If the Indians can’t re-sign Carlos Santana, Logan Morrison is on the team’s list of fallback options, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (via Twitter). Morrison is coming off a career year and would require a solid multi-year commitment, though he would come with a lower price tag than the most established Santana. The Angels and Red Sox were rumored to have interest in Morrison earlier this winter.
Some more AL Central items…
- The Ian Kinsler trade talks have reached the point where the Tigers have exchanged names with interested teams, GM Al Avila told reporters (including Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press and MLive.com’s Evan Woodbery). Kinsler has been seen as one of the likeliest players to be dealt this offseason, and it seems like a trade could happen at any point. The Mets, Brewers, and Angels are teams with reported recent interest in Kinsler’s services. Should Kinsler be traded, Avila said the Tigers would likely sign a veteran “safety net” second baseman to compete with Dixon Machado in Spring Training, with Woodbery noting that such a veteran would probably be a minor league signing.
- The Tigers are also getting some calls on Shane Greene, Avila said (hat tip to MLB.com’s Jason Beck). Greene’s first full-time season as a reliever delivered some good results, and he even recorded nine saves after stepping into the closer’s role in August. While Greene would be another good trade chip for the rebuilding Tigers, Avila said the interest in Greene was “not to the point where we felt it [a trade] was a good thing to do.”
- The Twins have been in touch with their own free agents (including Bartolo Colon, Matt Belisle and Chris Gimenez) as well as the agent of former Twins closer Brandon Kintzler, MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger reports (Twitter link).
- Interestingly, Gimenez has also been answering Yu Darvish’s questions about Minnesota, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Gimenez was Darvish’s personal catcher when the two played together for the Rangers. The Twins are known to be exploring the possibility of making an uncharacteristic big splash by signing Darvish, and the pitcher is apparently also doing his homework on the club.
- One name apparently not on Minnesota’s target list is veteran reliever Bryan Shaw, as Mike Berardino (Twitter link) reports that the Twins “haven’t shown much interest” in the righty.
Indians need to be shopping Kipnis hard right now. Having his contract on the books is limiting their FA options in areas of need. He’s a spare part, and they gotta do what they gotta do to move him ASAP.
Agreed, but that contract is a bugger.
Darvish would be nice but I’m worried if we give him 6 years we still need to solve the bullpen as well
Realistically we could sign two good relief pitchers, but with Nick Burdi, hopefully a better Chargois, Tyler Jay(if delegated to the pen), and others knocking on the door to the big leagues we don’t really need to look outside our pipeline much, I’m kinda surprised they didn’t protect Kohl Stewart because even if he doesn’t pan out as a starter he has the arm and the stuff to be a pretty solid bullpen option.
The thing is we have been couting on internal bullpen guys for yaers and got nothing from it. not to say some wont work oout but id like the flexability to sing FA if needed.
There certainly are a load of potential bullpen arms in the upper minors.
Signing a couple of FA starters would also mean Phil Hughes and Trevor May could slot in to the bullpen now they are healthy.
Last thing the Tigers should do is trade a successful reliever. Unless they want to trade him to Cleveland.
tigers are gonna be bad this year. no reason to hold onto a reliever if there’s demand. anything to speed up the rebuild
My point is that they have a history of horrible bullpens, so why trade the first decent one to come along in ages? Every team still needs relievers.
Rebuilding teams need them less, though
You’re making too much sense. What Det is doing is not exactly creative; it’s a “by the book”, simple-minded rebuild with no thought to actually fielding at least a competitive team. It’s a process that doesn’t require a great deal of skill, other than putting virtually everyone on the block in return for as much as you get and expect people to pay to see the substandard result for the next 5 years and perhaps beyond.
relievers are fickle. besides Rivera, how many lock down relievers are good every year? and Greene isn’t even established as that good yet
They need them “less” if the goal is “less”.
Let Greene close next year. If he is successful, he will have more value with one less year of control, but 25-30 saves under his belt. Evidently the current interest is underwhelming, anyway.
The Tigers must get their team back in fiscal shape while simultaneously building the organization’s core.
The difference between the Tigers and other teams rebuilding such as the ChiSox is the Tigers are hamstrung by enormous near-unmovable contracts and won’t be competitive until a significant portion expire. Miguel Cabrera ($30M), Jordan Zimmermann ($24M), plus Justin Verlander and Prince Fielder ($14M). That’s just too much money to be throwing away. The estimate is 2021 that they start looking competitive.
Hard to fathom but, the Tigers minor league strength is their relievers. Shane Greene looks like pretty good reliever. but, if the Tigers can get MLB ready talent for him, it makes sense to make the trade. Otherwise, they have no reason to trade him. It doesn’t hurt to listen.
Darvish to the Twins would be great for baseball. Definitely rooting for him to go to one of the Twins or Brewers!
Why on earth would it be any better for them to get him than any other team?
The Tribe CAN resign Santana. He really wants to stay, the question is whether or not they’ll be willing to pay him whatever it is he is willing to accept in order to do so.
the problem will not be the money but more the years of the deal IMO Santana will sign a deal in the area of 4 years 70 to 75 mil most likely with a option for around 20 mil area.
The Indians will not want to give him a deal for that many years JMO from the way I have seem them operate in the past they love the 3 year deals once a player is 30 years or above.