Better not fuck this up.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091124/SPORTS0104/911240336/1265/SPORTS08/Miguel-Cabrera-joins-Tigers--trade-talks

Or they aren't "trying". Everyone is available besides Rick I'm sure. The team lost 20 mil or so. If someone wants to take salary and give us stud prospects that has to be our mood.

When I read that I got the impression that Illitch told DD to cut payroll. Sounds like they're trying to trade Cabrera to do that. But it's just semantics, so fuck it. I'm sure "the incident" doesn't help, tho.

I think Illitch has said "if we can win, spend". Clear now we can't win.

I think Illitch has said "if we can win, spend".

Got a timestamp on that comment? Obviously, things have changed in a non-baseball sense.

I think he would do it again right now. Things were awful when he let Maggs play out.

Hearing Tigers sought young pitchers brandon morrow and shawn kelley for edwin jackson. Mariners apparently said no.

Winter meetings stuff from Henning
http://www.detnews.com/article/20091203/SPORTS0104/912030505/1129/sports/Tigers-prepare-for-busy-week-at-Winter-Meetings

Jackson for Scherzer swap is being talked about.

Scherzer last year w/ Arizona: 9-11, 170.1 IP, 4.12 ERA, 174 K, .253 Opp BA...he is 25 years old

Jackson (27 yrs old): 13-9, 3.62, 214 IP, 161 K, .247 Opp Avg


Max Scherzer's best years are def. ahead of him since last year was his first full season in the league. He's the type of arm the Tigs covet (over K/Inning). I'd prefer him over Brandon Morrow, that's for sure.

That's the kind of deal that makes a lot of sense when cost certainty is what you are after.

@Ken_Rosenthal Phillies like Lyon, not willing to pay price for him.

Are we?

Tigers seek youg pitching for edwin jackson. execs believe he'll be dealt.

@detroit_tigers: Report: Tigers close to dealing Edwin Jackson, Curtis Granderson to Yankees http://bit.ly/6Potdy

Here's a nice conflicting report that suggests that Edwin is going to the NL, possibly by the end of the day.

http://blog.mlive.com/cutoffman/2009/12/fox_sports_tigers_close_to_tra.html

So if we send Grandy (and maybe Jackson) to the Yankees, we have to be looking at Joba or Hughes in return, right?

@Buster_ESPN: The Tigers' asking price on Edwin Jackson is said by other teams to be very, very high at this point.

NY's top prospect (Jesus Montero) is a catcher, and they have another catcher as their 6th best prospect. Wonder if we could get Montero in a deal?


Body Type – big, tall, and strong
Scouting Report
Performed very well for a player his age at Single-A Charleston and what makes him most intriguing is the fact he is being groomed as a catcher. Some feel he will eventually have to move off the position as he doesn’t possess the footwork to stay behind the plate. The only truly plus defensive asset he possesses at the moment is his arm strength.
The Yankees will give Montero every chance they can to make the relationship between Montero and catcher work. His value receives an enormous boost should he remain at the position. Should he have to move, third base would be the next best option, followed by first base, where his bat would play, but would be much closer to average than at the other two positions. Even a move to third base would be difficult because it’s unknown if he has the feet for the position
Montero has tremendous strength and plus raw power, though that power hasn’t translated fully into game situations yet. Montero has shown the ability to make hard contact and combined with the relatively low K% for a player of his kind, he could hit for a high average.
Montero still needs work on his plate discipline and patience, but this is a skill that can be improved with experience so it’s not a concern at this point.
Best Case Outcome – All-Star catcher…should he move off the position, his bat could still make him a top-7 offensive player at third base, or above average at first base.
More Likely Outcome – Top-5 catcher, slightly above average third baseman, or average first baseman


40th best prospect overall by MLB.com (http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/prospects/y2009/profile.jsp?t=p_top&pid=524968)

The beer must be flowing: reporters starting to talk about Granderson going to the Yankees (http://bases.nbcsports.com/2009/12/the-beer-must-be-flowing-reporters-starting-to-talk-about-granderson-going-to-the-yankees.html.php)


Mon Dec 07,2009 4:00 PM ET By Craig Calcaterra (http://bases.nbcsports.com/craig-calcaterra)


Take this with a grain of salt (and maybe a suck on a lime) because there's not much there there, but it's floating around the Marriott lobby that the Yankees are "close" to making a trade for both Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson (http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/curtis-granderson-a-yankee.html).

Whether this has as much merit as, say, the Pat Burrell to the Mets junk from this morning is open for debate. It's also worth noting that there are no less than two bars right off of that Marriott lobby.

We'll follow up with the debunking or confirmation later, whichever is warranted.

Report: Tigers close to trading Edwin Jackson, still shopping Curtis Granderson (http://bases.nbcsports.com/2009/12/report-tigers-close-to-trading-edwin-jackson-still-shopping-curtis-granderson.html.php)


Mon Dec 07,2009 2:19 PM ET By Aaron Gleeman (http://bases.nbcsports.com/aaron-gleeman)


Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (http://twitter.com/BNightengale) that the Tigers "are close to trading" Edwin Jackson to an unnamed team and "still hope to trade" Curtis Granderson at some point this week. Previous reports had the Tigers turning down the Mariners' offer for Jackson that included Brandon Morrow and Shawn Kelley, and rumors have been swirling around Granderson for weeks now.

Interestingly, manager Jim Leyland was asked whether Detroit is having a firesale because of sudden payroll restrictions and replied (http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/red_sox/index.php/2009/12/07/leyland-no-tigers-fire-sale/):

You can stop right there. All they are is rumors. We've assured everyone of this: Anyone who thinks the Detroit Tigers are having a fire sale is foolish. Because we're not. I can assure you of that and I'll leave it at that. Anything else you have you should direct to the general manager.Trading away the 26-year-old Jackson and 28-year-old Granderson just months after losing a one-game playoff for the division title would basically be the definition of a firesale. Either the reports are wrong or Leyland may be the one looking foolish.

Hopefully it means he's on his way out too.

Dang...I don't want the Yanks to get Granderson. I could stomach a Grandy trade more if he went to the Cubs...

I agree. Grandy is my favorite player (along with Verlander). I hope he doesn't go there.

Makes no sense... there's others that should be dealt first... what are we gonna get better?
Fuck the penny pinching BS

At this point, I don't see it as penny-pinching. The Tigers as well as 27 other teams in the MLB are in a system that doesn't work.

Right now, the Yankees are at a payroll of $240 million. They're all set to sign Matt Holiday and trade for Roy Halliday, adding another 30 million to that payroll. If it doesn't work out, fine, they just add more players at the end of the year. The Tigers (as well as other teams) made some acquisitions that didn't work out (yes some of them were stupid), but now they have to pay for them. They cannot continue operating at a high level. They gambled and lost, and now must cut back to try again in a couple years. The Yankees have bad contracts all the time, but they can just ignore those contracts because they have the revenue to do so.

Think of it this way: the Yankees have their own network and a stadium that nets them close to a billion dollars every season. How is anyone supposed to compete with that? The Yankees will be more than double the Red Sox in payroll, and almost triple every other team in baseball. Can you tell me how that's supposed to work?

I think we're witnessing the early stages of death of Major League Baseball. The national passtime has become a joke. Why should I or any other fan go to watch my team go play for third place?

If we can get Austin Jackson, I would glady give the Yankees Granderson. Jackson is going to be a Justin Upton like stud in the league.

Rumored three way...

ARI gets - Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy

NYY gets - Curtis Granderson

DET gets - Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, Phil Coke, Michael Dunn


Now I would love this deal. Put Wilkin Ramirez in center until A-Jax is ready and Scherzer is a stud. Coke is a young, solid relief arm who could replace Lyon and Dunn is just AAA fodder.

Not to defend the Yankees, but they are letting about 6 of their own free agents walk away this year. I think they're looking to change the mix more than add to what they had.

I wish the Tigs would just spend like $10 mill on "buy-low" guys like Chien-Ming Wang, J.J. Putz, Justin Duchscherer, Randy Winn, Garret Anderson, Jermaine Dye, Kiko Calero, Scott Eyre...

I mean there are tons of guys out there who could contribute, but it never seems like were actively looking to sign any of them.

And I wish we would've signed Bobby Crosby instead of Adam Everett. Crosby has far more upside and was desperate for a change of scenery from that hitters hell-hole in Oakland.

I need to stop venting. With every "What could have been..." I only grow more upset.

I keep reading the Tigers asking price on Jackson and Granderson is very high. At least that is good news.

Yankees recognize A.Jackson must be in deal for Granderson, but want to re-configure back end to keep Mike Dunn, give up different prospect.

But if what is standing in way is Mike Dunn or not, my gut says trade gets completed, and a Yankee exec said there is "traction".

latest 3-way looks something like this: yanks get granderson; dbacks e-jax, i.kennedy; tigers scherzer, schlereth, a-jax, coke.

3-team deal now has a real chance http://danny-knobler.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/8590096/18827168

Tigers and DBacks awaiting answer from Yanks. Could come by 2 p.m. EST

Holy shit, I had no idea we'd be getting Schlereth too

Daniel Schlereth = ESPN's Mark Schelerth's son

although I'm sure that was already mentioned somewhere in this thread

Austin Jackson - .300/.354/.405, 4 HR, 65 RBI, 24 SB in AAA last yr and he will be 23 in February.

Med records being exchanged on Granderson deal. Yanks working thru final matters

Removing Dunn from deal was key for Yankees

Now I wonder what (if any) flexibility this gives us for this season?

re-sign Lyon and/or Rodney?

trade for Carl Crawford?

Sounds like It's about to Happen.

The ACLU may have a problem w/ the Tigs getting rid of all their black players (Thames, Granderson, Jackson).

Ilitch = Bigot?

Why did you have to go there?

Jesus Christ.

A. Jackson & Schelerth will start the yr in the minors.

Coke goes to the pen. Scherzer slips in the rotation behind Verlander.

Wilkin Ramirez will have a starting job.

Can't the Tigers just sort of sneak Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson into the deal and just hope the Yanks or D-Backs don't see it?

I lol'd.

Moving on over to the trade thread, since it is no longer a rumor.

The ACLU may have a problem w/ the Tigs getting rid of all their black players (Thames, Granderson, Jackson).

Ilitch = Bigot?

Nope. It's Ledezma = Moron

Wow. I didn't even see that post.

Tigers interested in Juan Pierre of the Dodgers. They are looking for a third team to supply the pitcher LA needs.

Nate for Pierre?

http://jorgesaysno.blogspot.com/2009/12/market-for-juan-pierre.html

I'd do it.

Absolutely. Any way to get Nate's salary out of here. I would think Pierre has a better chance of rebounding, as well.

If DD was able to dump Nate's salary elsewhere, he'd be one step closer to getting an apology from MoTown.

I'd rather keep Nate over Willis, but I guess that goes without saying.

Nobody's touching Willis unless we pay 90% of his salary, if then.

That's the one move I don't think has any defense (signing Willis). There was no pressing need to extend him at that time. They could have waited. There were other moves that backfired (Jiar/Edgar), but at least you could make a case for them at the time. I never saw a reason to extend Willis. Too bad we don't have NFL rules and we could just cut him.

beckjason

Tigers would surely welcome trade of Carlos Guillen, but his contract, injury history and no-trade rights have been big obstacles.


beckjason

Guillen's agent says he hasn't heard anything on him from Tigers or other clubs. And with full no-trade rights, any deal has to go thru him.

Highly doubt they'll move him based on injuries and contract. If they keep him fresh he's still a good bat and a switch hitter which is key given the lack of lefty bats. While he and guys like Inge might be a little overpaid, they aren't holding the Tigers back from spending and I'm not sure you'd find a better replacement even if you had a taker.

AP reports reliever Brandon Lyon has deal in place with the Houston Astros on a $15 million, three-year contract.

Holy smokes, that's quite a bit.

Source: Los Angeles Angels, former Detroit Tigers closer Fernando Rodney in serious talks http://bit.ly/93mwTE