Wow – I didn’t expect this to happen. The Tigers have released centerfielder Alex Sanchez. I could go into detail about why I like this move, but if you’ve been reading for the last month or so you know my feelings about Sanchez.
This of course creates two voids. The first is the leadoff spot. Trammell loves speedy centerfielders at the top of the order. However, the Tigers have only Nook Logan that fits that prototype and his bat can’t carry him to the top of the order. I’d imagine that Higginson, Inge, Infante, and Carlos Guillen will all get a look leading off.
The second void of course is in centerfield. Nook Logan is best suited to play out there. However, in an effort to get bigger bats in the lineup, Craig Monroe could be passable in center. The other options the Tigers have are DeWayne Wise, Alexis Gomez, and top prospect Curtis Granderson.
There is a financial upshot as well. By releasing Sanchez before Friday, the Tigers only owe him $222,500 in termination pay. If they had released him Friday or later they would have been on the hook for $333,800 of his $1.35 million in salary.
I’ll have more on this later tonight.
Granderson was assigned to the minors today, along with Shelton, Raburn and Byron Gettis. If Granderson was sent down today, the same day that Sanchez was released. This makes me think that Monroe will get the nod, cleaning up the log jam in the outfield or Ugie is about to be moved for a CF. I would personally give the nod to Monroe, that gets another big bat in the line up and he was no worse in center than Sanchez. But releasing him was the smart move, like you said with the contract, because it was clear he was not the answer. Something is up and I am just curious to see what it is. Later.
I would personally like to thank you bilfer for doing the dirty work and running Alex Sanchez out of town. Congrats, and keep up the good work. Did somebody say trade?
bilfer did not run Sanchez outa town; Sanchez ran Sanchez outa town. I feel bad for him. In fact, the first thing that popped in my mind when I saw it on the ticker on ESPN was the hug that he got from Al Kaline when he found out about his mom. I wish him well (and hope he learns to read a pop up).
Anyway, how about Inge to CF? That leaves 3rd open for Deano. Though, I like the thought of Higgy there better, even if he doesn’t,
Deano?
Oh man, this really does open things up a little. Just what we geeks like to see–more room for speculation!
I prefer Inge to Higgy in center.
I’m torn between Nook and Monroe.
The idea of Deano making the squad as our starting 3B is too crazy…but who knows? This is turning into one hell of an interesting spring.
Is it possible we might move Pena in a deal to free-up first for Shelton?
Is anybody else excited about April 4th?
oh i just thought of something…Tigers Send White, Urbina to Cubs, Cubs Send Prospects to Oakland, Oakland Sends a soon to be free agent Eric Chavez to the Tigers
Dear lord, please don’t let us move Pena to make room for Shelton. That would be all kinds of illogical.
Yeah, smart financial move by the Tigs, and I’m pretty sure Monroe out there couldn’t be worse. Be interesting to see who they could get in a trade, though.
Yeah, Pena’s really put it together for us. He’s had one decent half season at the plate and thus far his glove has been highly overrated.
Shelton is going to make this team at some point and when he does he’s most likely going to be playing first and DH. The dude can hit.
So as illogical as it may seem now, you should get used to the idea because of Pena doesn’t put it together this year, you can expect to see Shelton playing first.
Maybe they will give Higgy a shot in CF after all. Thumbs up that they figured out the guy is just never going to get any better and it’s time to cut bait. Either Higgy or Monroe is a better option.
Quote of the day: Manager Alan Trammel on Alex Sanchez…”Defensively, we didn’t feel he was going to be a championship-type player.”
Is it just me or is the financial benefit of this move just a little overrated? Does a team with a $75m payroll really make a decision save $100k. Hell, Charlie THDG probably makes $100k.
I don’t see this as any sort of indicator of a pending trade. What if the trade fell through?? There’s no way they make this move at this time unless they’re happy with the other alternatives that are already on the roster. They’d be fools to make this move now to save $100k assuming that they’ll find a new CF later.
Having said all of that…… WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 It’s about time.
I thought Eric Chavez signed a pretty nice contract extension. Wouldn’t be the first time I was wrong, and not that I wouldn’t like to see him on the Tiger’s squad.
oops, my bad on Chavez…he was locked into a six year deal last year worth 66 Mil, so hes got five more years. With all this trade talk, I think this team is pretty darn good as is. Average Starters, average defense, plus bulpen, plus lineup.
April 4 Lineup
2b Infante
SS Guillen
C I-Rod
RF Ordonez
DH Young
LF White
CF Monroe
1B Pena
3B Inge
Every guy on that list will come close to 20 HR sort of reminds me of the 1996 Yankees
Uh, excitement is nice. I mean, I’m excited, but lets not go overboard. The 1996 Yankees? Sure, they could all hit 20 homers, but Inge, Pena, Monroe, and Infante could all hit .220 this year too. In fact given history as a predictor one migh guess this would be more likely than 20 homers each.
Also, Shelton’s nice, but he’s just a guy. I realize that actual major league hitters have been rare around here, but his upside is above average offense with below average or poor defense. There are a lot of guys like that in MLB.
I cannot imagine a scenario in which the A’s trade Eric Chavez. The whole reason he got the deal he got (and Giambi, Tejada, Hudson, and Mulder did not) was because Eric Chavez was, is, and will be the A’s most valued player for the life of that deal.
Well I guess we’ll see about Shelton. I don’t read a lot of writers or hear many scouts quoted who walk away from watching Shelton bat unimpressed.
But sure it’s all speculation and he could just be an average major leaguer. Of course, he’s 24 and I’m comparing him to a guy who’s 27 and has been–with the exception of 1/2 season–a well below average major leaguer.
I’m not ready to write off Pena yet, because he could still show us something. But it’s this ever dwindling window Pena has to meet his potential that leads to my suggestion that we trade him. He still has some value on the market because of his perceived potential, but if he fails to meet it this year, we can forget about getting anything for him in a trade at season’s end. If Shelton–who’s not far as along in his development as is Pena–can put up at least similar numbers to Carlos wouldn’t the Tigers benefit from a trade?
Obviously I hope they both perform well. I’m just as eager as any Tiger Fan to see Pena put together a full season and come away with a nice average, 30 dingers and 100 RBIs.
Which–and I apologize this is so long–leads me to something else. Looking at German’s development this spring, Bonderman’s continued growth, and Pena’s tantalizing 2nd half of 04, is anyone upset with the Jeff Weaver trade? Uh, yeah my guess would be the Yankees! Who did Oakland get out of that again? Ted Lily?
I like Dave Dumbrowski.
Well said, Joey. I aint crying over dealt Weaver.
At 23, his first year in the bigs, Weaver threw 163.7 IP and posted a 6.3 k/9, 3.1 bb/9, and 2.04 k/bb ratio. At 24, he posted 6.1, 2.3, and 2.62 in 200 innings. At 25, in 229.1 innings, he went 6.0, 2.7, 2.24.
At age 20, Bonderman went 6.0 k/9, 3.2 bb/9, and 1.86 k/bb ratio in 162 innings. Last season, at 21, Bonderman posted an 8.2 k/9 – I could stop right there and be happy. But, as Billfer noted in his rotation preview, his bb/9 went up slightly but not enough to keep him from improving his k/bb ration to 2.30 over 184 innings.
No, I dont miss Jeff Weaver that much these days. Any signs of life from Pena and German are looking like gravy at this point.