While Magglio Ordonez hasn't been seen in the Tigers' clubhouse since he underwent season-ending surgery last month, he has kept in touch with teammates such as Miguel Cabrera. Earlier this evening, Cabrera told reporters that his good friend wants to remain in Detroit next season, writes Jason Beck of MLB.com.
"I've talked to [Ordonez]," the first baseman said. "He said he feels better. He wants so bad to play, but his injury, he feels bad. He wants to come back next year here. He wants to stay here."
Ordonez seemed likely to return to the club as he needed just 540 plate appearances or 135 starts in order for his $15MM option for 2011 to vest. However, a broken ankle suffered in late July made it an impossibility.
The 37-year-old slugger hit .303/.378/.474 with 12 homers in 84 games this season.
Magglio was hitting over .300 with a .378 OBP, and on pace for 20 homers and 100 RBI this season when he went on the DL. There aren’t more than a dozen players in all of baseball that will put up those numbers this season. The Tigers need Magglio back AND they need to replace Damon’s .360 OBP in the 2 hole AND they need to add protection in the 5 slot for Cabrera. DD has $ 75 million coming off the books, and he’ll need to spend a chunk of it- wisely for a change- in order for the Tigers to be contenders in 2011. Magglio is just one part of the equation, but he or a No. 3 hitter that can produce at that rate is a critical part of it.
This is an interesting dilemma. Maggs is a fan favorite, and he was having a monster of a season. I wouldn’t mind having him back at all, BUT! If the Tigers plan on bidding on Werth, Magglio has to be the DH, and that makes Carlos Guillen the odd man out. I don’t care what Leyland or Dumbrowski say or how much Guillen makes next year putting him back in the infield is an absolute waste of 12mm…they may as well just release him because he will spend 75% of the season DLed anyway. The only way I would be okay with putting Magglio back in RF is if the Tigers win the Crawford sweepstakes. Having Ajax and Carl in the outfield will make up for Magglio. Best case scenario is getting Carl Crawford, picking Magglio up on a 2 year deal, getting a real second baseman, and DHing Guillen. But we all know thing’s wont work out that way, but a man can dream right?
Guillen as DH just plugs up the works. They won’t get a 2B to hit 3rd or 5th.
Carlos Guillen doesn’t hit enough to be a DH anymore (OPS of .757 and .746 the last two years). The only way he has value is if he can play a few a little bit at 2B, 1B, LF, or 3B on occasion. He’s going to be hurt any way. He actually played a decent 2B while in there this year. He’ll be out until May or so next year, so he’ll work himself into the lineup only if he earns it by hitting a little bit. I hope we have a real everyday DH next year so there’s no desire to place him there.
Never heard of him.
i know you r joking
Honestly I would not be surprised to see Carlos Guillen get cut in the offseason. I don’t see any reason to hang on to him with Sizemore, Raburn and Rhymes all pushing for playing time. Independently of brining Magglio back, I would be surprised to see Carlos back in Detroit this year.
There is no loss in keeping him , sure he plugs up a spot on the 25 man but his offensive production is still valued. The mistake would be for the Tigers to say he is the hands down starter in the off season again. Play him 4 times a week and he can do some work at 2nd , 3rd and DH. When he injures him-self , there is still depth and would be a solid late inning bat of the bench.
I’d like to see Magglio back, but only after declining the option. Offer him something along the lines of slightly-above-market-value for a full-time DH. That is pretty much what he will be, especially after breaking an ankle. IF he can put up the numbers of earlier this year he will be a massive asset to the club.
Bringing back Magglio has to be the end of Damon’s short spell at the club. There can only be so many veterans with limited field ability on a club. Guillen and Ordonez will be more than enough.
In my perfect world: Tigers let go of Inge, Damon, Laird, Guillen and Bonderman. If they can get Maggs back for $7 or $8 MM then I’d keep him. He’s a fan favourite, knows how to handle the bat, and he keeps himself in excellent shape. He’d make an above par DH. Peralta is a definite keeper. He’s only 29, very affordable and can play adequate SS and 3B. Finally being out of Cleveland has GOT to inspire him to give a bit more. I look for a big rebound season from him in ’11. This off-season the Tigers will have the financial resources to grab two big free agents. Ideally, it will be any two of Crawford, Cliff lee, and Beltre. Leave Zambrano alone, the man’s a lunatic.
Inge is at least as good as Peralta offensively, and far, far superior defensively. Inge has a slightly better average, OBP, Slg, and OPS than Peralta this season. Inge is every bit as affordable as Peralta, and age does not matter in the one or two year period that the Tigers would be keeping either player. Some fans are caught up in the past two months that Peralta has been with the Tigers while trying as hard as possible to ignore the past two years in Cleveland.
I agree on Magglio. He was on pace for a .379 OBP, 20 homers and 100 RBI when he got injured. There aren’t more than a dozen players in all of baseball that do that over a full season. No guarantee that Magglio does, either, but it’s either him or another player that can put up those numbers, AND add some protection for Cabrera in the five hole, AND at least replace Damon’s .360 OBP in that two spot, if not maybe add a bit of power, speed, or perhaps get a player that still wears a glove somewhere on the field.
Damon, Laird, and Bonderman will be gone. We may see Ordonez, Inge, and Peralta all coming back, take a huge hit defensively at SS add a big bat, pretend that Rhymes or Sizemore can bat second (they can’t) and go from there.
Inge is at least as good as Peralta offensively, and far, far superior defensively. Inge has a slightly better average, OBP, Slg, and OPS than Peralta this season. Inge is every bit as affordable as Peralta, and age does not matter in the one or two year period that the Tigers would be keeping either player. Some fans are caught up in the past two months that Peralta has been with the Tigers while trying as hard as possible to ignore the past two years in Cleveland.
I agree on Magglio. He was on pace for a .379 OBP, 20 homers and 100 RBI when he got injured. There aren’t more than a dozen players in all of baseball that do that over a full season. No guarantee that Magglio does, either, but it’s either him or another player that can put up those numbers, AND add some protection for Cabrera in the five hole, AND at least replace Damon’s .360 OBP in that two spot, if not maybe add a bit of power, speed, or perhaps get a player that still wears a glove somewhere on the field.
Damon, Laird, and Bonderman will be gone. We may see Ordonez, Inge, and Peralta all coming back, take a huge hit defensively at SS add a big bat, pretend that Rhymes or Sizemore can bat second (they can’t) and go from there.