Tiger Prospects

by rpm2419 on Jul 18, 2006 12:18 AM EDT Comment 16 comments

The tigers need to give up an arm in order to make a serious run this year. In the years past we have always been sellers. For the first time in a long time we have a chance to make a big splash come the end of july. In order to do this it is a question of how much we are willing to give up to get an equal amount in return. Right now many people locally think it is the time to give up the prospects. This is where i disagree.
If the tigers are going to give something up they better get something equal in return. By that i mean if they want to give up humberto sanchez and an outfielder on the big league club (Craig Monroe) to try and get Alfonso Soriano then i agree they should go for it. Unfortunately, i think Jordan Tata would also be a part of that deal. Still, i think this is a deal that would make sense both to the casual fan and the fan that sees the trade deeper then just the prospects. If we give up sanchez and someone else for Abreu i will be furious. Many might view this as an upgrade but we could be setting ourselves up for a financial disaster in the future. I think Hank Blalock will be a free agent this off season and i can see nothing better then signing him and moving Inge back into his super utility role. By taking Abreu and his contract i belive in the long run it could do more harm than good. Taking Abreu this year might still be taking a risk. Given that he has a high OBP people will see it as an upgrade but i do not think he is worth what we have coming up. The best fit for the tigers in my opinion would be Todd Helton. He would come at a reasonable cost and i believe would be a good fit on our current club. This means we could use him as DH or at 1b for the slumping Shelton. Ken Griffey Jr. would also be a good fit but the price may be to high. Raul Ibanez would fit nicely but i do not think the mariners would part ways with him. Garret Anderson is another guy who would fit well on this team but i think the Angels are struggling enough offensively that they do not want to give him up. Helton makes the most sense for the now and the future.

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If the deal was, say, Sanchez, Monroe, and Tata for Abreu I don't think it would necessarily be a bad deal. The biggest question for me would be whether or not the Phillies would kick in any money to help with the huge amount of money owed to Abreu. If the Tigers received a good chunk of change then suddenly they might end up only being on the hook for what would amount to a below-market salary for Abreu.

Think of it like the deal that sent Jim Thome to the White Sox. While many criticized the Sox for putting two good young pitching prospects in the deal, the Phillies kicked in a HUGE amount of money to help handle Thome's salary. In addition, after replacing Rowand's 3.25 million salary with Brian Anderson's league minimum salary, the White Sox were able to add Thome for about $4 million this season. If the Tigers could pull off something similar, even speaking as a White Sox fan, I don't think they'd be unhappy with the results.

by mrkupe on Jul 18, 2006 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Helton is the Face of the Franchise

I don't see him moving. I do like the offers though, that should net the big bat if that's what they are lookin for.

by SoCalSoxFan on Jul 18, 2006 1:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Face or not

the Rockies would trade Helton in a heartbeat if they got a good offer for him and the other team offered to take the majority of his contract. Just getting rid of his contract frees up so much salary that they could make a legitimate world series run in a couple years if they use the savings to sign a key free agent or two, and if they get a couple of good players in the deal.

"If there wasn't nine guys out in the field, I'd have a hit every time except when I strike out." - Delmon Young

by Brickhaus on Jul 18, 2006 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

tru tru

by Havok1517 on Jul 18, 2006 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thoughts

Griffey has too much injury risk
G.Anderson doesn't have too much left in the tank
Soriano looks terrible in the playoffs

Abreu or Helton would be the two and I would prefer Abreu for the defence and the fact he is very healthy.

by pedrophile on Jul 18, 2006 7:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I honestly....

think its way to soon for the Rockies to be sellers in NL West yet. They're only 5 games out of the West and a few less games out of the wildcard. So, I don't think they'll looking to move Helton. Maybe in the offseason they would but its doubtful they would right now. I thought Huff was for sure going to DET but now Abreu looks like the only guy left that fits a need and has more longterm thought to it. The Soriano idea may pay dividends but to lose out on him as a FA for what they'd give up I think sinks that concept.

Also, the Phillies in making the Thome deal, thought they would be in contention (maybe they should have addressed the entire pen, but thats neither here nor there). Accordingly, I doubt they would be willing to take on much if any of Abreu's contract since he's owed at least 21 million plus maybe an option year after that and they're still paying Thome who doesn't play for them anymore.

If Det wants it all they're going to have to pay for it.

by Havok1517 on Jul 18, 2006 8:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Newspaper this morning

Says that the Tigers are mulling Sanchez, Jurrjens and Clevlen for 2 months of Soriano. The Nationals asked for Maybin also (in place of Clevlen)!

Putting Sanchez in that deal for 2 months of Soriano would break my heart. I wouldn't love the deal as Jurrjens and Clevlen for Soriano.

by BIgMax on Jul 18, 2006 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

if Maybin was dealt

It would have to be as a PTBNL as he didn't sign til 9/23/05

by nms on Jul 18, 2006 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dombrowski

would be hung by his sac if he did dealt Maybin away esp in that 2 month rental.

by High Heater on Jul 18, 2006 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Abreu

"Taking Abreu this year might still be taking a risk. Given that he has a high OBP people will see it as an upgrade but i do not think he is worth what we have coming up."

Abreu's OBP this year is because pitchers haven't figured out that he's taking more pitches than he used to when he was younger and better. They are scared of him for no reason. They'll throw strikes more, particularly next year and thereafter. He's not developed an amazing eye (though he's always had nice enough OBP numbers)-- to make this basically a career year in OBP. He's on pace for 158 walks this year!!! His SLG and OBP are way out of line with each other. His SLG was 90 points higher than now the last time he got on base at this clip. Totally unsustainable. Abreu is fool's gold.

The Tigers need a bat and there's nothing wrong with trading prospects for one. The key is to trade from strength. The Tigers are pretty deep in young arms, not like the Twins, but pretty deep.

by elephunkadelic on Jul 18, 2006 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

disagree

Abreu is just as respected with 8 HR at the all-star break as when he had around 20. Pitchers know he's a doubles hitter...one of the best in the game. And he's still got decent home run power as well. Abreu is the rightfield version of Todd Helton. He's got the best batting eye in baseball. His discipline is no fluke.

Pitchers don't want to walk Abreu. He's got a killer lineup around him with Utley, Burrell, and Howard. If he gets on, he can run on any catcher in the game. And he really doesn't hit the ball out of the park like a traditional power hitter, so there's no incentive to pitch around him.

Abreu just has a great batting eye. He's a guy I'd want on my team, even if I had to pay his full contract.

by limozeen on Jul 18, 2006 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this.

Abreu is no fool's gold. Although, I do know a fool's gold. His name is This is the Zodiac speaking. I was told to bet heavy on him during this year's hot dog eating contest. I hear he exploded after he hit the 50 mark. Oh well!

"Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical" - Yogi Berra

by the pinstripes on Jul 18, 2006 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best Fit

Best fit for the Tigers would be somebody who can play good defense in LF.

Thames is currently the primary LF and is often removed late in games for defensive reasons. Monroe is an ok LF (nothing special), but his ankle apparently isn't 100% and has been DH. Plus Monroe is one of the guys that the team is trying to replace in the lineup.

Helton would be ok, but he doesn't provide the defense in LF that the team needs. And FYI, Shelton is no longer slumping. He has cut down on his K's lately and has put up a .333/.417/.476 line in July with a 6/7 BB/K ratio. Big improvement since he seemed to strike out at least once a game every game since that hot start.

Soriano would be a rental, so they should be cautious in how much they give up for him. Abreu would be a great acquisition for the next year and a half, but I hear he is using his no trade clause to try and get an extension through 2011 (just a rumor as far as I know). Ibanez isn't going anywhere. The Mariners look like they are going to make a run and be buyers.

And The Tigers don't necessarily need a big name. Dave Dellucci I have seen mentioned on another forum as someone people like. He isn't getting the playing time he deserves in Philly. He is an excellent high OBP left handed bat who plays a solid OF and he could start in LF for the Tigers, but only against RHP. If Arizona wanted to sell of Jeff DaVanon and go with one of it's talented youngsters (Quentin or Young), I would love to see him in Detroit as another guy who would start, but only against RHP.

by mcq fesijiba on Jul 18, 2006 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Why does Detroit have to do something dramatic? They have the best record in the game, a top-5 pitching staff no matter how you crunch the numbers, and a solid offense with good pop. Delucci would be perfect, particularly with their platoon options (Thames, Monroe). I think they should pretty much stand pat, no Abreu, just a minor move to pick up a role player.

And they shouldn't even consider Helton.

by MontrealMets on Jul 18, 2006 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i don't get it

why would taking on abreu be setting up for financial disaster, whereas the best fit would be todd helton? helton has a MONSTROUS contract, the most ridiculous in MLB with the possible exception of a-rod's. he is owed $16.6M in each of the next five seasons, and then $19.1M in 2011 (plus a $23M option for 2012 which can be bought out for $4M).

abreu, meanwhile, gets $15M next year and then a $2M buyout of his $16M option for 2008. that's a hell of a lot more reasonable, and he also is probably a better player than helton and a better fit for the tigers, who need corner OF help more than 1B help. shelton is having a great year defensively and has maintained decent hitting after that insanely hot april.

by jpahk on Jul 18, 2006 1:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Abreu

has a full no trade clause or he's a 10-5 guy or both, doesn't really matter, he will only go to a team who will pick up his option. So they'll be on the hook for next year automatically.

You're right though, Helton's contract is crazy, far worse than Abreu.

by Tyler on Jul 18, 2006 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs