Maybe the Tigers Should Consider the Following...
by Zaref346 on Nov 16, 2011 1:23 AM EST
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PrintThis is my first fanpost so feel free to provide criticism, hopefully constructive, in case I decide to waste some time until the GM's meet for the Winter Meetings in December, the whole article is intertwined so please read it all to get the idea of what I'm proposing, now onto the jump...
Recent reports being publish say that the Tigers are looking to deal Delmon Young to the Braves in return for Martin Prado. The Tigers are desperate to find an everyday 2nd basemen so that they're not left having a Raburn/Worth (or some variation) platoon at second. First and foremost if Dombrowski and the Tigers can negotiate this trade straight up, I've got to believe they would jump on it right away. First to Prado:
While Prado is coming off a down year he still has the tools to be a productive everyday 2nd baseman. While his 2011 splits, .260/.302/.385/.687, might suggest he's tapered off a little bit, you have to remember that he was moved into left field to make room for Dan Uggla. His combined 2009-2010 splits were a more respectable .307/.354/.462/.816., this while playing the majority of his games at 2nd and while he doesn't walk as much as you'd like he doesn't strikeout nearly as much either at only an 11.9%/PA. On to Delmon:
Delmon Young was a highly touted prospect when the Rays drafted him first overall in 2003. While he's had a decent Major League career to date, he hasn't been the threat the Rays or Twins thought he'd be. He did and okay job when the Tigers hitting .274 with 8 HR and 32 RBI in 40 games after being claimed off waivers. However Delmon benefitted by hitting in front of Miguel Cabrera and his inability to draw a walk is killer for the Tigers, it was clearly evident as Ogondo ate him up in the postseason in multiple AB's against Young. Any hitter will find it increasingly easier to hit not just for power but to hit period when batting in front of the best hitter in the Majors. The other thing the Tigers have to consider is that Delmon is a defensive liability in the Yellowstone Nati...I mean Comerica Park's vast outfield. His Rdrs (defensive runs saved above average) was -4 and that was in just his 40 games at Comerica. Here's what the Tigers should consider:
If the Tigers can solve the second base issue by acquiring Prado for Young then should go ahead and make that trade before the Braves can convince themselves otherwise. The next thing the Tigers should do is seriously look into acquiring defected Cuban OF Yoennis Céspedes. I think both parties could benefit immensely and here’s why:
At reportedly 26 years old, Céspedes is the same age as Young and he has been very productive since breaking in with Granma in 2003. He has hit over .302 in every season since except in 2008 while Young has never hit over .300 for an entire season. In 6 seasons he has averaged 24 homeruns in 60% of a major league season while Young has only hit over 14 once, in 2010 when he had 21. The biggest upgrade in Céspedes over Young is the defensive ability he brings to the table as well as the on-base threat to swipe a bag. Young is set to get a pay raise via arbitration, with reports that should be in the $8 million range. Dombrowski has said numerous times that they will tender him a contract but nothing long-term, why not save the money and instead give a shot to the Céspedes who is said to be looking for a $6 million dollar a year contract??
While realizing that signing Céspedes would be a long shot with the number of clubs said to be interested, it would be a massive upgrade seeing him and Jackson patrolling Comerica in left and center. If he can prove he can handle big league pitching wouldn’t you much rather slot him in the 3 spot in front of Miggy and allow him to see the pitches that Delmon was seeing? Céspedes has a .315/.399/.575 average over the course of his career in Cuba but its safe for one to presume that a slight drop off due to better pitching in MLB but say they were to dip to near Young’s career averages (.288/.321/.428) wouldn’t the upgrades in speed, power and defense be worth the $6 million for a low-mid .290’s hitter that Detroit would have to pony up for Young in the first place if not more??
Your thoughts?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bless You Boys writing staff.
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I'm on board
I’d take Céspedes in a heartbeat.
I’d even be willing to trade Boesch for Prado if the Braves don’t want Delmon Young.
Wouldn't happen
Only because the Braves are looking for a right-handed power bat, that’s why they’re interested in Young.
Take off your white wig, put down your gavel and stop judging...
Sounds good
but we really don’t know what Cespedes would bring to MLB, especially in his first season. The Tigers have a pennant- ready team and need to plug just a couple of holes, at a glance, to complete the puzzle. Prado would be one very important piece. Boesch is too much for Prado, and Delmon is probably not enough at least without something more. I’m okay with Delmon as long as the Tigers get two complete ballplayers that can fill the top two spots in the lineup and provide some solid defense. If they can also upgrade the outfield, that’s a big plus.
"King of Minutiae"
I see your point
I agree with the Boesch for Prado deal dirst thing, they’d be best to deal Young. I understand that bringing him in blind is somewhat of a risk but at the same look at it this way, Céspedes isn’t exactly a prospect. He’s more like a player that’s been drafted who’s been mashing the ball in the Minors. If you consider the fact that pitchers in Cuba are at least close to the pitching he’ll see in the Minors then someone who’s posted those numbers, most notably the numbers in the past two years, isn’t a risk but a player who’s ready for the Majors. He has speed and has defense and that’d be HUGE for the Tigers.
Take off your white wig, put down your gavel and stop judging...
Cespedes isn't a sure thing
Céspedes isn’t exactly a prospect. He’s more like a player that’s been drafted who’s been mashing the ball in the Minors.
Mashing in the minors doesn’t necessarily translate to Major League production. This is why Scott Sizemore is in Oakland. And we have no idea what the quality of pitching is like in Cuba. There aren’t exactly waves of guys coming in from the Cuban league(s) to the MLB.
Uhhhhh.....
You do realize why there are not waves of guys coming in from Cuba, right?
We don't need to get into why there aren't waves of guys
Although, if you think about it, “waves” of Cubans coming to the US can have multiple connotations.
/Elian Gonzalez’d
by Rob Rogacki on Nov 17, 2011 12:28 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Why is Boesch viewed as more valuable than Young?
And, if he is more valuable, and also trade-able, shouldn’t we be looking for ML ready pitching in return?
"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it was the other way around..." Jim Bouton
In a word, "upside"
Boesch .283 .341 .458 .799 wOBA of .343
Young .268 .302 .393 .695 wOBA of .306
That’s 2011- Boesch’s second year and Delmon’s fifth in the majors. As seasons go by, the promise that was once so great for Delmon as an overall first pick in the draft has dissipated. He doesn’t get on base, doesn’t walk, strikes out a lot, and his defense is well below average. Boesch’s rookie year was a tale of two seasons. Pitchers adjusted to him as the 2010 season progressed, and he was very slow to adjust accordingly, but he appeared to make some adjustments and came back strong in 2011. If you believe that his struggles in July and August were related to his injury, then you’ve got a legit middle of the order bat.
In another word: money. Delmon stands to get about $ 6.5 million in arbitration and will be under club control for one more season before he can leave as a free agent. Boesch will make the major league minimum and will be under club control for four more seasons. He has more power, better on base ability, and is a better defender than Delmon.
If the Tigers were to trade Boesch to Atlanta, I’d be looking for Jurrjens AND Prado in the deal, just as Atlanta was offering to the Royals when they wanted Wil Meyers. I’d still be hesitant.
"King of Minutiae"
Thank you.
"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it was the other way around..." Jim Bouton
by JimWalewander on Nov 16, 2011 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
How dow e know Cepedes will be productive?
Cuba is a lot different than the MLB, not saying he will do bad, heck he porobably will do great but still we need an insurance plan.
"I will play tomorrow unless I am dead when I wake up" - Victor Martinez
How do we know
Headline was supposed to read
"I will play tomorrow unless I am dead when I wake up" - Victor Martinez
Maybe...
The Tigers should consider not letting Minnesota sign all of the FA’s that would’ve been PERFECT for us.
Tigers get Laird, Twins get Carroll and Doumit.
Let my disappointment begin…
If you think Carroll and Doumit will make the Twins 32 games better than last season
Then, well, continue to be disappointed I guess.
Hey, let's not act like the Twins weren't decimated by injuries.
Granted, I don’t see them taking back the division next year, but they’re not going to finish 32 games out again next year.
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
by Trout Jefferson on Nov 18, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
I agree
But Doumit and Carroll aren’t pieces that make them better than the Tigers. That rotation is still pretty bad.
Ryan Doumit is a disaster behind the plate.
He also has a very extensive injury history. Gerald Laird at 1 million is a far superior back-up to Doumit at 3 million. He handles pitchers very nicely and can trow out runners with the best of them. The best part about Laird is that he is roughly the exact opposite of Ryan Doumit defensively. Don’t get me wrong, Doumit isn’t all bad, but $3 million for an injury prone catcher who cant actually catch and who will likely only get 30-40 starts at the most next year is lunacy.
Carroll is old and really not all that good. He came to Minnesota pretty cheap, but do you really want a 38 year-old who has only ever gotten more than 66 starts once in a season playing second base full time in Detroit? And with a multi-year contract that has an option for 2014 on top of that. I certainly would rather have us take our chances on more glamorous options who could actually help the team.
Doumit is a nice piece for them
Between the uncertainties of Morneau and Mauer, Doumit gives them a reliable bat to fill the numerous cracks that they have. On the Tigers, he wouldn’t be nearly as valuable because Cabrera and Avila have been more reliable than the M&M boys.
Doumit won’t win the Twins the division, but make no mistake, he’s a very good signing for them in my opinion…same as Carroll. When the Twins win the division, it’s rarely with superstar performances. Lots of role players doing their jobs well is the calling card of the Twins and it looks like they’re starting to re-stock those pieces.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
They get Carroll, we get Prado
They get Doumit, we get Laird
They lose Cuddyer, we lose Magglio
They lose Nathan, we lose Zumaya
They lose Capps, we lose Purcey
They lose Kubel, we lose Santos
They lose Thome, we lose Guillen
They lose Delmon, we lose Penny
Our losses are plusses. Their losses make them screwed!
"King of Minutiae"
Let's make sure we get Prado soon
Most of the alternatives seem underwhelming.
by manic in Detroit on Nov 18, 2011 10:02 PM EST reply actions
Prado and Maicer Izturis would be a beautiful thing.
Maicer plays 2B, SS, and 3B, is a switch hitter, and has a solid OBP with some pop in his bat, some speed, has one year left before free agency, makes $ 3 mil, and is expendable.
ANY two prospects not named Turner or Castellanos for a player like Prado, Maicer, or Headley that could fill one of those roles at the top of the order and play 2B or 3B.
"King of Minutiae"
Yes I would like Maicer
Aren’t the Angels looking for middle relief?
by manic in Detroit on Nov 19, 2011 8:12 PM EST reply actions
Callaspo would be fine also
The Angels have more decent infielders than they can play. Kendrick, Aybar, Maicer, Callaspo, and they are thinking of moving Trumbo to third base if/when Kendry Morales returns. Someone should be available.
by manic in Detroit on Nov 21, 2011 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
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