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Odds and Ends: Aramis, La Russa, A-Rod

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A random smattering of links this morning…

  • I wrote a postmortem on why the D’Backs beat the Cubs over at The Hardball Times.
  • Just a whisper at the moment, but I’m hearing that the Angels could pursue Aramis Ramirez if the Cubs make him available.  They were in hard on him last year when he was briefly a free agent.
  • Seems that Joe Torre is done as Yankees manager, but Tony La Russa is not interested.
  • Another important date to mark down: November 10th.  That’s when Alex Rodriguez decides whether to opt out of his contract.  Right after the GM meetings.
  • The Tigers will stick with Brandon Inge at third base next year, perhaps feeling that his defense justified his .236/.312/.376 line.  There is hope for a rebound, since he slugged .463 the previous year.  Plus Inge is locked in for $6.2MM in ’08, $6.3MM in ’09, and $6.6MM in ’10.
  • The Mariners had a $2.7MM option on Chris Reitsma with a $0.7MM buyout and apparently some kind of option on Arthur Rhodes.  Both were declined.  Reitsma, coming off ulnar nerve transposition surgery in ’06, was supposed to be Seattle’s setup man.  He tried to pitch this year but the elbow wasn’t fully healed.  Rhodes had similar problems in ’06 and went under the knife for TJ in April.
  • You may have noticed some of the in-post ads are showing as ugly blank white space or "This page cannot be found" errors…please bear with me as I try to get it back to normal. 

Tigers Searching For Left-Handed Hitter

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According to Jon Paul Morosi, Dave Dombrowski will pursue a left-handed hitter for the Tigers this winter.

Morosi likes the idea of trading for Seattle’s Raul Ibanez and putting him in left field.  Ibanez makes $5.5MM in ’08 in the last year of his deal.  He hit .291/.351/.480 this year, and is a minus on defense.  Morosi thinks the Ms would ask for a big league starter or two (Nate Robertson?), but the folks at U.S.S. Mariner would settle for less.

The Tigers had a very good offense this year, but want a left-handed hitter anyway.  More runs are always good, I guess.  They may have openings at left field, shortstop, third base, and catcher.  Besides Ibanez, who might be available to fit the bill?

Ken Griffey Jr., Jorge Posada, Milton Bradley, Ryan Church, Luis Gonzalez, Barry Bonds, Matt Stairs, Luke Scott, Chris Duncan, Mike Lamb, Chad Tracy, Cliff Floyd, Geoff Jenkins, Brad Wilkerson, and Shawn Green come to mind.  Of course Bonds has already been ruled out.  Who do you like out of this group?  Any candidates missing?

Boras’s Approach With Pudge

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I don’t have a ton to add on this one; I think Michael Rosenberg nails it when discussing Scott Boras’s disingenuous comments regarding Ivan Rodriguez.  If I had to find one word that best describes, it would be disingenuous.  He’s rarely straightforward and always calculating, and that’s why he’s the best agent in the game by far.

Rosenberg mentions that Boras’s approach indicates that he doesn’t think Rodriguez could earn a $13MM deal on the open market.  I agree – the Tigers probably value Pudge more highly than other teams because he’s symbolic for them.  Rodriguez’s situation has of course been discussed internally by the Tigers, but they’ve yet to meet with Boras or Rodriguez on the topic.

Odds and Ends

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Here are some various trade rumors that didn’t quite have enough behind them for individual posts.

  • There’s a gossip section in the Boston Herald called Inside Track, written by Gayle Fee, Laura Raposa, and Erin Hayes.  They heard that Coco Crisp told fans at the recent Division Champs celebration that he expects to be dealt this winter to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury.  By most accounts Crisp has developed into a fine defensive center fielder, and he’s under contract for $4.75MM in ’08, $5.75MM in ’09, and an $8MM club option in ’10.  Perhaps Crisp could be used to acquire a third baseman in the event that Mike Lowell leaves and the Red Sox can’t sign A-Rod. 
  • Phil Wood of the Washington Examiner speculates that the Nationals could get in on Jason Bay.  Not the worst idea, but the Nats don’t seem to have the available young pitching for the deal.
  • Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution likes the Nate Robertson to Atlanta idea, tossing Joe Blanton and Shaun Marcum into the mix as other options.
  • Bob Wickman may quietly retire, bumming out these guys.
  • El Lefty Malo dissects recent comments from Giants GM Brian Sabean.
  • Peter Abraham suggests the Mets trade Carlos Beltran for pitching.

Tigers To Decline Pudge’s Option?

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This one’s been going back and forth for months.  Just about a week ago, the buzz was strongly in favor of the Tigers picking up Ivan Rodriguez’s $13MM option for 2008.  One Detroit writer went as far as to suggest that the Tigers already privately agreed to pick it up.  You may recall that Pudge’s option comes with a hefty $3MM buyout price attached.

Now Danny Knobler of Michigan Live writes that the Tigers are prepared to decline the option.  They’d entertain a lesser one-year deal, but Rodriguez may not be interested.  Remember, he’s represented by Scott Boras.  Knobler indicates that the Mets would get involved if Rodriguez reached free agency.

I’m not sure what the Tigers have in mind here, as they don’t have internal options and the free agent market is weak.  Perhaps they’ll pursue Yorvit Torrealba, Ramon Castro, or Miguel Olivo.

Leyland: No Barry For Tigers

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Jim Leyland said it as plainly as he could:

Barry Bonds will not be a Detroit Tiger next year. End all speculation: He will not be a Detroit Tiger.

This isn’t huge news – as I mentioned earlier, the Tigers are paying Gary Sheffield $14MM to DH next year.  They can’t add another expensive fielding liability.  Now this Twins idea…very interesting.  I’m glad Minnesota hasn’t ruled it out yet.

Carlos Guillen to Play 1B Next Season

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The Tigers anticipated this.  Carlos Guillen’s okay with it.  Despite signing Guillen in March to a 4 year deal for $48MM to begin next season, the shortstop is going to be moving across the diamond sooner than expected to play first base.  The move is designed to protect his knees from the physical stresses of SS.

Tim argued that 4/48 was a bargain as long as he remained the Tigers’ shortstop.  Unfortunately, it appears Manager Jim Leyland has had to talk him into moving to first, despite Guillen’s condition last week that the Tigers had to bring in a gold glove caliber replacement.  However, Guillen now believes it’ll be better for the team and the longevity of his career.

Who then will be playing short for the Tigers in 2008?  Omar Vizquel, David Eckstein, and Cesar Izturis are free agents that stick out.  The Detroit Free Press notes there "could be other shortstops available in trade."  Edgar Renteria seems to be a popular choice among MLBTR readers.  Or will the Tigers make another attempt at Jack Wilson from Pittsburgh?  Or would they stick with the in-house option of Ramon Santiago?  The apparent good news is there are many options.

This also confirms the obvious:  the Tigers have no plans to bring Sean Casey back.

 

Posted by: Nat Boyle

Rumors and Questions

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If Cubs make the playoffs, they will be glad not to see the Marlins in the postseason.  After last night’s defeat, the Cubs haven’t beaten the Fish since April… of 2006.

Lots of buzz today, so here are some Rumors and Questions on the day:

  • Florida Marlins Fans, it may be disheartening for you, both of you, to know that David Hyde (with some help from Bill Murray) believes as though either Miguel Cabrera or Dontrelle Willis will indeed be dealt this offseason.  Tim crunched the numbers and thinks they should shed Willis’ contract.  If I had to choose, I’d agree with Mr. Hyde (not Dr. Jekyll) and wave goodbye to Miggy before the D-Train rolls out.  Cabrera is indisputably elite and could net a Hanley Ramirez or two.  Meanwhile, Dontrelle’s value is at an all time low.  Who would you deal?
  • Speaking of former Marlins, Buster Olney thinks the Tigers will re-sign Todd Jones.  When asked who will close for the Tigers next year, Manager Jim Leyland responded with a definitive "don’t know".  Well, maybe he’s getting forgetful in his old age, but we all know who: Joel Zumaya.  But is he ready?  Chris McKosky of the Detroit News isn’t sure.  What do you think?  If only he could lay off that Guitar Hero…
  • The Rangers and the Twins have each expressed interest in both Torii Hunter and, who else, Barry Bonds.  Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire weighs in positively on Bonds, while Joe Christensen says chances are slim but don’t rule it out.  Shooter Charley Walters says the Twins will try to re-sign Hunter.  But Hunter is from outside Arlington, Texas and when asked if he’s thought a little about going home, he told reporters "I haven’t thought about it a little bit.  I’ve thought about it a lot a bit."  Meanwhile, the Rangers players say "Thumbs up!" to Bonds.  I think the Rangers are a natural fit for both of these vets.
  • Also, Ken Rosenthal’s latest video on Foxsports.com breaks down the fates of Managers-Across-The-League.  Interestingly, he begins by praising Joe Torre for doing maybe his best job ever, and then notes how if the Yankees stumble in the postseason he might not be back…

 

Posted by: Nat Boyle

Tigers To Exercise Pudge’s Option?

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Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez has a $13MM option for ’08 with a $3MM buyout attached.  Last we’d heard, the Tigers were likely to exercise it for lack of a better option.

Tom Gage of the Detroit News believes not only that the Tigers will exercise the option, but that privately the team has already committed to it.  Gage mentions that Pudge is seen as a symbol of the team’s rebirth and that he’s been far too jovial in the clubhouse for a guy with an uncertain future.  Wow, that last sentence was really poorly written.

Gage also adds that Nate Robertson is the Tiger most likely to be traded.  Robertson’s salary will climb past $4MM in arbitration.  Personally I think they should hang on to him instead of selling low.  But even following an off year he’d be highly sought after this winter.  I like Robertson quite a bit in the NL.  He could have a Ted Lilly-like transformation.

Gage mentions a $20MM escalation in payroll for current players, but I’ve found the net effect to be a $7.5MM increase.

Will Mariners Finally Move Sexson?

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Call it educated speculation, but U.S.S. Mariner is wondering whether the Ms will try to trade Richie Sexson this winter.  Derek Zumsteg suggests that recent vibes put out by the team’s broadcast crew may portend a future trade of Sexson or even Jose Lopez.

Even more interesting to me is the note that the Mariners "could have let Detroit pick [Sexson] up on waivers."  We learned back in August that Sexson was claimed off waivers but withdrawn.  It puzzled us at the time, because most GMs would be dying to unload Sexson’s $14MM for 2008.  Anyway this is the first indication I’ve seen of which team actually won the claim.  The Tigers were apparently willing to take the risk.

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