Guys like Polanco, Inge, Shelton, Bonderman & Monroe should probably be kept due to performance and lower salaries.

 Pudge seems to have changed his mind about Det and wants out now.  I'd trade him if possible, preferably for pitching.  The Mets seem to have the money to sign anyone so maybe send Pudge to the Mets for Petit/?

 Their current lineup isnt that bad.  With Ordonez and Guillen playing all year and the above mentioned guys, they could compete.  But they need pitching.  Get rid of Young's salary for a pitching prospect as well if possible.

And there's no way they throw in McPherson for good measure.  Dallas' problem was he had a bone spur on his hip, which apparently has been the cause of his lower back problem for three years.  It was shaved down in September, and he should be ready to go for spring training 2006.  He's going to be a major part of the Angels' offense; trading him opens a hole that can't be filled.

My next step would be to get out of bed wiht Boras and stop overpaying his high $ free agents (see Ordonez and Irod).  After the 119 loss season signings like these were necessary to save face and regain trust with the fan base but the damage has to end here.

Create decisions have to be made in order to find players who can contribute now and either make injury prone declinig vets expendable or at the very least providing viable replacements for them when they go in the tank.  Players such as Macier Izturis (blocked and down on the long depth chart with the Angels), Sean Burroughs/Corey Patterson (stagnant w/ current team), or disciplinary problems such as Milton Bradley.  These players could possibly be available at below market value due to organizational circumsatnces and can be useful parts.  This will also allows you to stay out of the FA market where they have been exploited recently and allows them to keep their draft picks.

Overall depth is the main issue.  A house cleaning isn't in order but moving players to improve depth will allow Detroit to compete in the Central when their injury problems become an issue again.  

SP
Bonderman
Washburn
Maroth
Zumaya
Robertson

Pudge to Mets would make a lot of sense.  I'd ask for Heilman and Heath Bell.  Or deal him and cash to the Nationals for Brad Wilkerson and Brian Schneider.

I'd be after Javier Vazquez aggressively.  Not sure what the D'Backs are looking for though.

What's the word on Percival?  He has nothing left.

First:  I think you're stuck with Mags, IRod and Percival, nobody is gonna take on those contracts unless you throw silly money in them, which would negate the point.

Second: Don't sign any big name FA, Burnett is tempting, but with bonderman, verlander and Zumaya are hard throwing front line starters a big need? especially if his contract is gonna hold everything else hostage.  

Thrid: Sign low money deals to fill in the spots, concentrating more on obp and a little speed on offense, that park is not very HR friendly, and you've got 2 decent HR hitters in Maggs and Shelton.  For pitchers, sign guys who keep the ball in the infield, because that OF defense doesn't look too good,  Loaiza would be a decent pick up in that park if he didn't have to face AL hitters...so much for that.

Fourth: Trade Pena and Young for whatever you can and get a risky DH type, Pickering, Petagine, maybe even Thomas, there'll be plenty of big slow guys who can't play defense but will come cheap.  

Basically, 2006 should be a year to build for the future, 2008-9 should be what they target when Bonderman, Verlander and Zumaya should form a very good rotation, and Maybin and Granderson should be covering plenty of ground in the OF with Shelton doing his thing as well, by that time, they'd have enough money to supplant the rest of the team with quality FA and build the farm system to a better level.  The Twins, White sox and Indians will all be better next year, and that's just for the division, never mind the wild card.  I'm not saying blow everything up, just don't fool yourself into thinking that you're a contender.

To recover, what the Tigers need to do is either draft or develop better.  It's hard to say which has been worse.  Recently they have been targeting power arms and it appears the payoff may be near.  Meanwhile, they need to use their ballpark as an advantage in acquiring some quality #3 and #4 starters who can buy some more development time for Zoom and Zoolander.    

In previous posts, there has been some criticism of the Ordonez and Pudge contracts, but the Tigers have been more innovative than most teams in structuring contracts to avoid payouts to FAs who sustain major injury.  The ballpark configuration is a tough sell for quality FA hitters.  

Finally, one rant.  No way in heck is Jeff Weaver going to wear the old English D again.

Just because I don't see them as contenders yet does not mean I think they should dump salaries though.  If they could get good prospects for Rodriguez and Ordonez, I'd be all for it but since they probably can't, they are better off keeping them.  I don't think the money saved by dumping their salaries (without getting good players in return) would be worth the public relations disaster and decline in attendance that would likely result.  

Since they are not a small market team that needs to operate quite as rigidly as the Athletics or Twins,  I think they can continue to try to put together the best team possible for next year.  They key is not to trade away the future or take on anymore Ordonezesque contracts. I'd like to at least see them acquire a starting pitcher and a couple of relievers (no 4 or 5 year deals though). They also need another left-handed bat but I'm not sure how much they can get without giving up the farm.  

Lee
www.detroittigertales.blogspot.com