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Tigers Interested In Livan Hernandez

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According to Jon Paul Morosi, the Tigers are interested in free agent starter Livan Hernandez.  Livan, of course, has connections with Jim Leyland, Gary Sheffield, and Edgar Renteria from his Marlins days.

The Tigers are a very well-run team but signing Hernandez seems like a bad idea.  He’ll be 33 if February, and that’s giving him the benefit of the doubt.  While he is durable, Livan is a career National Leaguer who posted a 1.14 K/BB ratio last year.  You have to figure at minimum he’d want three years and $21MM.  The Tigers can afford it, but that doesn’t mean it’s wise.

The Tigers hope to re-sign Kenny Rogers.  Failing that, they’ve got Hernandez, Carlos Silva, and Dontrelle Willis on the radar.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Cordero, Livan, Jenkins

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Somehow, I missed a Ken Rosenthal column.  This thing is already 14 hours old.  I’m slipping.

  • A Mystery Team has already made a four-year offer to Francisco Cordero.  We know the Brewers made an offer on Monday but Rosenthal may be referring to another club.
  • Rosenthal suggests Scott Linebrink could be reunited with Bruce Bochy to become the Giants’ closer.  It’s known that the Astros already have an offer out to Linebrink.
  • Teams interested in Geoff Jenkins: the Cubs, Padres, Giants, Rangers, and Royals.  Several of those are new to me.
  • The Tigers’ payroll is expected to exceed $115MM.  Time to head over to Cot’s and do some math.  By my count the Tigers are around $105MM right now (includes some arbitration guesses).  That leaves room for one starting pitcher signing, be it Kenny Rogers, Carlos Silva, or whoever.
  • The Cardinals, Astros, and Mets have their eye on Livan Hernandez.  Mets’ management is divided on signing him, since he’s a back-rotation guy.
  • Rosenthal believes the Reds could shop Joey Votto or Josh Hamilton a year from now in hopes of acquiring starting pitching.
  • Tony Clark is gaining in popularity as a cheap power source.  He might be looking at two years, $4MM plus more playing time.

Cubs Send $2MM To Tigers With Jones

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Turns out the Cubs added a nice bonus for the Tigers to take Jacque Jones off their hands: $2MM in cash.  So let’s see here.  Omar Infante will be up around $1.5MM in ’08, and the Cubs tossed in $2MM.  Jones makes $5MM in ’08, though I’m not sure which team pays out the final chunk of his $4MM bonus.  But I think it’s fair to say that this "salary dump" saved the Cubs about $1.5MM.  The Tigers got Jones pretty cheaply.

So the Cubs didn’t clear much payroll, but they do have a clear vacancy in right field now.  Kosuke Fukudome, as a left-handed hitting right fielder, is a perfect fit.  I think the Cubs are on the right track with that one.  Other considerations could include Ryan Church or J.D. Drew, in my opinion.

Gordon Wittenmyer notes in the above-linked article that the next order of business for Jim Hendry is re-signing Kerry Wood.  This will be a good test of Wood’s loyalty, as some team is liable to come in with some kind of two-year, $15MM type offer.

Molony’s Latest: Glavine, Fukudome, Percival

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MLB.com’s Jim Molony has a new column up with some solid info.

  • Molony says Tom Glavine will wait about a week and then announce he’ll pitch for the Braves in ’08.  It would probably be for $8-9MM for ’08 with a mutual option for ’09.
  • Molony suggests that the Phillies might go after Kosuke Fukudome, or lesser options like Brad Wilkerson or Trot Nixon.
  • Eight teams are after Troy Percival, four of which consider him an option at closer.  The Tigers aren’t involved as of yet.  Maybe the Cubs are in the mix?  Also a reader just emailed me to tell me that 790 The Sports Animal in Houston says the Astros are in on Percival.

Tigers Re-Sign Todd Jones

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According to Baseball Digest Daily, the Tigers have re-signed closer Todd Jones on one-year deal for $7MM.  Seems a little pricey.  The Tigers’ need for a reliever was heightened with the loss of Joel Zumaya.

Options remain plentiful for teams in search of a closer – check out the updated list here.  The Orioles, Rays, Rangers, Astros, Brewers, and Giants may all be in the hunt for a closer this winter.

Jacque Jones Traded For Omar Infante

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UPDATE: The deal is done; the Tigers also get cash considerations.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers and Cubs are finalizing a Jacque Jones for Omar Infante swap.  ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine called this one when no one else had it.

The Tigers would use Jones in left field, maybe sitting him against lefties in favor of Ryan Raburn.  Jones played pretty solid center field defense for the Cubs last year; his ability to play that position was actually making him look like an asset at $5MM in ’08.  The Cubs may be ready to try Felix Pie in center next year, though they have been connected to Mike Cameron.  Many consider the trade of Jones to be a salary dump.  When the Cubs tried to trade him to the Marlins they were set to pay almost all of Jones’ salary.

Infante has shown flashes of offensive ability with the Tigers, but hasn’t hit for the most part.  It would be interesting if the Cubs tried the 26 year-old at shortstop.  He was once a top prospect, beginning 2003 as the Tigers’ starting shortstop at age 21.  He wasn’t up to the task, getting benched by Alan Trammell for lack of hustle before being sent down.  His arm strength as a shortstop has been questioned, and he’s battled through shoulder and other injuries.  Infante may be able to dabble in center field, aside from second base and shortstop.  Or the Cubs could flip him to another team. 

In other Tigers news, Danny Knobler says the team has stepped up their efforts to re-sign Todd Jones before midnight.  At that point Jones would be able to negotiate with other teams.

Odds and Ends: Rolen, Silva, Capps

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Here are some hot stove links to digest this evening.

Tigers Inquire About Willis

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Scott Boras and Kenny Rogers threw a wrench in the Tigers’ plans by suggesting The Gambler will test the open market.  It’s already been noted that the Tigers have expressed interest in Carlos Silva as a fallback.

Also on the radar: Dontrelle Willis.  Dave Dombrowski recently called the Marlins to inquire.  Dombrowski, of course, previously worked for the Fish.  Jon Paul Morosi notes that the Tigers asked about Willis two years ago as well.  I imagine the asking price was much higher then.  With Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez now with the Braves, it may be hard to find a match anyway.

The vibe seems to be that the Marlins would prefer to trade Miguel Cabrera and keep Willis.   

Jacques Jones for Omar Infante?

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An MLBTR reader passed on this tidbit he heard on ESPN 1000’s coverage of the GM meetings.  The rumor would be the Cubs sending Jacques Jones to Detroit for Omar Infante.  The report mentioned both sides are staying in touch on the matter.  It’s not major news, but if it’s whispered…

Infante’s listed as an infielder, spending most of his time at 2B.  He made $1.3MM in 2007 and he’ll be 27 next season.  The Tigers have a bit of a logjam in their infield as is and despite being regarded as a utility-guy, Infante has potential starter value that the Tigers could shop.  Jones, the established outfielder, makes $5MM in his final contract year next season and will be 32.  Trading Jones would open up the Cubs OF for Kosuke Fukudome, should they pursue him.

Rockies Rumors: Helton, Holliday, Matsui

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Troy E. Renck is at it again, with another column updating us on the Rockies’ hot stove situation.

  • Todd Helton isn’t going anywhere, for multiple reasons.  His current $16.6MM salary is less frightening due to playoff revenue, and he’d be unlikely to approve a trade since his current team is already a winner.
  • As Renck reported earlier this week, the Rox will offer Matt Holliday a four-year, $60MM deal to buy out two years of free agency.  Holliday, a Scott Boras client, seems unlikely to accept anything like that.
  • Why would the Cubs be willing to overpay for Kaz Matsui with a three-year deal?  Surely the Cubs know Matsui has hit .256/.305/.370 away from Coors since joining the Rockies?  I don’t buy the speed angle – promote Eric Patterson, then.  I don’t buy the "make Fukudome comfortable angle" – sign a Japanese reliever, then.  The Rockies are fine moving on from Matsui and Yorvit Torrealba if their offers are beat.
  • Renck says Michael Barrett has drawn interest from six clubs so far, the Rockies one of them perhaps.  The Marlins could be another.
  • The Phillies won’t be going after Brian Fuentes now that they have Brad Lidge, but they weren’t pursuing him before Lidge anyway.  After the dust settles on Francisco Cordero and Mariano Rivera, the Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees are expected to look at Fuentes.  The Rockies’ demand is aggressive for one year of the closer – a #3 starter and a decent reliever.
  • Matt Herges will look for a two-year deal; otherwise he’ll accept the Rockies one-year offer.
  • Javy Lopez is attempting a comeback!

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