T1B

DETROIT TIGERS
Free Agents: Bobby Higginson, Jason Johnson, Fernando Vina, Rondell White

Needs:
1. #2 or #3 Starter
With the world champs in the division who boast the deepest rotation in the league, with the emergence of the starters in Cleveland and Santana anchoring a solid rotation in Minnesota, the Tigers need to upgrade their rotation first and foremost. They won't compete in this division without strong starting pitching. There aren't any sure fire #1s available in free agency but there are some decent #2 or #3 arms to add depth. Bonderman is still the #1 starter going into next season but faded down the stretch this year. I don't see the Tigers re-signing Johnson so that leaves one spot in the rotation. I look for them to add at least one veteran starter and possibly bring up Justin Verlander from the minors to have a shot at a spot in the rotation in the spring.

Possible Free Agent Targets: A.J. Burnett, Kevin Millwood, Matt Morris, Jarrod Washburn

2. Closer
This is a very troubling spot for the team. This past season, they opened with 3 possible closers (Percival, Urbina and Farnsworth). At the end of this season, Percival was the only one left but his future is in serious doubt. Rodney didn't have me sold as the guy and with Leyland coming in, I have to believe, he'd like a veteran closer. Rodney could be a solid setup man but I think the Tigers will look for another closer.

Possible Free Agent Targets: Billy Wagner, B.J. Ryan, Bob Wickman, Trevor Hoffman, Jose Mesa

3. Centerfielder
Centerfield isn't as desperate of a need as pitching help but the position is still up in the air. Logan was the starter going into the season but lack of production made him into a backup. Granderson showed some flashes of brilliance in September. He'd probably be the starter at the position if the team was to stand pat. Also, Monroe played some in center but doesn't quite have the wheels to cover all the massive center field at Comerica. He's likely going to stay in left field. It would be great to get a leadoff type player in center as well but Damon is probably the best name available and will likely stay in Boston or go to a contending team.

Possible Free Agent Targets: Johnny Damon, Brian Giles, Jacque Jones, Reggie Sanders, Preston Wilson

4. Third baseman/Shortstop
Similar to the situation in centerfield, third baseman is a position that could up for grabs but Inge would be the starter going into the spring training if the team didn't make any moves. He started the season well but his batting average slipped and made too many errors at the position. The Tigers actively pursued Glaus last winter but lost out. They would like to get a power bat at the position. This winter doesn't offer any attractive options in free agency at third. A possible issue entering next season will be the longterm health of Guillen. He had an all-star season in 2003 but injuries slowed him this year. Several players found time at short in his absense including Infante and Inge. The Tigers actually pursued Renteria this past winter with the idea of moving Guillen to third. One would have to wonder about that possible decision now with Guillen's lack of mobility with his knee problems. Given the weak free agent pool, I could see them making a trade to address the matter or just stand pat.

Possible Free Agent Targets: Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller, Joe Randa, Alex Gonzalez, Royce Clayton

2006 Projected Lineup, Rotation & Closer
C: Rodriguez
1B: Shelton/Pena
2B: Polanco
3B: Free Agent/Inge/Guillen
SS: Guillen/Free Agent
LF: Monroe
CF: Free Agent/Granderson
RF: Ordonez
DH: Young/Pena/Shelton
Rotation: Bonderman, Free Agent, Maroth, Robertson, Verlander
Closer: Free Agent/Percival/Rodney

Damn Shoalz. You came up with all that for Daylight Savings? Grab a cup coffee dude

right now bleek.

No manager,no GM.

Blue Jays needs...

Signing A.J. Burnett to complement Halliday as a 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation
Signing a power hitting outfielder

That's about it.

The Burnett recruitment party started yesterday.

He chose Toronto to be the first city to visit..

Thu, November 3, 2005

Jays, T.O. impress Burnett
'Night and day' from Florida, pitcher lauds

By MIKE GANTER AND MIKE KOREEN, TORONTO SUN




The Blue Jays' wooing period has just begun.

Yesterday, it was A.J. Burnett, the cream of the free agent pitching crop, being shown the finer sights in Toronto.

He finished up his evening with Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay at the Toronto Raptors season opener at the Air Canada Centre.

Next up to tour the city is believed to be Baltimore Orioles closer B.J. Ryan.

Ryan saved 36 games for the Orioles this year and, like Burnett, is going to be one of the big names on the free agent market this year.


J.P. Ricciardi, the man doing everything he can to get Burnett's signature on a contract, would neither confirm nor deny plans to have Ryan in Toronto over the next few days. He said he had his hands full as it is with Burnett in town.

Ricciardi spent his evening taking in the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the Royal York.

Despite the fact that Burnett made his way to Toronto first, Ricciardi knows this is just the beginning of the free agent process for the young right hander who went 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA in 209 innings this past season for Florida.

"We've done our homework on him," Ricciardi said.

"He is a good kid but I don't want to make a big deal about this visit. This is just the preliminaries."

Ricciardi, however, did pull out all the stops bringing Halladay, manager John Gibbons and -- perhaps his ace in the hole -- pitching coach Brad Arnsberg up to Toronto yesterday to sit down with Burnett.

That group got together for dinner before the two pitchers broke away to take in some basketball.

Arnsberg was instrumental in helping Burnett become the pitcher he is today when the two were together in the Florida Marlins organization in 2002 and '03.

"He knows me more than anybody knows me," Burnett told reporters asking about Arnsberg during halftime of last night's Raptors game. "It's great for them, it's great for me."

It was clear that both the city and the Blue Jays organization made a very good impression on Burnett yesterday.

"I'm so impressed with the front office here and J.P and the people I've met," he said. "It's night and day from what I'm used to (in Florida). They're all good people and it's been great so far.

"(Having Brad) helps, but I want to go somewhere where I (can) win," Burnett said.

"I want to go somewhere where the fans want to win as much as I want to win and the club wants to win as much as I want to win and they've showed me that so far."

Cueball wrote:Damn Shoalz. You came up with all that for a fourth-place team?

FTFY :P

Nats made a minor deal Thursday, trading 38 year old 3B Vinny Castilla
to the Padres for P Brian Lawrence and cash.
Good move for Washington, opening up the starting third base job to top draft pick
Ryan Zimmerman, picking up pitching help in the process.

My top wishes for the Nats- another bat or two in the lineup,
starting rotation depth (acquiring Lawrence addresses that need),
and moving in the fences at RFK. :wink:

Funkywhiteboy wrote:

Cueball wrote:Damn Shoalz. You came up with all that for a fourth-place team?

FTFY :P

You can't question my passion and loyalty as a TigerFan. They may be a sad franchise but they're my sad franchise.

Otis wrote:The Burnett recruitment party started yesterday.

He chose Toronto to be the first city to visit..

He's going to talk to anyone with a checkbook. I have to wonder if having a Marlin connection in Detroit (Pudge and Dombrowski) is going to help or hurt the Tigers' chances of going after him.

Mace wrote:The Cubs have decided to pass on Burnitz and have signed Todd Walker. I'm assuming that Patterson will be gone, so they need a centerfielder and right fielder.

They can have Sammy Sosa back! :P

Mace wrote:

Funkywhiteboy wrote:

Mace wrote:The Cubs have decided to pass on Burnitz and have signed Todd Walker. I'm assuming that Patterson will be gone, so they need a centerfielder and right fielder.

They can have Sammy Sosa back! :P

Thanks, but no thanks. I think the Cubs have had all of Sammy that they can handle....it's your turn.

Mace

Then perhaps the Nats will take a chance, since Sammy's a free agent.
Washington could use a big bat in the middle of their lineup,
plus S.S. would be back in the NL.
It seems like an eternity since Sosa was in the AL, having started with Texas and the White Sox.
Chisox trading him crosstown for George Bell was a good deal for the Cubs at the time. :P

I was raised in "Orioles by default" territory, but since the Expos move,
the Nats have replaced the O's as my #1 team.

Funkywhiteboy wrote:Washington could use a big bat in the middle of their lineup

Then picking up Sosa would not be advised. Unless by "big bat" you mean strike outs with very impressive late swings, meaningless home runs, and many post-steroidal injuries. If he gets back on the juice, then the Nats should pick him up.

stuckinia wrote:

Funkywhiteboy wrote:Washington could use a big bat in the middle of their lineup

Then picking up Sosa would not be advised. Unless by "big bat" you mean strike outs with very impressive late swings, meaningless home runs, and many post-steroidal injuries.

His swings could generate enough wind for a ball hit by the next batter to ride the tailwind!

Tigers interested in B.J. Ryan and a veteran starting pitcher. The rumors of trading Pudge to the Mets for Kaz Matsui sound like they're dead since Dombrowski feels his lineup is set for next year already.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 70503/1050

Cardinals offseason--Keep up with Cubs.

If the Small Bears get another bat to put next to or around Lee & Ramirez, the Cards are in trouble. If they get a reliable arm to go with the Zambrano and half of Wood/half of Prior tandem, the Cards are in trouble.

^They won't replace what will keep them from competing.

Sin,
Dusty Baker

Bizzarofelice wrote:Cardinals offseason--Keep up with Cubs.

If the Small Bears get another bat to put next to or around Lee & Ramirez, the Cards are in trouble. If they get a reliable arm to go with the Zambrano and half of Wood/half of Prior tandem, the Cards are in trouble.

From what I've been hearing on Chicago radio...they are in talks with Florida about Juan Pierre and it's been made public that want to go after Rafael Furcal. If they can make those two moves to give them speed at the top of the order and their pitching stays healthy, they'll compete for the division with St. Louis. Dempster performed well in the closer role so they probably won't need to find a guy in the offseason.

As for the Cardinals, I hear a lot people saying Brian Giles is a free agent target.

Shoalzie wrote:As for the Cardinals, I hear a lot people saying Brian Giles is a free agent target.

Not for the money they're willing to pay. Giles will have to take a "I want to play for a winner in a great baseball town" paycut to play in the new Busch. OBP machine hitting in front of Pujols would be a dream. Fuck, any hitter doing decently around Albert would be a dream.

They've approached AJ Burnett, but certainly told him "we don't go for this 5 yr, 50 million shit." No way they'd insult Carpenter by bringing some never-has-been in for far more money than the Cy Young winner is making.

Bizzarofelice wrote:

Shoalzie wrote:As for the Cardinals, I hear a lot people saying Brian Giles is a free agent target.

Not for the money they're willing to pay. Giles will have to take a "I want to play for a winner in a great baseball town" paycut to play in the new Busch. OBP machine hitting in front of Pujols would be a dream. Fuck, any hitter doing decently around Albert would be a dream.

They've approached AJ Burnett, but certainly told him "we don't go for this 5 yr, 50 million shit." No way they'd insult Carpenter by bringing some never-has-been in for far more money than the Cy Young winner is making.

That's going to be today's asking price with the lack of top notch pitchers availabe this off season.
But props to the Cards for holding the line and not giving Burnett that kind of money.
It makes Toronto all that much more likely to land him.



Halliday
Burnett
Lilly
Chacin
Towers

Not a bad starting 5.

Bizzarofelice wrote:Cardinals offseason--Keep up with Cubs.

If the Small Bears get another bat to put next to or around Lee & Ramirez, the Cards are in trouble. If they get a reliable arm to go with the Zambrano and half of Wood/half of Prior tandem, the Cards are in trouble.

As a Cub fan, I never understand why Cardinal fans worry about the Cubs. Maybe once every 10 years the Cubs will overachieve, only to blow it in the playoffs. Cards are good every year......and blow it in the playoffs. Biz...the Cubs are the least of your worries. Astros and Reds and even the Brewers, more likely to contend. And had the Cards made it to the WS, I'd have been a STL fan for a week.