Tigers Not Looking for Centerfielder

by FLATigersFan on Dec 6, 2005 7:03 PM EST in Detroit Tigers News

There have been many rumors recently regarding the Tigers inquiring about some centerfield help, specifically Johnny Damon and Juan Pierre from Florida. Anyways, according to ESPN, the Tigers aren't interested in outfielders at this point...instead, they're going to continue to focus on adding arms to the club:
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Two Tigers officials have told ESPN's Steve Phillips that they have no interest in Johnny Damon. The Tigers' only current focus is pitching, those officials told Phillips, and they're "not spending any time on center fielders."

Speaking of outfielders and the Tigers, outfielding prospect Curtis Granderson made news recently regarding a possible trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks for trade-bait pitcher Javy Vazquez. This deal also included pitching prospect Joel Zumaya:

Javier Vazquez exercised his right to decline a trade to Detroit, thus killing what the Diamondbacks thought would be a blockbuster for center fielder Curtis Granderson and right-hander Joel Zumaya, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports.

Wow! What is Dave Dombrowski thinking on this one? Two of the top prospects in the system for a pitcher who has only proved to be consistently above-average? He has a 4.28 career ERA, has a tendency to give up homers, but has a pretty solid 1.27 career whip. While I would like to acquire an arm such as Vazquez, I don't want to jeopardize any future talent to do so. Hopefully we can find better ways to acquire pitching talent this offseason.

There was probably more to the trade than is being reported. If not, that just sounds ridiculous to me.

Update [2005-12-6 19:19:39 by Mark]:I just read over at Motown Sports that the deal also included 3b Troy Glaus. This makes a little more sense now.

Update [2005-12-6 21:58:5 by Mark]:Looks like the whole Vazquez thing was just a false rumor, according to Dave Dombrowski. So, Tigers fans discussed the the possibility of Dombrowski trying to pull a deal like this all day, and it ends up being a false:

"That is totally not accurate," said Dombrowski. "And I don't mean to downplay [Vazquez] at all, but that is not an appealing situation for us."

[...]

Vazquez's agent, Seth Levinson, said he and Vazquez were never approached about approving or vetoing any deal. Teams usually go through the agent to get trade approval from a player.

Boy, how crazy the hot stove season can get sometimes. Peter Gammons seems to have a history of linking the Tigers to bonus deals and signings. Perhaps we shouldn't always put so much stock into what he says every offseason?

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Thank You Lord

I just want to say thank you to Javy Vazquez for not doing this trade. I would have been pretty upset if we lost both Granderson and Zumaya in the same transaction for a pitcher like Javy.

by Cecils My Boy on Dec 6, 2005 9:09 PM EST reply actions

Phew.

Ain't a-givin' up my Granderson.

by Boston Fan in Michigan on Dec 6, 2005 11:04 PM EST reply actions

I hear ya both...

I've heard arguments saying that guys like Zumaya may not ever reach the level of Vazquez when it's all said and done...however, I would like to take that chance with him.

Plus we don't need to move Granderson. The crop of centerfielders out there (Pierre, Damon) aren't the best options right now and I don't want Logan as an everyday outfielder at this point.

by FLATigersFan on Dec 6, 2005 11:15 PM EST reply actions

So Zumaya may not ever reach the level of Vasquez,

at this point who can say if Vasquez will ever reach the level of a goof Vasquez? He's heading into 3 seasons off of his career year, and he's only getting older...

I'm an unabashed Granderson fan, though. I like him as a player, and he was nice to the fans in Fenway, and cough*signed my program and chatted for a minute*cough, and I'm a sucker for that sort of thing.

by Boston Fan in Michigan on Dec 6, 2005 11:33 PM EST up reply actions