The Trade DUD-line Is More Like It

by Ian Casselberry on Jul 31, 2007 8:09 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

Well, I feel kind of silly for going into full lockdown mode for the MLB trade deadline. As I'm sure you've heard by now, the Detroit Tigers did not make a deal before 4 p.m. EST today. They can still try to put together a trade before August 31, but any player involved will have to clear waivers. Considering how close most of the races are in most every division, I doubt any notable reliever will pass through unclaimed. It's disappointing, but if the going rate for Jon Rauch was Cameron Maybin, Dave Dombrowski had no choice but to pass.

Maybe we'll find out in the next day or two what the Tigers were in on, or what other teams were asking for. In the meantime, I thought you might find this interesting. Barry Svrluga talked to Nationals GM Jim Bowden about not making any moves at the deadline, and gavehis take on why very few big moves were made throughout baseball.

The basic theme: The only major prospect given up at all in the trade deadline was Saltalamacchia, and therefore the Braves did the best. That's Bowden's take: That the franchise with the best farm system that was willing to deal their prospects won.

[...]

More on the market in general: "I think last year the market was set. One thing we know, is that we're getting parity in the game. You get down to the trade deadline and small-market clubs do not have to dump payroll anymore. You're not seeing that. You're not seeing prospects being traded except for the Atlanta-Texas game, they're not going anywhere. The Red Sox and the Yankees and all the big market clubs are not trading their prospects."

On Cordero and Rauch: "We like them both a lot. We have a 25-year-old closer that's one of the best in the game. The last 36 appearances, 32 of them he hasn't given up a run. And we have him under control for two more years. The other one is 28 years old, we control him for three more years. Sure they're names. Everybody wants them. But we're not going to trade them unless you're getting pieces that are going to help us win a championship in a few years. They're not free agents. We didn't have to trade anybody."

And then this one should get some discussion going. Bowden was asked about the idea that he asks for too much in deals: "We will always ask for players that would help us win a championship. I am never going to feel bad for asking for players that can help us win. I'm not going to take players that can't help the Washington Nationals win at the big league level. So if they're going to criticize me, I'd much rather have them criticize me for asking for too much than asking for too little."

Bowden explained exactly why I thought Chad Cordero or Jon Rauch would've been ideal for the Tigers to pursue (at the right price, of course). On the other hand, if you have two players a lot of teams want, maybe it tells you those guys are worth holding onto - especially if you're moving into a new ballpark next year.

UPDATE: Buzz on the Burgh has some insight into the negotiations between the Tigers and Pirates for the Jack Wilson deal. I'm not sure what his source is, as I haven't been able to find the same information anywhere else, but I suppose there's no reason to think it's not true.

According to source who covers the Tigers, The Pirates and Tigers had agreed to a deal that would have sent Jack Wilson to the Detroit Tigers for prospect Brent Clevlen but the deal fell through around 3:30 est. The Tigers agreed to absorb all of Wilsons' salary but wanted Solomon Torres to be included in the deal. Littlefield countered asking for prospect Jair Jurrjens and the Tigers balked at the Pirates demands.

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that woulda sucked

The fact the deal came that close shakes my confidence in Dombrowski. I'm not that high on Clevlen, but giving up anything that has an iota of value to assume $16 million dollars and a sucky player is foolish to say the least. The Tigers could have sent nothing and I still think it would have been an awful deal.

Disaster averted - for now

by billfer on Jul 31, 2007 9:14 PM EDT reply actions

Terrible idea

Billfer's right. Even if he didn't cost much, every at bat given to a massive offensive liability like Jack Wilson would be a waste. But to pay 7million+ for the privilege? That's insane! I don't mean to trash the guy, but he's taken all of 24 walks this year, and he has a .301 OBP. That is a massive liability. The Pirates should have given the Tigers a prospect to take on his bloated salary!! Who thought that his production was worth 20 million for three years?? That's excessive. If he were an offensively neutral player, maybe, but for a guy with a .301 OBP? That's nuts.

by Lemonwasthebest55 on Jul 31, 2007 11:43 PM EDT reply actions