers, and White Sox. We’ve seen the Braves, Rays, and Cubs mentioned too. Garcia’s agent isn’t up for an ’09 option with his client. A-Rod is said to be pushing for the Yankees to sign him.
Sherman notes a rumor around the game that has Pat Gillick becoming Mariners president next year, and Brian Cashman coming on as his GM.

Odds and Ends: Vizquel, Saito, Burnett, K-Rod

By Tim Dierkes | July 14, 2008 at 2:12pm CDT

So many links, so little time.

Barry Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris, says the prospects of his client playing this year look bleak.
The Tigers made their first Taiwan signing, adding outfielder Tang Chao-Ting.
Aside from Jim Bowden’s other problems, he’s having a hard time finding common ground with the Nationals’ top five draft picks.
Interesting post at NPB Tracker contrasting Masa Kobayashi with Yasuhiko Yabuta and Kazuo Fukumori.
The White Sox will have to choose between pitchers D.J. Carrasco and Adam Russell soon.
Troy E. Renck heard "simmering buzz" that Omar Vizquel could retire right now, but Vizquel debunked it.
19 year-old Tigers starter Rick Porcello probably won’t see big league time this year, but 19 year-old Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez has a chance.
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo notes that outfielder Brandon Moss is a top trade chip for the Red Sox, but they don’t want to deal him. Also, check out Cafardo’s Q&A with Globe readers here. All sorts of informed Red Sox hot stove speculation in there. They’re looking at lefty relievers and shortstops.
Takashi Saito’s elbow injury is worrisome – I wonder if they will put in a call on a Jon Rauch type or just ride it out with Jonathan Broxton. At least ten teams are interested in Rauch.
Ron Gardenhire’s wish list for the Twins: a lefty-mashing hitter and maybe bullpen help.
Should the Orioles consider signing A.J. Burnett this winter, if he reaches free agency? They’ve flirted with him before.
Another available lefty reliever to add to the list: the Braves’ Will Ohman.
Kurt Streeter believes the Angels should offer K-Rod four years and $55MM.
Pure speculation – could the White Sox quietly enter the market for a starter?
The MLB Trade Rumors daily email is currently broken…sorry about that. We’re working on it.

Quiet Deadline For Tigers?

By Tim Dierkes | July 11, 2008 at 1:17pm CDT

Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press believes the Tigers might be quiet in the trade market this month. However, the team could use starting pitching and relief help.

Morosi notes that the Tigers have not inquired on Randy Wolf or Greg Maddux. What’s more, Wolf has the Tigers on his no-trade list. One starter known to be on Detroit’s radar: Freddy Garcia.

Morosi adds that the Tigers had discussions for John Grabow and Damaso Marte earlier this year. And keep in mind that Barry Svrluga said back in April that the Tigers "will watch Jon Rauch very closely."

Odds and Ends: Kemp, Kearns, Carrasco, Garcia

By Tim Dierkes | July 11, 2008 at 10:32am CDT

Friday linkage…

Yesterday I linked to Dave Cameron’s piece, in which he wondered whether Matt Kemp is overrated. Here’s the other side of the debate, a response from Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness.
Joe Sports Fans names the seven worst trades of the decade. I have some arguments here; what do you think? I wrote this post on the Pierzynski/Nathan/Liriano/Bonser deal two years ago, but I still think it holds that Brian Sabean’s trade looked reasonable at the time.
Joel Sherman wonders if the Mets and Yankees should consider trading for Washington outfielder Austin Kearns.
Matt Gelb takes a look at Phillies prospect Carlos Carrasco, who does not want to be traded.
The Yankees rightfully don’t view Freddy Garcia as much of an upgrade, since he won’t be ready until late August at the earliest.
Tracy Ringolsby runs through various players on the trade market. Interestingly, he does not see A.J. Burnett being traded.
Cardinals Diaspora suggests the Cards tangle with Billy Beane again, this time for Joe Blanton.
Dave Dombrowski doesn’t see Ryan Perry in the Tigers’ bullpen this year, after all.
Armchair GM challenges SI.com’s Jon Heyman to put his money where his mouth is.

Tigers Sign First Round Pick Ryan Perry

By Tim Dierkes | July 9, 2008 at 10:03am CDT

The Cubs signed first round pick Andrew Cashner yesterday, and the Tigers followed suit by inking first rounder Ryan Perry today. Both relievers signed for about $1.5MM.

According to John Moredich of the Tucson Citizen, Perry will be a September call-up for the Tigers if all goes according to plan. He might be the first member of the ’08 draft class to reach the bigs. The Tigers are seven games out, so Perry could even impact the playoff race.

Stark’s Latest: Harang, Bedard, Hardy, Weeks, McLouth

By Tim Dierkes | July 3, 2008 at 4:30pm CDT

Brand new column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

Stark explains why he feels the trade deadline is overrated. I guess it all depends on what you expect from it.
You may recall Walt Jocketty’s Reds untouchables list from a few weeks ago. It did not include Aaron Harang. While the Reds might listen on Harang, there wouldn’t be any kind of discount.
The Mariners have pushed Erik Bedard to the backburner, focusing on shopping other veterans. They’re also not dying to move Raul Ibanez at the moment.
The Brewers might be willing to include J.J. Hardy or Rickie Weeks in a trade. In our chat today, a commenter wondered whether some kind of Hardy-A.J. Burnett swap could work.
The Tigers are looking ahead, inquiring about various shortstops they might be able to use in ’09 and beyond. Perhaps if they find one they’ll decline Edgar Renteria’s option.
Add the Marlins to the list of Brian Fuentes suitors. One source from another team said the cost for Fuentes is "one good piece."
Stark agrees with recent indications that the Royals aren’t dying to move Ron Mahay. Nonetheless, the Yankees, Marlins, Phillies, and Tigers are named as interested parties.
Pirate outfield chatter: some teams are calling on Nate McLouth, though the Bucs prefer to move Jason Bay or Xavier Nady. Despite earlier reports, Stark says the Bucs could consider trading both. The Rays are "especially interested" in Bay.
Stark talked to one club official who hasn’t heard any indications that the Phillies are willing to trade Shane Victorino. Also possibly off-limits: Double A catcher Lou Marson.
To acquire Rich Harden, a package "would have to at least approach last year’s Dan Haren extravaganza." So, look for him to stay put. Harden’s velocity was down yesterday, by the way.
Brett Myers’ future with the Phillies could hinge on whether they re-sign closer Brad Lidge.
Still no buzz around Adam Dunn.
C.C. chatter: don’t write off the Indians’ attempt to sign him to an extension. "One friend" sees Sabathia as more likely to land on the West Coast than the east if he doesn’t re-sign.

Pirates Acquire Denny Bautista

By Tim Dierkes | June 25, 2008 at 4:20pm CDT

According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates acquired 27 year-old reliever Denny Bautista from the Tigers today for 23 year-old minor league reliever Kyle Pearson.

Bautista seems like a reasonable project for the Bucs to toss into the back of their bullpen. Bautista averages 94-95 mph with his fastball, but five organizations have already given up on him.

Odds and Ends: Bautista, Uehara, Pavano

By Tim Dierkes | June 24, 2008 at 11:14am CDT

I tried busting out my old Super Nintendo last night, to see if I am still the Mario Kart stud I once was. The console didn’t work right though, so I ordered something called the FC Twin. It’s a console that came out a few years ago when Nintendo’s patent expired; it plays both NES and SNES games. I’m excited! On to the hot stove links.

We’ll be doing our usual live chat here today at 2pm CST.
The A’s don’t anticipate any problems in signing top draft pick Jemile Weeks. And the D’Backs are nearing a deal with their top choice, Daniel Schlereth.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is working to trade recently-designated reliever Denny Bautista. He’s optimistic. There is a general tone of optimism in this entire odds and ends post, in fact.
NPB Tracker has an in-depth look at Koji Uehara, who will finally get his wish of trying MLB in ’09.
Steven Goldman thinks it’s time for the Yankees to trade Melky Cabrera, who seems a bit of a tweener. Might be better to trade him amid a hot streak though. At least that’s what I do in fantasy baseball!
Yankee whipping boy Carl Pavano could actually be around in August.
MLB.com’s Jim Molony appeared on their Whip Around program (the 6/23 link). He mentioned that he doesn’t expect the Brewers to make a major acquisition.
Speaking of MLB.com, they’ve got a new Trade Talk blog up where various beat writers have weighed in.

Rays Promote Price to Double A

By Steve Adams | June 22, 2008 at 4:00pm CDT

MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli writes that the Tampa Bay Rays have promoted David Price to Double A Montgomery. Price, the #1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, is on the fast-track to the Major Leagues, and there has been speculation that he could join the big league club before season’s end. This most recent promotion could be a step towards that outcome.

Price made six starts for Class A Vero Beach, going 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA and posting a brilliant 37:7 K:BB ratio in 34.2 IP. He could start for Montgomery as soon as Thursday.

A lot could happen over the next month or two, but if Price continues to baffle minor league hitters, he could shoot up to the Major Leagues quickly and be a factor as the Rays try to secure a spot in the postseason. Remember, Andrew Miller didn’t even have a month’s worth of experience when the Tigers brought him up to the big league club back in 2006.

Posted by Steve Adams

« Previous Page

Load More Posts

Show all

Headlines

Tigers Rumors

Navigation

MLBTR INFO

Connect