The 2011 Offseason!!

[catswithbats]

Cespedes to the A's?! :o

Crazy, huh?

[TheCouga]

Well, that's that.

Looking ahead to 2013, we will still probably want to add a LF or 2B. The FA market isn't fantastic for either position, but there are some options:

Outfielders
Michael Bourn
Marlon Byrd
Melky Cabrera
Matt Diaz
Andre Ethier
Curtis Granderson *
Josh Hamilton
Torii Hunter
Carlos Lee
Angel Pagan
Carlos Quentin
Aaron Rowand
Luke Scott
Ryan Spilborghs
Ichiro Suzuki
B.J. Upton
Shane Victorino
Reggie Willits
Delmon Young

Granderson's option will surely be picked up. I'd love to have Victorino, but I can't imagine the Phillies not trying to extend him. Word has it the Nationals are going after BJ Upton. Bourn would be a nice option, but he'd almost be over the hill by the time next year rolls around, and I don't like signing older guys whose main asset is speed. Quentin would be a solid upgrade, but he still strikes out a lot, and has injury issues. Hamilton could be a clubhouse distraction, as well as an injury risk. But Ethier could be well worth taking a shot on. He will be 31 to start the season, but we don't really need a world beater there...just someone who's solid to above average.

Second Basemen
Jeff Baker
Orlando Hudson *
Maicer Izturis
Howie Kendrick
Jeff Keppinger
Ian Kinsler *
Luis Rodriguez
Freddy Sanchez
Skip Schumaker

Shortstops
Erick Aybar
Jason Bartlett *
Geoff Blum
Stephen Drew *
Jhonny Peralta *
Luis Rodriguez
Ryan Theriot

Yuck.

The only thing I can say is that hopefully we can work out some sort of trade.

[TheCouga]

We'll have about $23MM of salary freed up by the Inge, Raburn and Valverde contracts expiring, and Young becoming a FA. Much of that, if not all, will be eaten up by arbitration raises for Scherzer/Porcello/Fister/Boesch/Avila/Jackson/Coke.

But it's possible if we get a lot of playoff revenues to think that we could use some of that money to sign someone like Ethier.

Also, if both Smyly and Turner pan out, trading Scherzer or Porcello for prospects would also give us some wiggle room on salary. We might have to just bite the bullet on 2B though. Hopefully Santiago is still passable by then, because we have no internal options that will be ready by then.

[DaYooperASBDT]

Sign Ethier and trade for a 2B. Anybody who can put up a career .897 at Dodger Stadium is one Hell of a hitter.

[TheCouga]

Sign Ethier and trade for a 2B. Anybody who can put up a career .897 at Dodger Stadium is one Hell of a hitter.

The question is, can we even afford him? Will Illich go the extra mile again? I'm not sure what kind of contract he'd demand, but the OF free agent market next year is more robust than this year's, so it could be a buyer's market. Of course, the Yankees will be looking to replace Swisher. I wonder if they're going to be under the same budget constraints. The Cardinals might be looking for a long-term OF option as well. I guess even Boston could, but I really think they're close to their payroll limit.

The Rangers could also easily go after him to replace Hamilton if he leaves. The Braves need an OF, too.

We'd have to outbid all those guys, but I'd really like to have him.

I hate hypothetical lineups, but:

1. Jackson
2. Boesch
3. Cabrera
4. Fielder
5. Martinez
6. Ethier
7. Peralta
8. Avila
9. any above replacement level 2B

It's just hard to imagine how awesome that would be if everyone stays healthy.

[EchO]

The question is, can we even afford him? Will Illich go the extra mile again? I'm not sure what kind of contract he'd demand, but the OF free agent market next year is more robust than this year's, so it could be a buyer's market. Of course, the Yankees will be looking to replace Swisher. I wonder if they're going to be under the same budget constraints. The Cardinals might be looking for a long-term OF option as well. I guess even Boston could, but I really think they're close to their payroll limit.

The Rangers could also easily go after him to replace Hamilton if he leaves. The Braves need an OF, too.

We'd have to outbid all those guys, but I'd really like to have him.

I hate hypothetical lineups, but:

1. Jackson
2. Boesch
3. Cabrera
4. Fielder
5. Martinez
6. Ethier
7. Peralta
8. Avila
9. any above replacement level 2B

It's just hard to imagine how awesome that would be if everyone stays healthy.

Sexy is a pretty appropriate adjective.

[froggyvk]

I'd love to have Victorino, but I can't imagine the Phillies not trying to extend him.

Eventually, the Phillies are going to have to let some guys walk. They've already screwed themselves with some contracts they've given out. They've got Hamels and Victorino hitting free agency next year and they already have $105 million committed to 6 players (Lee, Halladay, Howard, Utley, Papelbon, Rollins) in 2013. Hilarious to me that them wanting to sign a reliever might be the reason they can't keep Hamels.

[STLTiger69]

I'd be fine with a lot of those names in OF as long as it's a short term (2-4 yrs) and hopefully the Tigers have enough money to keep Valverde a Tiger going into the 2013 season.

2B is going to sound a lot like you say, anyone above replacement value for the near future.

[TheCouga]

I'd rather let Valverde go, get a draft pick, move Benoit to closer, possibly exercise Dotel's option, and sign a cheaper setup guy. $9MM is too much to pay for a closer.

Too bad we probably won't get a draft pick for Inge. If we do get one for Young and Valverde, though, it would mitigate the damage of signing Ethier or someone of his like. We need to get down to business with rebuilding the farm.

[Shelton]

Jamie Johnson will be the 2013 left fielder.

[TheCouga]

Jamie Johnson will be the 2013 left fielder.

Umm...I hope not.

[mmwatkin]

I'd rather let Valverde go, get a draft pick, move Benoit to closer, possibly exercise Dotel's option, and sign a cheaper setup guy. $9MM is too much to pay for a closer.

Too bad we probably won't get a draft pick for Inge. If we do get one for Young and Valverde, though, it would mitigate the damage of signing Ethier or someone of his like. We need to get down to business with rebuilding the farm.

Considering this team really doesn't have a "closer of the future", I can't see how you can say that $9M for a closer is too much. Papelbon got 4yr/$50M and Madson got 1yr/$8.5M.

It would appear that $9M is the new rate for teams to go on the market and secure a solid closer.

[DaYooperASBDT]

Sexy is a pretty appropriate adjective.

Yeah, I'd likely touch myself if that lineup came to pass.

[TheCouga]

Considering this team really doesn't have a "closer of the future", I can't see how you can say that $9M for a closer is too much. Papelbon got 4yr/$50M and Madson got 1yr/$8.5M.

It would appear that $9M is the new rate for teams to go on the market and secure a solid closer.

I just don't think "market rate" is worth it for a closer -- i.e. the position is still overrated.

I think the Tigers will probably try to re-up Valverde. But if you ask me, I think Benoit would do a fine job. I'd rather spend that money on a LF or 2B...positions where this team also has no future.

[The Captain]

Tigers should sign Ron Paul if he doesn't win the nomination.



4:00. Solid gap hitter.

[Shelton]

Umm...I hope not.

Eh, it's no more ridiculous than suggesting the tigers could get a draft pick for valverde or young.

[TheCouga]

Eh, it's no more ridiculous than suggesting the tigers could get a draft pick for valverde or young.

You don't think we'd offer arbitration, and they'd turn it down?

Valverde for sure would qualify at least for Type B. Young is more debatable...it really depends on what kind of season he has. Free agent classification favors the kind of counting stats Young is likely to put up in this lineup. He'd be in his prime, and someone is likely to offer him a 2-3 year deal.

[froggyvk]

Jamie Johnson will be the 2013 left fielder.

Josh Anderson is available.

[STLTiger69]

I just don't think "market rate" is worth it for a closer -- i.e. the position is still overrated.

I think the Tigers will probably try to re-up Valverde. But if you ask me, I think Benoit would do a fine job. I'd rather spend that money on a LF or 2B...positions where this team also has no future.

Couga, I agree with you that the Tigers will likely re-up Valverde so this is more of a mental exercise- But I still want to bounce this off of you.

Valevede is a free agent after this 2012 season. Benoit AND Dotel are free agents after the 2013 season is over. "Spending the money on a LF or 2B" instead of Valverde would be a fix for ONLY the 2013 season with Benoit being the closer and Dotel could be the set up man. However, Benoit and Dotel may both walk as free agents once the 2013 season is over. And don't forget that Peralta will be a free agent after the 2013 season as well. If you want to talk about saving money, getting draft picks or trying to replace a LF or 2B- who is going to be at SS and how much money will it cost to keep or replace Peralta, Dotel, Benoit after 2013?

In a different world where Zumaya and Alburquerque are healthy, Perry is consistant and Ruffin is pushing for a spot in the Tigers MLB pen, then yea, I guess Valverde could be an expense option that the Tigers could give up at the end of this year. But I haven't seen things go this direction in the past few years....

[Los Gatos]

For closer and LF in '13, let's see what Marte and Dirks do this season. I don't think it's out of the realm that they could develop into those roles as long term guys. Maybe Marte sets up Benoit for a couple years first. My ST optimism.

[alwaysthrowheat]

Sorry, the idea of Ethier in the outfield doesn't get me excited. He's really, really bad in the field. He's also got some pretty awful home/road splits.

[Shelton]

You don't think we'd offer arbitration, and they'd turn it down?

Valverde for sure would qualify at least for Type B. Young is more debatable...it really depends on what kind of season he has. Free agent classification favors the kind of counting stats Young is likely to put up in this lineup. He'd be in his prime, and someone is likely to offer him a 2-3 year deal.

It doesn't work like that anymore.

[DaYooperASBDT]

Tigers should sign Ron Paul if he doesn't win the nomination.

Negative. He'd want all his teammates to pay for their own uniforms, bats, gloves, and Big League Chew. Also he would probably get all the security guys fired, and suggest paying your admission with spare ribs instead of cash. :-)

[spikesglaring]

I still would like to see the Tigers kick the tires on Jorge Soler. He may end up being a much better gamble than Cespedes over the next decade due to his age.

[STLTiger69]

I still would like to see the Tigers kick the tires on Jorge Soler. He may end up being a much better gamble than Cespedes over the next decade due to his age.

Could be some expensive tire kicking....

"But there are multiple sources in the Dominican Republic reporting Soler soon will be a Cub, perhaps for as much as $27.5 million over three or four years."

Read more: Cubs expected to sign Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler - MLB - Sporting News

[spikesglaring]

Could be some expensive tire kicking....

"But there are multiple sources in the Dominican Republic reporting Soler soon will be a Cub, perhaps for as much as $27.5 million over three or four years."

Read more: Cubs expected to sign Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler - MLB - Sporting News

Those reports have since been disputed. He's not even been granted free agency yet.

[The Truman Show]

I could see him getting a fat 8 figure bonus, but an actual length of contract doesn't make any sense. Soler is 19, there's no way in hell he's getting the Cespedes early free agency contract.

[froggyvk]

I could see him getting a fat 8 figure bonus, but an actual length of contract doesn't make any sense. Soler is 19, there's no way in hell he's getting the Cespedes early free agency contract.

Soler would still be under team control. Cespedes negotiated no arbitration into his contract.

[The Truman Show]

Soler would still be under team control. Cespedes negotiated no arbitration into his contract.

Right, so what's the point of giving him a contract that has a length to it?

Unless they just mean to say that the bonus will be paid out over the course of 4 years. That makes a lot more sense, but if so that was really poorly worded in the article.

[alwaysthrowheat]

I could see him getting a fat 8 figure bonus, but an actual length of contract doesn't make any sense. Soler is 19, there's no way in hell he's getting the Cespedes early free agency contract.

Yeah that makes absolutely no sense.

[Antrat]

I know this has probably been discussed in one of the previous 198 pages of this thread, but if Damon would come here for a one year deal at about 4 mill...what say you?
Not that I'm in love with the guy or anything but I think he can still be a help as the full time DH.
I still think the Tigers will win the division by at least 10 games or so without adding anybody else.
Just thought that he might come in handy during the playoffs especially.

BTW, ONLY if he comes here cheaply.

[itsallgood8989]

Hey! I heard something about this hotshot CF from Cuba that might be really good! Should we get him!??!?

[drownwithyou]

I hired Cubans once and it didn't really work out.

[The Truman Show]

Damon has no real role on the team, so paying him more than a mil would be wasteful. I'd take him on the team over Inge, though (or Young, really).

[Shelton]

Sign Manny

[Antrat]

Sign Manny

Your post made me realize how foolish I was.

[DaYooperASBDT]

CC Sabathia says he's dropped 10 pounds. I thought bodily functions didn't count?

[sabretooth]

Boy has this thread died. I thought it would never end!

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

It only died because Granderson wasn't involved in it.

[Shelton]

If an Inge story was posted herein it would have survived.