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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.

Tigers Trade/Signing Speculation

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Lynn Henning of the Detroit News posted a Q&A yesterday, giving his informed opinion on the Tigers’ various hot stove situations.  Below are some highlights.

  • Henning expects Kenny Rogers to be with the Tigers in 2008, and I think that’s the general sentiment around baseball.  Rogers has already stated that it’s the Tigers or retirement in 2008.  I’ll guess a $6MM base salary plus incentives to make $10MM possible.
  • Henning sees the Tigers picking up Ivan Rodriguez’s $13MM option for ’08, for lack of a better option.  Given the $3MM buyout it’s kind of a like a one-year, $10MM deal.  Ken Rosenthal opined back on August 11th that the Tigers would choose the buyout, but he also felt the team was "almost certain" to exercise the option when discussing it in April.
  • The price for Miguel Tejada – $26MM over two years plus a bevy of young players – is considered too high.  I’m not sure where the Tigers payroll will be in ’08; they opened ’07 with a team-record $95MM mark.  Based on my back of the napkin estimates, the Tigers will have to pay out a net $7.5MM extra based on escalating salaries of players already under contract.  Contracts for Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez, and Jeremy Bonderman will contribute to a $19MM increase, while the losses of Todd Jones, Sean Casey, and Neifi Perez will save the team $11.5MM.  The net effect is the $7.5MM increase, which doesn’t account for replacements for the players lost.
  • One minor offseason acquisition for Detroit could be a left-handed hitting outfielder who can play first base. Luis Gonzalez, Mark Sweeney, or Darin Erstad could fit the bill.

Rosenthal’s Latest Videos: Hunter, Piazza

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A couple of Ken Rosenthal new videos – Inside Pitch and Full Count – are up at FOXSports.com.  Here’s a summary of the rumor-related stuff.

  • Rosenthal says Torii Hunter rejected a four-year, $56MM offer from the Twins.  However, Hunter said today that he received no such offer.  The Twins approached him about a contract extension, but he’ll wait until the winter to negotiate.  At any rate, Rosenthal believes Hunter will end up in the $18MM per year territory occupied by comparables Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells.
  • Mike Piazza could be an option for the Tigers if Gary Sheffield’s shoulder problems linger.  Currently Sheff is looking to return in early September.  Piazza has cleared waivers, so he can be traded to any team.  He hasn’t been hitting this month (.654 OPS).
  • The Orioles have a couple of valuable trading chips in Kevin Millar and Steve Trachsel.  Trax has cleared waivers; Millar is an unknown.  Trachsel is back on the radar with a 2.53 August ERA (though he’s whiffed only five in 32 innings).
  • Rosenthal says the Marlins will almost certainly explore Dontrelle Willis trades this winter.

Cubs Acquire Craig Monroe

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Today, the Cubs acquired outfielder Craig Monroe and cash considerations for a player to be named later.  Monroe has approximately $1.06MM left on his contract for 2007.

The 30 year-old outfielder enjoyed a career season in ’06, smacking 28 homers and knocking in 92.  As a right-handed hitter he’s typically better off facing southpaws.  It’d be nice to platoon him with Jacque Jones if he can handle center field.  Monroe played eight games there last year and 33 the year before.  More likely, he’ll be employed in right field once Alfonso Soriano returns.  Jake Fox seems to be the odd man out for the Cubs.

The Cubs are hoping the change of scenery will coincide with a decent offensive rebound, similar to their Jason Kendall acquisition.  Over in the AL, Monroe had been equally awful as Kendall (.222/.264/.373).  Monroe isn’t set to reach free agency until after the ’08 season, though the Cubs could nontender him rather than pay the $5MM or so he’d get in arbitration. 

Side note – I was surprised to see Jayson Stark write today that "it would be a shock" if the Cubs don’t nontender Mark Prior this winter.  Given the price and dearth of starting pitching, why not cough up the $3.5MM to see how Prior looks post-surgery?

Rogers: Detroit Or Retirement In ’08

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Kenny Rogers is technically on the list of free agent starting pitchers, but teams looking to add a wily veteran will have to look elsewhere.  Lynn Henning of the Detroit News quotes Rogers as saying he’ll either play for the Tigers in 2008 or retire.  He’ll be 43 in November, after all.

No doubt the Tigers would want Rogers back on a one-year deal if he can prove he’s healthy.  This year he’s dealt with an arterial blockage in his pitching shoulder and a barking elbow.  Most likely the two sides would get creative, maybe agreeing on $4MM guaranteed and another $4MM in incentives.

Without Rogers the Tigers can enter 2008 with a rotation of Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson, Andrew Miller, and Jair Jurrjens.  That’s a solid group, even though the 2007 rotation has been a collective disappointment.  Still, it’d be nice to add a sixth decent arm to the mix.

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