Let's round up a few more leftover Saturday links….
- Johnny Damon doesn't know whether he'll be back in Detroit next year, but he thinks the club might make a run at Carl Crawford, according to Steve Kornacki of MLive.com.
- The Nationals are "working hard" to lock up Bryce Harper, writes MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com talked about Harper with several executives and scouting directors, all of whom expect the Nats to get a deal done with their first overall pick.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post fielded followers' questions on Twitter this evening, providing his opinion on a few Rockies-related subjects. Renck expects the Rox to pursue a first baseman and corner outfielder this winter, focusing on players with power. Renck also feels that failing to sign first-rounder Kyle Parker wouldn't be a disaster, given the strength of next year's draft (all Twitter links).
- Michael Thomas, the player to be named later in the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade, will be converted to a pitcher by the Rangers, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Thomas has spent his minor league career to date as a catcher, but his primary strength is his throwing arm rather than his bat.
There seem to be quite a few teams who are in the running for Crawford. Who knows how many of these claims are true, but assuming they are this offseason will be interesting for Crawford, and the teams gunning for his services.
considering he is one of if not the top free agent position player this off season, I would say literally every team will be going after him. At least every team with a half way decent GM should be going after him
Every team? I don’t think that’s true. What about teams with low payroll such as the Marlins who can barely keep the players they have now? Or teams who already possess more than enough productive outfielders going into next season? I think most teams will give his agent a phone call and just check in, but while there will be quite a few teams in on him this season there will be many more that won’t be making a serious run at him.
Seriously, why would the Tigers go after a high money guy like Crawford. They need to build through the system a strong team. I think Austin Jackson could be a Carl Crawford type player in the not so distant future. Boesch could be a guy to hit around Cabrera. If anything I would say go after a power bat or another front line pitcher. A guy whose value is tied up in his legs would be a great gamble to sign for big money/long term.
I would assume the Detroit brass will realize that Boesch has a lot of Chris Shelton in him. You had a great ride kid, now enjoy your future as a 4th OF, Bat off the Bench.
Yeah Boesch has really cooled down quite a bit. I would wait a while to write him off as a 4th outfielder though.
That’s not a bad point. Of course anyway you slice it these big money signings are a risk. And Crawford has been playing on the turf his whole career which could mean something in the future, who knows. Crawford is an excellent player, but as you said most of his value is in his legs. He hits for a pretty good average around .290 to .300 every year. Nothing though that wins any batting titles, and he doesn’t hit for too much power something that would decrease with a move to the Tiger’s ballpark. I don’t think it would be a bad signing because he is a great player, but your argument is something to think about.
Well their system is empty now so by your diagnosis it’s going to be a 5 or 6 year plan to build completely within. Why go after a power guy instead of Crawford? Crawford is the kind of guy that can get on, be disruptive on the basepaths while still having extra base power. Comerica would suit his swing well. He could have a 20-25 triple season here.
Anyone out there hearing anything about the $$$ amounts Harper’s camp is looking for?
Watch Michael Thomas be the next Jason Motte or Kenley Jansen!
It’s pretty cool seeing pitchers come up who were converted from other positions. Carlos Marmol and Sergio Santos come to mind. Hopefully Thomas will follow their example.
Yeah you bet. He’s still fairly young, but due to his lack of hitting, I see nothing to lose for the Rangers sake.
2 words. Trevor. Hoffman
Haha, nice! It’s been so long I completely forgot he was converted from the infield right? Shortstop I think.
great deal for the Red Sox. they get Jarrod Saltalamacchia for basically nothing
you mean they got basically nothing for basically nothing..hha
Actually, Ramon Mendez is a nasty pitcher who averaged I think 11 k/9 and has been great for Spokane. Michael Thomas could be a diamond in the rough especially with the minor league development the Rangers have. And Chris McGuiness is having an outstanding season in High-A.
If anything, the Sox should have not given up these prospects for a guy with tons of injury history.
You are learning, and you are correct. Found any trees that grow money yet?
Still looking for the trees, but I’m learning from the best of the best.
I really really really like Ramon Mendez. Jon Daniels pretty much just
re-stocked after giving several good prospects away during the summer.
Carl should go to the Twins or Angels. I would like to see him w/ the Yankees, me being a big fan but, I don’t think he would do that to the Rays, going to a division rival. Plus I bet since we don’t hear alot from him and he is rather quiet he probably doesen’t like the media and tries/succeeds avoiding them.
Do you really believe he wouldn’t go to a division rival just to be nice? Crawford, like every sane person, will be looking for the best contract and team to fit him. I would guess he will go to a team in the AL East.
my tigers off season prediction is that they get carl crawford ,victor martinez , jason werth for offensive players and make a run at cliff lee or if they miss out on him go for carl pavano and ted lily. that would be a tremendous offseason for the tigers.
And the Easter bunny will come dancing over a rainbow with a happy well dressed tooth fairy
Haha…Ya the tigers are pretty much going to sweep all of the biggest free agents off the table. I hope you’re joking.
I doubt they would go after Victor unless they plan on DHing him. He’s the worst defensive catcher in the major leagues and any team that signs him will probably primarily play him at 1B or DH.
yeah they got big $$ to spend they r going to have a bigger offseason then the yankees had in 2008
Correction. They have a lot of money coming off the books that doesnt mean they have “Big Money to spend.” Their best approach would be to develop a top three of Verlander, Porcello, and Scherzer. They are in a division where no team really stands out and at the same time no GM is willing to make a “Big Signing.” I would look to resign Maglio for next to nothing to be the everyday DH, Pray Guillen isnt completely done, and look for bargains late in the Winter. They got in trouble by not allocating money correctly. They are in one of the poorest markets in the MLB, let the team develop and go forward smartly.
Poorest markets in the mlb!? Where are you getting that information. Just a couple of years ago when people were excited about the Cabrera trade, all the murderers row hype the tigers had the 8th highest attendance in the majors and 3rd in the AL. Just because the economy in detroit is suffering doesn’t mean Detroit is suddenly one of the worst markets in baseball. I believe they currently rank 14th in attendance and that’s without having a very good product to put on the field every night.
One of the poorest in regional poverty? I stand by this statement. When the big money was thrown around (Maglio, Pudge, Bondermon, Robertson) the local Detroit Area was different place. They Don’t have the money to spend equivelant to what is coming off the books (No team does). They would be smart to build around their top 3 SP, show patience and let them develop. Hope Jackson continues to improve and Let Miggy be Miggy
I have news for you, the people that go to tigers games don’t live in Detroit. This is why Detroit as a city has struggled. Probably the most suburban sprawl in area in the country. Detroit is still drawing fans.
I have news for your. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the country, that is the entire state not just Detroit. Detroit has a great baseball tradition and they still draw. That being said attendance has dropped the last 3 years which correlates to the unemployment spike. Also you need to keep in mind that baseball teams revenue is only partially dictated by attendance. You have Sponsors who now have less money, luxury suites, and Television deals which all go down in a rough economy. Reality is they don’t have as much to spend as they do coming off the books. I would be shocked if they make a splash on any big talent. On the other hand i wouldnt be shocked if they wait until January and search out some big names whcih will be available on the cheap.
I’m not arguing with you that they won’t spend as much as they have coming off. I’m arguing that you’re grouping the tigers in with teams like the marlins and royals who in reality have some of the worst markets in baseball.
You’re kidding. Not a chance will the tigers spend like the Yankees in ’08 nor should they. The Yankees will spend more money this offseason than the tigers, guaranteed.
i disagree with that unless u counting re signings. u cant tell me the tigers are not going to sign pavano or lily and a bat or 2
I am talking about re-signings too. I think the tigers will have some players they re-sign as well, at least one of Peralta, Inge, Damon, Ordonez, and bonderman.
Why consider the yankees re-signings, but not the tigers?
Isn’t the Tigers’ main problem pitching? In that ballpark, they should be able to win with a league average offense…
yeah thats why cliff lee or pavano and lily will help
See ya JD. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. I knew that was a terrible idea from the start.
Don’t kid yourselves. The Tigers will go after Lee and Crawford. They’ll just fail, though. One point that seems to be missing from most of the comments is that Tigers’ GM Dave Dombrowski has spent something like $10m total on FAs since signing Pudge Rodriguez/Magglio a few years back. His “big signings” of the past few years include Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones, Adam Everett, Johnny Damon.
So, what indication have all of the people here received that he’s going to make a big splash in free agency?
I think that they’re more likely to make a big trade..maybe not with prospects, because as already documented, they don’t have any, but someone surprising could move.
The signing of Sheffield was a big free agent signing at the time. It didn’t work out because of nagging injuries. So that was the last big free agent signing and also the last time the tigers had money to go out and sign free agents. The trade and extension for Cabrera was a decision actually brought up by Illitch. You’re not wrong to doubt the ability for the tigers to sign Lee or Crawford, but it’s because of how many teams will be vying for those players. Not because of GM fault. I’m not a big fan of Dombrowski’s decision making with some of the contracts he has signed players to, (Willis, Robertson, Bonderman) but make no mistake about it, if Illitch okays him to go after players of that caliber, these guys will consider becoming tigers.
I know this is old, but Sheffield was acquired by trading Humberto Sanchez and a couple others to the Yankees. He wasn’t a FA signing.