Pay attention to the market place.....

**baseball3** · 01-14-2010, 01:04 PM

I hope our management is paying attention to today's marketplace.

Comment on the examples you see where teams are making mistakes and where teams are smart with their signings. Most recent cases in point (up to the minute) are as follows:

Kudos to: Arizona Diamondbacks, getting Adam LaRoche for a 1yr/$4-5M deal. Last week, LaRoche turned down a 2yr/$17.5M deal with the Giants because he wanted a 3-year deal. Today, no one else wanted him, so, he was forced to take the Diamondback offer. Winner: Arizona

WTH to: San Francisco Giants for signing Aubrey Huff for $3M. Why? There was NO other bidder and why the heck sign him at all, if so, they could have gotten him for a much less amount. Loser: SF

What will the Tigers do: Why would the Tigers sign Valverde for 2yr/$12-14M when there are no apparent bidders for him? Surely, they can get him for the same time frame for much less by waiting. There are no other bidders. Tigers: Winners or losers here?

Your thoughts?

**DaYooperASBDT** · 01-14-2010, 01:30 PM

Not sure why we needed a new thread but I'll take a stab at this sir!

Well, so far the Tigers are waiting Valverde out it appears, so your advice may already have been heeded.

The Giants? Shoot they will sign guys with a pulse, otherwise I'm not sure they have much of a clue. They always seem desperate for a first baseman most years, so the Huff signing doesn't surprise me I guess.

As for the LaRoche story - hmmmmmmmmmm sounds like a little collusion going on maybe?

**john doe** · 01-14-2010, 02:16 PM

Great thread, and really not redundant because "timing" and developing the ability to determine when the best deal for your team can be consummated is absolutely essential. I don't believe this thread needs to be related to any particular deal, it speaks, in general, to managements intuitiveness within the market place.

**DaYooperASBDT** · 01-14-2010, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by john doe

Great thread, and really not redundant because "timing" and developing the ability to determine when the best deal for your team can be consummated is absolutely essential. I don't believe this thread needs to be related to any particular deal, it speaks, in general, to managements intuitiveness within the market place.

That's fair.

**Who is the Drizzle?** · 01-14-2010, 02:29 PM

If we wait long enough he will pay the Tigers to pitch!

**john doe** · 01-14-2010, 02:32 PM

And the Tigs just won the Mike Rabelo sweepstakes!

**Los Gatos** · 01-14-2010, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by john doe

And the Tigs just won the Mike Rabelo sweepstakes!

Cool, I like Rabelo.

Mike Rabelo-C- Tigers Jan. 14 - 1:32 pm et

Tigers signed C Mike Rabelo to a minor league contract.

The team also signed left-handers Sam Narron and Jason Waddell, catchers Robinzon Diaz and Max St. Pierre, infielders Kory Casto, Santo De Leon, Cesar Nicolas and Jason Stokes and outfielder Ryan Patterson to minor league deals. All get invites to Spring Training. Rabelo, who turns 30 later this month, returns to the Tigers after being swapped to the Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera trade. He batted .202/.256/.294 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 109 at-bats with the Marlins in 2008, did not appear on the major league level last season.

Mike Rabelo

**tiger337** · 01-14-2010, 02:55 PM

Rube Waddell would make a good fourth starter.

**baseball3** · 01-14-2010, 02:59 PM

I used to really enjoy watching Ryan Patterson hit...............

......fielding was a whole different story, but, the guy could rake!

**DaYooperASBDT** · 01-14-2010, 03:02 PM

RABS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Alex** · 01-14-2010, 03:04 PM

There could be some decent pieces for 1-2 mil before long. Now if they fit
is another story for the teams...

**The Truman Show** · 01-14-2010, 03:19 PM

Epic fail for the Royals for the contract they handed Jason Kendall. 2 years, 6 mil. What market does a guy like Kendall possibly have?

**ballmich** · 01-14-2010, 03:33 PM

I thought the Pirates did well to add DJ Carrasco on a 1 year $950k minor league deal.

I hope that DD continues to be patient to let the RP market come to him. With Dotel, Gregg and Valverde still out there (plus Donnelly, Calero, and others), we don't have to get aggressive with anyone.

**baseball3** · 01-14-2010, 04:30 PM

Check this out:

Detroit Tigers must add left-handed slugger before Opening Day | Cutoff Man - A Detroit Tigers Blog - MLive.com Agreed -- Tigers need lefty bat, but, according to this article, who would be qualified to fit this bill? Just sayin

**ToledoTigerFan** · 01-14-2010, 08:03 PM

Jeff Larish, perhaps?

**RipHam23232** · 01-14-2010, 08:38 PM

With the previously mentioned signing of Rabelo, how does that affect Avila? Are his chances of starting the year in Toledo now slightly increased?

**DaYooperASBDT** · 01-14-2010, 08:39 PM

Leyland hates both Raburn and Larish with a passion. He makes them run laps through the sprinkers, and has them spend their mornings picking up all of his cigarette butts.

**Ron Burgandy** · 01-14-2010, 08:40 PM

The Tigers don't seem to believe it is necessarily the best strategy to nickel and dime players. I suspect it has something to do with believing that guys will perform better when they feel appreciated.

**DaYooperASBDT** · 01-14-2010, 09:35 PM

Michael I. has been a bit more generous than the previous owners, that's for darned sure.

**C03BRA** · 01-14-2010, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by DaYooperASBDT

Leyland hates both Raburn and Larish with a passion. He makes them run laps through the sprinkers, and has them spend their mornings picking up all of his cigarette butts.

I thought Leyland loved Raburn?

**roarintiger1** · 01-15-2010, 04:59 PM

Any chance the Tigers signed Valverde because either the Twins or White Sox were interested in him? Just a thought.

**chasfh** · 01-16-2010, 01:29 PM

Jon Heyman has been trying to sell readers and viewers on the idea of Johnny Damon. On the one hand, we do need a LH bat and he may still have some gas left in the tank. On the other hand, at 36, his cliff is nigh. I hate the idea that we do what teams like the Prates and Royals do: sign players past their prime for perceived immediate needs.

I can't figure out what the Tigers' plans are. Do they think they're contending now? They're behaving like it, but their strategy looks uneven to me.

**Oblong** · 01-16-2010, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by john doe

And the Tigs just won the Mike Rabelo sweepstakes!

Well that puts a whole new spin on the Miguel Cabrera deal! Getting him back softens the blow of Dontrelle's extension.

**DaYooperASBDT** · 01-16-2010, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by chasfh

Jon Heyman has been trying to sell readers and viewers on the idea of Johnny Damon. On the one hand, we do need a LH bat and he may still have some gas left in the tank. On the other hand, at 36, his cliff is nigh. I hate the idea that we do what teams like the Prates and Royals do: sign players past their prime for perceived immediate needs.

I can't figure out what the Tigers' plans are. Do they think they're contending now? They're behaving like it, but their strategy looks uneven to me.

In this economy, they were probably willing to re-tool, but I'm guessing they weren't willing to risk a losing season post-Grandy. There is a real risk of crashing the attendance here. And without a decent closer this could become a 70 win team, easily.

I'm open to the idea of making both long-term and short-term moves.