Edgar Renteria is Now Detroit's Shortstop

by Ian Casselberry on Oct 29, 2007 5:51 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

Of all the things you could say about the Dave Dombrowski regime in Detroit, being slow on making moves is not one of them. When the Detroit Tigers zero in on someone they want (Jim Leyland, Gary Sheffield), they don't waste any time in getting the deal done.

Shortstop was probably the biggest hole to fill for the Tigers this off-season, and less than 24 hours after the World Series ended, Detroit's found their man. Edgar Renteria has been acquired from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and pitcher Jair Jurrjens.

(So that's why my call waiting kept ringing while I was talking to my friend in Seattle. Others are already ahead of this on me - as russkiejedi posted in the comments. There goes my resolution to be faster on trade news. Billfer even beat the beat writers on posting the news online.)

My initial reaction is mixed, but I'm still trying to sort it all out in my head. I'm thrilled the Tigers got what was probably the best shortstop available, someone proficient with both the bat and the glove. But to give up one of their best minor league outfielders, along with a top pitching prospect seems like a rather high price at first glance. I could've seen trading either Hernandez or Jurrjens in such a deal. To see them both go is a bit of a surprise.

Last season, Renteria batted .332/.390/.470 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI, and committed 11 errors in 124 games. He served two stints on the disabled list, missing almost the entire month of August, due to an injured ankle. For his career, Renteria has a .291/.349/.407 average with 117 home runs and 762 RBI. He won Gold Gloves in 2002 and 2003 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

It's probably worth noting that in Renteria's only year in the American League - 2005 with the Boston Red Sox - he committed 30 errors on defense while batting .276/.335/.385, and posting eight home runs and 70 RBI. Is Renteria simply better suited for the National League, or did playing shortstop for a defending World Series champion in Boston mess with him a bit?

How about your first thoughts? Did the Tigers give up too much? Or was the price worth an upgrade at shortstop?

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#3 and #4 Prospects

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus had Hernandez and Jurrjens ranked #3 and 4, respectively, in his ranking of Tigers prospects back in January.

by Ian Casselberry on Oct 29, 2007 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

For me it depends on how productive Edgar is...

If he performs as well as he has historically, I think this will be a fine trade. If he reprises his performance in Boston... ugh.

I'm cautiously optimistic. I liked Jar-Jar (what my dad called him), and Gorkys intrigued me. But we don't have room on the MLB club for all of our good prospects, and these guys happened to play positions where we've got depth. It should make us better, so I think it's a good trade.

by russkiejedi on Oct 29, 2007 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

The Tigers mantra is "Win now!"

The Tigers, as currently built, probably have a 2 year window to win a World Series. The majority of their everyday lineup is over the age of 30. They absolutely have to throw caution to the wind, and go for it. Acquiring Renteria, essentially replacing an All-Star SS with another All-Star SS, is their first move in doing so.

This is the sort of trade that a World Series contending team makes. I'm thrilled that the Tigers are thinking in that way.

http://waynefontes.com/

by Big Al on Oct 29, 2007 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

Good Trade

if, as written before, Renteria performs like usual (and not like in his Boston Days). It's clear that you have to dig deep in your "prospect pocket" for a man like Renteria but it's sad to lose JJ (and Gorkys) but I see it like Big Al in the Post before.

Hey, those "jack wilson rumors" are now officially over. Or? :LOL:

by Germantiger on Oct 29, 2007 9:39 PM EDT reply actions

Renteria is a nice player...

but we paid a pretty steep price for what amounts to a 2-3 win upgrade. No elite prospects involved, but our organizational depth just took a serious hit. Like Ian, I am surprised to see both Jurrjens and Gorkys involved. I guess this is the kind of trade that contenders have to make if they want to get better and make a run at a title.

We did get Renteria for below market salary, which is nice. I think as long as he stays fairly healthy, its a good addition. We're going to have a sick lineup in 2008.