By Tim Dierkes | at
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.
By Tim Dierkes | at
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.
By Tim Dierkes | at
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.
By Tim Dierkes | at
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.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Some random rumors to help you get through your Thursday morning…
By Tim Dierkes | at
Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has an interesting note in today’s Rumor Mill:
"The Cubs also still covet Dontrelle Willis as "the one that got away" and–despite his not being on the market–Willis is one player the Cubs could get if Larry Beinfest suddenly changes his mind about that. Adding Felix Pie to Jacque Jones and Donald Veal would get it done, while not adding to the Cubs payroll."
Jim Hendry already tried to patch up one of the all-time classic Cub mistakes by signing Greg Maddux before the 2004 season. At least that departure didn’t happen under Hendry’s watch.
Back in March of 2002, Hendry traded Ryan Jorgensen, Jose Cueto, Julian Tavarez, and Willis to the Marlins for Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca. Where are they now?
Back to the present day rumor. Jones, while hitting better of late, probably would not be missed by the Cubs. He’s still only slugging .382 in July. Veal was the Cubs’ best pitching prospect heading into the season but has taken a step backward in Double A. Veal has been control problems, though his arm has been described as "electric." Lefty starters who can touch 95 can be hard to find.
Pie, though, would be the gem of the deal and the player with the best shot at stardom. Literally – BP gives him a 30-40% chance at becoming a star player. He struggled mightily in his first 139 ABs with the Cubs, but he now owns Triple A pitching. He should be the Cubs’ starting center fielder for the next six years at least. Trading him for the declining Willis would create another "one that got away" situation, which seems perfectly Cub-like. Most likely nothing happens in the next two days, but we might revisit this rumor this winter.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Will Carroll and John Perrotto have teamed up at BP to join the rumor mill, and yesterday’s post is free to nonsubscribers. Some highlights:
By Tim Dierkes | at
One club that doesn’t get a lot of play on MLBTR is the Twins. They don’t make a lot of big trades or signings. Although last year they did inquire on Alfonso Soriano. Today, we don’t have any blockbusters, but do have rumors regarding Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones from La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Regarding Hunter – he is leaving the door open for a contract extension with the Twins. He told a radio station yesterday he doesn’t want Vernon Wells money but the Twins still haven’t talked to him about an extension at all. He sounds bummed about it, but it just doesn’t seem likely the Twins can retain Hunter. He’s going to need more than three years and more than $12MM annually. The Twins aren’t in a position to give him even a reasonable discounted contract.
Meanwhile, Neal reveals that the Twins were previously in on Jacque Jones. That would’ve been an interesting re-acquisition. However, the Cubs pulled out of the Marlins deal because they didn’t want to eat 90%+ of his contract. That stance probably knocks the Twins out of the running.
Neal notes that because of commitments for 2008, any deadline acquisition for a hitter made by Terry Ryan this year would likely be a rental. Which is what makes Adam Dunn so perfect.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Jacque Jones is still a Cub, with yesterday’s Marlins deal quashed. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune writes that Tribune owner Sam Zell was not the reason the trade died, contrary to other reports. Money caused the snag, but not Zell. Sullivan says talks with the Marlins are unlikely to be revisited.
On a side note, all of the Tribune baseball writers are blogging! They must be thrilled.
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times says Cubs GM Jim Hendry has had recent talks with the Padres, Rangers, White Sox, and others. Jones had a pinch-hitting appearance in today’s game, grounding out to Todd Helton.
By Tim Dierkes | at
UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal says this deal has pretty much died. I knew $1MM sounded too good to be true for the Cubs. Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline has more details: the Cubs were set to pay roughly 97% of Jones’ remaining salary but the deal unraveled at the Commissioner’s Office. It seems that the Cubs couldn’t get approval there because of their impending sale.
PREVIOUS RUMOR:
According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins have traded for outfielder Jacque Jones. Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post says the Cubs are kicking in only $1MM of the $7.1MM remaining on Jones’ contract. The Cubs will get a pitcher from Class A Greensboro, possibly 23 year-old lefty Graham Taylor.
The Cubs’ motivation is to free up a roster spot while paying less than half the money still owed to Jones. Jim Hendry got the best of Larry Beinfest in the Derrek Lee/Hee Seop Choi deal, but Beinfest exacted his revenge two years later by stealing three useful pitchers for Juan Pierre.
If Jones can play a credible center field, the Marlins will come out ahead here. My guess is that Jones will return to his career offensive levels once out of the Chicago spotlight. He should still be benched against lefties though.
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information
hide arrows scroll to top
