OT: Should the Tigers make any moves before the trade deadline?
I just read an article this morning over on ESPN by Dave Schoenfield, and he thinks Detroit is the front-runner to land Ryan Dempster before the trade deadline. Needless to say, that got me thinking. Obviously, Detroit is far from being out of it. Chicago and Cleveland are both coming back down to earth, and we're slowly starting to get more healthy. Plus, it's June and we're only 5 games out. So, we certainly will not be sellers at the deadline.
We have some pretty apparent holes on the team, and they just might be holes that could be fixed through a trade. Namely: inconsistent starting pitching, weak infield defense, total lack of production from whoever has played second, and lack of consistent hitters outside of Cabrera and Fielder. Having Jackson back is a huge boost, and I'm looking forward to when Dirks gets healthy and we have Jackson and him hitting in front of Cabrera and Fielder.
That said, what do you think of Dempster? Who would we have to give up to get him? Would he be worth the price? Is there someone else out there who you think would be a better addition to the team (at any position)?
Personally, I like the idea of Dempster, depending on who we give up for him. I wouldn't give up Turner for him, but I would give up Porcello. I just don't think Porcello will see success in Detroit with the kind of infield defense we have right now. It hurts me to say that, since I've followed him closely since he was in the minors, but it's true. Dempster is less of a groundball pitcher, gets more Ks, and would obviously benefit from pitching in a bigger park. I don't think he's as good as his numbers appear right now, but he's been a pretty consistent pitcher over the last 4 years or so: 200+ IP, FIP in the mid-high 3s, and about 8 Ks/9IP. I think he would fit well in our rotation, especially as a replacement for Porcello. Do you think the Cubs would take that straight up, though? To you Cubs fans, what do you think of that?
What is Brian Roberts status with the Orioles? I know he has been on the DL most of the year.
He has had really bad concussion problems. I dont think he played at all last season.
I'm more worried about DD making a deal and then signing every player he trades for to a 3 year 15 million dollar extension. If we're going after a rental player, let him be that.
What player has he done that with.....????
Dontrelle?
Some work out, some don't but
Peralta, Miggy, Dontrelle, Delmon come to mind immediately. It sure seems like more/everyone we trade for gets extended. I'll look in a minute.
They never re-signed delmon, only picked up his option (I think around 5-6M) . Peralta had a great year last year, not so good this year, but only paying him 5.5M per 2 seasons. Dontrelle was the only one that hasnt worked. And you cant say anything wrong about the cabrera deal. Another deal that worked was the Polonco deal. So some of these deals have worked. We didnt re-sign Renteria, Kyle Farnsworth (Pudge Deal 2008), Edwin Jackson, Garry Sheffield, Neifi Perez, Abrury Huff, Jarrod Washburn, Wilson Betemit, No new deal for Fister yet, David Pauley didn't get a new deal. It only seems like they have but you cant let all the guys you trade for go away.
Among AL second basemen, we have players ranking #18 and #19 out of 22 per ESPN when it comes to offensive production at second base, with Danny Worth hitting a cool .184 and Santiago hitting about .210. So, the average overall comes to .197. Actually, if you throw #21 - Ryan Raburn - into this, 2B bats .180 for the Detroit Tigers. To me, finding someone that can produce offensively here would seem to be a priority. I would be intrigued by the idea of going for Chris Getz, or perhaps from the NL - in the Getz salary range - you would have perhaps someone like Elian Herrera or Danny Espinosa, who aren't tremendous improvements, but Darwin Barney would be a good upgrade, I think, and I don't know that it would be painful to get him from the Cubs. Scutaro wouldn't be a bad short-term solution, but Barney is 27, I think, and could hang around for a while.
As to the OP's question, I wouldn't mind adding Dempster to the rotation - he's 35, but he is a good pitcher, has had success recently, and pitchers can still do well enough into their 40s that you migth get decent longevity anyway.
As a Cubs fan, and a growing Tigers fan more and more...this is a no brainer. Porcello for Demps would be a massive coup for the Tigers and a huge blow to the Cubs rebuidling efforts. Cubs will want to bring back quality and quantity for any and all trades we make the next two months. Tigers will have to pony up an impact AAA/AA player, and then at least two more low A or a B level prospect for Demps. Jed and Theo want controlable, young and talented players.
Porcello, in my mind, needs to get sent down and work on a consistent delivery and throwing strikes down in the zone. I think with his service time that might mean DFA'ing him, but if he has some options, that would be what I would do. His two seam fast ball doesn't cut and sink consistently, and he is prone to "cock" shots.
Cubs will listen on Demps and Garza. Tigers would be wise to make a play for either, but they will have a ton of competition since three AL east teams and Dodgers will be in play over the next two months. Watch out for the Rangers and Angels making a play for one or both as well. Dodgers are said to want Demps, and will be linked to him the next couple weeks. For me, and I mean no offense, but the Dodgers are my perferred partner for Demps, since Eovaldi could be the center piece in that deal. He is a legit 2/3 arm, and has shown he can pitch in the bigs the last two years.
Tigers need more than just one arm. They have some issues, both overt and opaque.
I think getting Eovaldi for Dempster is a pipe-dream. And doesn't really make sense from the Dodgers' perspective. If they want another starter, why would they trade a current 22 year old starter for a 35 year old one?
What about Vlad? He was released today from the Jays.
An old guy that doesn't play defense and doesn't take pitches? No thanks.
I'd take Vlad, if we could sign him to like a 1-2 month contract.
What would be the incentive for him to take a 2 month contract?