2007 Designated Hitter

[ypsieast]

Who will be the primary DH for the Tigers in 2007?
Let's compare some of the options.

also check out 2007 1B thread (http://www.motownsports.com/forums/showthread.php?p=955875#post955875)

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Stats (based on lst 3 years: 2004-2006): Age - (bats) - AB - AVG/OBP/SLG - OPS - K/100 AB

CURRENT TIGERS:
M THAMES - 30 (R) ; 620 ; .245/.314/.515 ; .829 ; 28
M ORDONEZ - 33 (R) ; 1100 ; .298/.352/.467 ; .819 ; 13
A GOMEZ - 28 (L) ; 148 ; .264/.338/.351 ; .689 ; 21

FREE AGENTS:
M ALOU - 40 (R) ; 1373 ; .304/.373/.551 ; .924 ; 11
B BONDS - 42 (L) ; 782 ; .315/.529/.679 ; 1.208 ; 13
J BURNITZ - 38 (L) ; 1458 ; .261/.325/.478 ; .803 ; 21
C FLOYD - 33 (L) ; 1278 ; .261/.334/.466 ; .800 ; 20
L GONZALEZ - 39 (L); 1544 ; .268/.358/.462 ; .820 ; 13
C LEE - 30 (R) ; 1833 ; .290/.350/.517 ; .867 ; 13
M PIAZZA - 38 (R) ; 1252 ; .267/.342/.465 ; .807 ; 17
F THOMAS - 38 (R) ; 811 ; .264/.386/.556 ; .942 ; 21

POSSIBLE TRADE TARGETS:
P BURRELL - 30 (R) ; 1472 ; .266/.382/.488 ; .870 ; 29
A DUNN - 27 (L) ; 1672 ; .249/.374/.533 ; .907 ; 33
M RAMIREZ - 34 (R) 1571 ; .306/.405/.608 ; 1.013 ; 22
G SHEFFIELD - 38 (R) ; 1308 ; .291/.378/.515 ; .893 ; 13
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Does anyone know the league average for DH in 2006? I would like to compare that line, but I can't find it.

If anyone wants a name added to this list, let me know. Also, let me know if you think other stats should be shown.
If you guys like this thread, I'll do similar ones for 1B and OF. I know some of the above names could play 1B/OF, so I'll still include them in the other threads.

Discuss...

[Canon Fodder]

Ordonez. Please, please, PLEASE get him out of rightfield.

And no more Thames/Ordonez/Dmitri Young-type players. We've got enough potential DHs already. Some actual athletes might offer this roster a bit more versatility and speed.

[Big Toe]

Burrell's actually not a free agent. He's got a massive contract. I'd look to Ordonez or Floyd. Or maybe Shelton, depending on his spring.

Ideally, though, we'd get someone who could actually play in the field somewhere so we can rotate some of our older, more injury prone players through the spot.

[estrepe1]

I disagree with canon fodder. I think they need a DH for a year or two that can actually hit the ball hard. Their problem on offense isn't speed it is the lack of runners on base. Picking up a DH that can get on base at a .360+ clip would go a long way to solving that problem. Although as Big Toe points out it would be good if they could play the field somewhere to be able to rotate them through from time to time.

Also the problem with the Tigers wasn't defense so more athletes wouldn't be the answer there either.

I don't know that Magglio has to move to DH just yet. I think that he has another year or two before he is too bad out to keep out there.

[tiger337]

Ordonez. Please, please, PLEASE get him out of rightfield.

And no more Thames/Ordonez/Dmitri Young-type players. We've got enough potential DHs already. Some actual athletes might offer this roster a bit more versatility and speed.

The Tigers actually have more versatility/speed guys than dh types on their bench. With Stairs and Casey having filed for free agency, we are looking at a bench/DH consisting of Wilson, Santiago, Infante, Gomez and Thames. The only DH type there is Thames and it doesn't look like they have any interest in using him on a regular basis.

[ypsieast]

Burrell's actually not a free agent.
Thanks, fixed it.

[tiger337]

Also the problem with the Tigers wasn't defense so more atheletes wouldn't be the answer there either.



They had excellent defense last year. Additional speed might help them on the bases but they need to get on base first.

[estrepe1]

Burrell is an interesting option. Due to his large contract he has gotten a bit of a bad rap but the fact is that he actually is a helpful part of an offense.

Of course his numbers are skewed by the fact that Philly has one of the best parks in the majors for offense. But overall I wouldn't mind the addition at all. Depending on cost of course.

They had excellent defense last year. Additional speed might help them on the bases but they need to get on base first.

This is true. They did have a weak point of their defense in RF but I don't think that killed them. If they were able to pick up someone with speed/range that gets on base at a good clip I wouldn't be opposed to it. But they need to answer their inability on offense before they worry about the defensive shortcomings of the corner outfield. Especially since it wasn't a huge problem last season.

[djhutch]

Ordonez. Please, please, PLEASE get him out of rightfield.

I don't think he's all that bad. He doesn't have the arm you'd like to see out there, but he's not a butcher.

[zachcadillac]

Burrell is an interesting option. Due to his large contract he has gotten a bit of a bad rap but the fact is that he actually is a helpful part of an offense.

Of course his numbers are skewed by the fact that Philly has one of the best parks in the majors for offense. But overall I wouldn't mind the addition at all. Depending on cost of course.

I think if the Tigers agreed to pay the $27 million on Burrell's contract, they could have him without sacrificing any talent. There was a report in the Philadelphia paper today suggesting that Burrell might be swapped to San Francisco for Armando Benitez, who's basically a nonentity these days.

[tiger337]

I don't think he's all that bad. He doesn't have the arm you'd like to see out there, but he's not a butcher.

His arm seems ok to me. He looked like a butcher in the first half of the year but he seemed to improve as the season went along.

[estrepe1]

I think if the Tigers agreed to pay the $27 million on Burrell's contract, they could have him without sacrificing any talent. There was a report in the Philadelphia paper today suggesting that Burrell might be swapped to San Francisco for Armando Benitez, who's basically a nonentity these days.

If thats all it would take I would love to have Burrell on board.

[Charles Liston]

Ordonez isn't a good enough hitter for DH. Sooner or later there won't be a choice, he'll have to DH, but keep him in the OF as long as you can. On the list above, lots of them have modest power but only Bonds, Alou and Thomas have the on-base percentage to significantly alter the Tigers' offense.

[Big Toe]

I'll bet they'd take Neifi for Burrell.

[jadefalcon]

I like the idea of trading for Burrell or Dunn. I don't mind guys that clog the bases, just as long as they get on base. Guys that don't get on base really bug me.

[kitna2furrey]

Barry Freakin Bonds.....

[SportsFan4Life]

i really think its gonna be Barry Bonds...it just makes the most scence since he wants a Ring (good shot here) and likes Leyland

[Statik]

I'd vote for just using the guys we have. If we are gonna blow 27 million or so...I'd rather have more pitching. It's not like our 3 choices are hideous dogs, 80 percent of the league would love to have anyone of them.

I like watching the playoffs more than watching a guy hitting number 45 into a meaningless, chilly, late September night as the players on the bench curse in Spanish because they are are gonna miss their flights home to Latin America.

[Bubba]

i really think its gonna be Barry Bonds...it just makes the most scence since he wants a Ring (good shot here) and likes Leyland

Unless we completely over pay him, I don't see him coming here...

First, he is a one year player... we need a more than a 1 yr solution to our lineup.

Second, the Giants are not going to let him leave. The drop in their attendance would be massive. They will want him to fill the stands.

Third, I would rather outright Zumaya, Maybin, Verlander and Miller than have Bonds on our team.

[thewave84]

It interesting to me that over at mlive.com, Danny Knobler flat-out says that there is no way that Bonds is going to be a Tiger next year. I don't see how he can be so sure, unless maybe he has had off the record conversations with Leyland.

[ypsieast]

Naturally a long term solution at DH is preferable to a short term. That's not always possible, though. Lee appears to be the only FA l-t solution, but we would most likely find him a spot in the field. Dunn/Burrell trade would be l-t guys, but they would need to be signed to extensions to retain longer than 2 years.

So we need to accept that we may just get a DH for 1-2 years and then reevaluate (Ordonez or a new guy at that point). Thames is probably not the answer beyond a righty alternative to the lefty everyday guy. I agree its too soon to move Maggs.

Bonds is far and away the best choice (assuming his circus doesn't hurt the team). After him, Floyd and Burnitz are very uninspiring options for lefties. Dunn would be too costly to trade for, IMO.

If we get a righty DH, IMO, we probably need to sign 2 lefty bats (1 at the minimum) that can play every day - 1B and OF presumably. That puts Monroe or Thames as the 4th OF and the other one out in the cold. For the righties, I like Lee>Alou>Burrell>Thomas in that order.

[qsilvr2531]

I actually think a 1 year solution might be preferable at DH. We don't have any talent immediately available in the minors, but one year gives us some time to figure out what we with Ordonez and see if anyone in the minors is ready by 2008.

When Leyland was using Alexis Gomez over Thames in the playoffs, I think that was a good indication that Thames hasn't got much of a future with us.

[keglerv]

Adam Dunn rumors are so 2005. The Reds are not going to deal him without getting a mountain in return. I would like to have him but it isn't going to happen.

[estrepe1]

Adam Dunn rumors are so 2005. The Reds are not going to deal him without getting a mountain in return. I would like to have him but it isn't going to happen.

He is also going to be a free agent after 2007 (unless the Reds pick up his 2008 option for 13 million dollars).... so that could add some fuel to the fire.

[keglerv]

He is also going to be a free agent after 2007 (unless the Reds pick up his 2008 option for 13 million dollars).... so that could add some fuel to the fire.

I didn't know this, thanks. I gotta believe he would want to test the market at his relatively young age, he would be in line for a big time multi year pay day. I can't see how anyone here would want to trade anything of value on a posiible one year player (Juan Gone). I imagine any team trading for him would pick up his option and make it 2 years, but I would be inclined to wait it out on him and try to acquire players without giving up too much talent.

[Tigercub33]

keglerv, I think that many here feel Dunn would be a relative bargain (in the world of trades) compared to Texeria whose name pops up VERY frequently.

IMO, Dunn would be a nice addition, but I would rather go after Lee and Ramirez becuase all they require is money, not a valuable player (or 2 or 3)

[Domino]

Ordonez didn't too badly at all in right field towards the end of the season, I recall several diving catches.

[Big Toe]

I agree that Dunn might come relatively cheaply. Their GM has thinly veiled negative things to say about him (in the guise of general commentary on strikeouts) and he's coming off a down year. I don't think they've got the leverage to ask for a whole lot.

[JonBenke]

I think they could get a good package for Dunn. They need pitching, and they could get two or three quality pitchers from us, so -- who knows.

[estrepe1]

I think they could get a good package for Dunn. They need pitching, and they could get two or three quality pitchers from us, so -- who knows.

I am not sure. I think that some GM's underrate Dunn as much as some here overrate him (myself likely included)....

Krivsky seems sort of desperate to move him when you read between the lines of winning baseball/lower strikeouts for less power comments.

[JonBenke]

Krivsky seems sort of desperate to move him
In your opinion, easy, how much more than Nate Robertson .. would it take, to acquire Adam Dunn?

[84 Lives!!!]

I am not sure. I think that some GM's underrate Dunn as much as some here overrate him (myself likely included)....

Krivsky seems sort of desperate to move him when you read between the lines of winning baseball/lower strikeouts for less power comments.

I'm thinking Krivsky might be ready to take prospects for Dunn. I think also that the cost could be alot cheaper than the prevailing sentiment based on Krivsky's comments...

It might not even take Nate if Krivsky is intent upon moving Dunn. If he's willing to take prospects, like I said, then could he go for a Humberto, Larish, De La Cruz package?

Just my wild guess...

[estrepe1]

In your opinion, easy, how much more than Nate Robertson .. would it take, to acquire Adam Dunn?

I have no clue. I wouldn't want to guess at something that would likely be far from reality.

[ypsieast]

In your opinion, easy, how much more than Nate Robertson .. would it take, to acquire Adam Dunn?

Well, the Reds traded Wily Mo Pena (young, low salary) for Bronson Arroyo (signed for 3/$11.5mil).

Robertson could be considered a bit of an upgrade on Arroyo, based on being left handed and low cost for a couple more years. Dunn is obviously a better hitter than Wily Mo, but very expensive. I would guess that it wouldn't take a lot more than Nate to land Dunn. Not sure I would make that deal, though. Dunn's strikeouts frighten me a lot.

[ypsieast]

Re: Burrell
I read he has a no-trade clause that he is willing to waive to play closer to home - i.e. out west. Consider him a long shot.

[jadefalcon]

Re: Burrell
I read he has a no-trade clause that he is willing to waive to play closer to home - i.e. out west. Consider him a long shot.

I think he also said that he would waive his no-trade clause to go to a contender.

[catswithbats]

What are the possibilities the Tigers look at Mike Piazza at 1b/DH/C?

**she said, semi seriously**

[Johnny Mac]

the more i think about it, the more im warming to the idea of Bonds

[pyrotigers]

The Orioles reportedly offered Kris Benson and a reliever to the Yankees for Gary Sheffield and were turned down.

Ignoring that they'd be adding another player who has been the subject of steroid allegations (and for good reason), the Orioles shouldn't be rebuilding around 38-year-old corner outfielders. It's like they've learned absolutely nothing. According to the New York Post, the Astros, Padres, Rangers, Indians and Tigers have shown the strongest interest in Sheffield.

[estrepe1]

I don't trust trade rumors like that.... I could list out every team looking for offense...

Also who plants these rumors? It could be the agent. It could be Cashman trying to drive the price up.

[cruzer1]

I'd take Sheff, but I'd only be willing to deal him for Robertson/Tata, or a package similar to that.

[snoogit]

I'd only take sheff if we could get him for a mid level prospect. Robertson/Tata is too much bad taste.

[estrepe1]

I'd take Sheff, but I'd only be willing to deal him for Robertson/Tata, or a package similar to that.

I wouldn't give up that much for Sheffield.

[Charles Liston]

I'd give them one of our 100 mph guys...De La Cruz. I don't want to give up Tata, so I'd give them some other guys from the AAA staff, as many as they want. How old is Sheffield, 38? They won't get anyone who is major-league ready for him.

However, if he is going to be a pain in the butt about a 3-year deal, then I don't want him. I'd give him a zillion dollars for one-year extension, plus a club option.