The Twins brought back four players from the Mariners in exchange for Jorge Polanco last month, though Minnesota’s first target was right-hander Bryce Miller, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reports. Miller and fellow rookie Bryan Woo were among the most sought-after trade targets of the winter, yet the Mariners weren’t eager to move either pitcher, or anyone from their crop of young and controllable starters. While Polanco fills a big need for Seattle at second base, he is only under team control through the 2025 season, so any kind of Polanco-for-Miller swap would’ve needed to be much different on Minnesota’s end to land Miller’s services.
More from around the AL Central…
- Guardians outfield prospect George Valera will miss “several weeks” after suffering a left hamstring strain, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (X link). Valera missed a big chunk of the 2023 season due to hamstring injuries and a hamate surgery, and the result was an unremarkable .220/.349/.397 slash line over 338 minor league plate appearances, mostly at the Triple-A level. Valera had been a regular on top-100 prospect lists prior to his 2023 disappointment, and his readiness for the start of the Triple-A season could now be in question depending on how much time he misses with his latest injury.
- Kerry Carpenter is also dealing with a strain to his left hamstring, though the Tigers slugger is only slated to miss a few days for now, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press). Hinch described the situation as “precautionary,” and Carpenter didn’t think he was going to be out for long. Over his first two MLB seasons, Carpenter has hit .273/.334/.474 with 26 homers over 572 PA, and is expected to play a key role as the Tigers’ regular designated hitter in 2024.
Polanco was never worth Miller… maybe Julien
Like the article said, the unknown deal for Miller would have involved a lot more then just Polanco
Miller might have been part of the rumored larger deal that included Kepler.
A little early to crown Carpenter as the main DH, isn’t it? I would think it will be a revolving door to give a partial day off to those who need it, probably Greene to start. The Tigers have had a full time DH for many years now since Victor Martinez, and now that Miggy’s retired and they’re out of that contract no more of DH only players. If they wanted that type of player, JD would be back in Detroit, I’d think….not someone like Carp. But it’s not the direction the Tigers obviously are heading….not yet, at least.
He a really didn’t look bad in the OF last year. If anybody ends up as just a DH on that team it should be Malloy…but that won’t be until next year if at all.
Agree on both fronts.
I thought Carp was looking decent in RF last year. He was making better reads and his arm was plenty capable.
There was not a mention in the Free Press article about Carpenter being the designated hitter. In fact, it described him as Outfielder, Kerry Carpenter. With Veirling getting pushed back into the OF mix, I can’t see Malloy making the team unless a trade occurs.
I highly doubt Malloy makes it to start the year either. Maybe not until 2025.
It’ll be Carpenter at DH the majority of the time. He may play a little corner OF if/when Greene or Canha need a rest,but yes, Carpenter will be the regular DH unless JD Martinez takes 1.5 million like Urshela did. Then things may change, lol.
Nope. It’ll be as it should. DH a revolving door of players needing a day off the field, not mainly Carp.
But… but… but… Carpenter will take AB’s away from Maton.
Someone give Melchez a shove. His record is stuck.
Carpenter is gonna hit 270-350/550 with 40/110
No way on the 40-110
If he gets 100+ab’s vs lefties
Maybe 30 homers but no way 110 RBI. He would need guys on base for that. 30/88.
RBI is an antiquated stat anyway
I would take a lineup full of the top RBI guys over a lineup with the least RBI’s.
Olson
Alonso
Tucker
Soto
Albies
Betts
Garcia
Acuna
Castellanos
Would be a very solid lineup.
RBI are circumstantial. The guys hitting behind guys with .350+ obp will have more RBI’s than if they were hitting behind guys with sub .300 obp. It doesn’t tell you how good someone is. It tell you how good the lineup in front of him is, it’s way too variable to put value on it
The Twins didn’t have a player with over 66 RBI last year and won the division by 9 games
Adames 80 RBI, Contreas 78 RBI, Yelich 76 RBI. They also had revolving doors for 1B, 3B, and DH throughout year.
Let me guess… the players with the most RBI’s on these teams were the better players… Am I right?
AL Central and NL Central are the brown streak in the MLB shorts.
If only…
I hope you’re right, but 25/80 will still make him a starter every day.
Woo!
No, Bryan Woo pitches for the Mariners. Currently #5 starter with upside.
Woo!
Oh, that Woo.
9 Hit By Pitch in the Tigers Yankees opener… Ouch!!!
Yanks win by football score of 22 to 10.
Look out above…..beanball war continued from a few years ago. Glad Miggy retired, he’d have attacked the Yank catcher and rolled around with him on the ground, like he did with a future teammate.
22-10, Brad Holmes needs a better secondary and now Jeff Greenberg does too.
Any relation to Hank Greenberg…,??
Might want to ask STYMEEDONE if Jeff is related to Hank, due to the fact that Scott Harris lives rent free in his head and has all the answers about the Tigers GM since he hired him.
No relation
That was ugly. Hopefully not a sign of things to come. Not how we want to see them emulating the Lions…with a football score.
Other than Reese Olson starting, it was all nobody’s pitching. So don’t worry.
Love the Advanced Analytics team Harris put together. Scottie is so much smarter than Avila.
Still time to sign Cooper; altho I’m pleasantly pleased that they inked Urshela & think that’s it…
How would Cooper fit on the team? He’s pretty much a 1B only. Canha, Ibanez and probably McKinstry can cover in a pinch with Hiura at AAA.
Good try but McKinstry or Hiura won’t see time at first base and Ibanez is better at second. But yeah, STYMEEDONE, grasp away at those straws, throw spaghetti at the wall and maybe you’ll get it right someday….doubtful but maybe.
Cooper doesn’t fit. All the positions he plays are well covered already.
Why?
Tigers biggest addition from the offseason is the One and Only Jason Benetti, the voice of baseball.
Spot on….Matt Shepard was the worst PBP man ever. He’s the only one I’ve ever muted. He was even worse than the vomit inducing homer Hawk Harrelson in Chicago and it wasn’t close.
In other news, Valera’s ship is sailing away.