GM Meeting Wrap

More great stuff from Jon Paul Morosi in the Freep today as he catches up with Dave Dombrowski at the conclusion of the GM meetings.

The cliff notes are:

  • The Tigers made an offer to Kenny Rogers and are waiting on Scott Boras at this point
  • The Tigers have contacted agents of Mariano Rivera and Francisco Cordero
  • The Tigers contacted the Astros about Brad Lidge, but talks were never serious.
  • On the possibility of being close to making a deal Dombrowski said ““I don’t know. We’ll find out. We’ve had a lot of discussions.”
  • Dombrowski was talking up left handed outfielders Matt Joyce and Clete Thomas.  I don’t know if this is because the Tigers think Joyce/Thomas could help at some point this year, or if they are trying to downplay their interest in left handed hitting outfielders, or if they are trying to boost the stock of their own prospects for a trade.
  • Maybin is now healthy but won’t play the last week of the AFL season.

Dombrowski has inklings of deals but no inkings

One more thing

This doesn’t deserve a post because I know you the reader probably don’t really care, but this is just a quick follow up to the McCosky article. He hasn’t responded to email attempts to reach him (one sent Saturday, another sent Monday), nor has the Detroit News sports editor (an email was sent Monday). He also hasn’t identified which blogs were having a field day speculating. Those are the facts. I’m done with it now.

24 thoughts on “GM Meeting Wrap”

  1. That Polanco rumor has to be a fantasy. Why would the Tigers make that deal?

    Regarding the McCosky thing: As I said to you over IM, Bill, I don’t think this is the last time this will come up, as I’m willing to bet McCosky will lash out at internet and talk radio culture again because he has to address some Pistons rumor that can’t possibly be true if he didn’t report on it. And he’ll come off looking the exact same way.

    So while there’s probably nothing more to be done now, I think we’ll have a chance to revisit the debate again. And maybe sooner than we think.

  2. Ugh. I hate ridiculous trade rumors. Why on God’s green earth would the Tigers want Delgado even if the Mets paid the difference between his contract and Polly’s?

  3. Ironically combining subjects, had McCosky gone off on message boards, most bloggers would probably have agreed!

    So yeah, I don’t put much faith in the Mets board.

  4. Even Matt Millen wouldn’t trade Polly for Delgado at this point. Delgado was a fine power hitter in his day, but he is a shell of his former self.

  5. Interesting stuff. Dombrowski doing what he should do.

    Regarding the last post about the Tigers in the Miggy Cabrera sweepstakes: I don’t know if we could outbid what other teams are willing to offer (rumors are an insane package from Anaheim of Brandon Wood, Nick Adenhart, and a couple other guys that I cannot remember right now).

    That said, I don’t think Florida’s asking enough for him. It’s a major league ready player, and a couple of other solid prospects. For one of the 5 best hitters who’s still just 25 and I think under control for at least another 2 years is kind of a cheap package, I think. Maybe that’s just me and my man crush on Miggy.

  6. Mike – agree that the Fish should be able to do much better than that. Kendrick was another Angel rumored to be part of the package. Scuttlebut I heard was that the Marlins are extremely motivated to unload him, not only because of money he’s due to make in coming years if he were to stay, but because he’s, supposedly, becoming a huge problem in the dugout – Poor work ethic, prima donna attitude, etc., and that this has already rubbed off on a number of teammates, that he’s causing the manager to ‘lose the team’. Wouldn’t surprise me if its true, as I’ve heard similar things bantered about by multiple sources over the years.

    I think he needs a strong manager and veterans to keep him in line. Girardi said he never had a problem with Miggy, so the Yanks appear to be the best fit. I think he could fit in with the Tigers with Leyland and a strong core of veterans here. Offensively, he’d be monster in this lineup, but I just don’t see it happening. The Tigers would likely have to give up way too much. Not to mention, if you believe Dombrowski, he’s happy with his infield, so that means you’d have to move him to LF(you’d lose quite a bit defensively going from Inge to Cabrera at 3B anyway).

    Would he be a nice addition? Of course. Would it be worth what the Tigers would have to give up? In my opinion, no. What would it take to get him? Probably depends on if you could negotiate an extension with him prior to the deal. But Bonderman, Maybin, and change, might do it. I’d rather hold on to Maybin, have him develop, and get the cheaper production that way.

    Personally, I don’t believe the rumor. Just doesn’t seem like someone the Tigers would target right now. My guess is the Tigers are pretty much set at all positions except LF, and I think Cliff Floyd will be your LF next year.

  7. Well, if we were to get Miggy, I’d be all for moving Guillen to 3rd and Miggy at 1st base. He’s downright awful at 3rd and only going to get worse as he tries to out eat Prince Fielder.

    I think he does have an attitude problem but winning solves every thing. Who’s to say that his desire to win is so great that being embroiled with mediocre teams for the most part isn’t part of the reason? We never heard a peep or saw him get yanked and have a blow up in the dugout with teammates (which happened under Girardi’s watch) when they were winning World Series there. Call it the Randy Moss effect, but he wouldn’t be a clubhouse problem or a personality problem where ever he goes so long as they win. Everyone’s happy winning games.

    That said, it would probably take a Bonderman/Maybin package for him and I don’t want to pull the trigger on that. And ironically, not because it involves Maybin, but because it’s dealing away Bonderman. I still think if he stays healthy he busts out. He was one of the 8 best pitchers in the league last year through his first 15 or so starts and then his debacle on Sunday Night Baseball in Anaheim and that’s when I (and billfer) think his elbow problems started.

    Oh, and the Anaheim package I heard was Kendrick, Wood, and Adenhart. That’s pretty much as good of a package as you could get. The only team that I think that could offer better would be the Dodgers. If the Dodgers parted with a combo of at least three of the following four, I don’t see how Florida could turn it down: Andy LaRoche, Matt Kemp (ABSOLUTE BEAST in waiting. Watch him next year if he’s starting in the OF), Clayton Kershaw, and/or Chad Billingsley.

    We couldn’t match that short of giving a Miller/Maybin/someone else package.

  8. Agreed

    For some reason I think that Bondo will put it together eventually and be the pitcher he wants to be (an ace)

    Still Miggy has to be up there with Phat Albert and ARod as the 3 best hitters in the game and 3 destined for Cooperstown.

    Maybin, Vazquez and Eulogio De La Cruz?

    three very good to excellent prospects and two that are ready or almost?

    I’d like to keep Trahern and Bazardo…

  9. Interesting, maybe I’m crazy, but if I’m the Marlins, I’d be dismayed that the aforementioned Angels package was the best I could get. Miggy is already an all star, still young, with more upside in him. I’ve heard at least one scout say he’ll be better than Pujols(regardless of whether or not that’s accurate, that’s his stock with some baseball people).
    But apart from the upside, right now Miguel is a proven stud, of the 3 Angels prospects, there’s nothing proven among that trio.

    Wood has great power, he strikes out alot and according to what I’ve read has real trouble with quality breaking stuff and off speed pitches. Maybe he’ll adjust and be an asset, or maybe he never makes it in the bigs. He could be an all star, or just another MacPherson who never puts it all together. Adenhart is a decent prospect, but he underwhelmed at AA this year, with a K/BB ratio K/9 ratio that doesn’t impress me. Kendrick is good, but he’s injury prone and impatient at the plate, and doesn’t have much power.

    If I’m a Marlins GM, I’m not impressed with the Angels offer and look to other teams for a better deal.

    Kemp is a very toolsy guy. I’ve heard comparisons such as Manny Ramirez. But like many toolsy prospects, he’s impatient, thus doesn’t see very many good pitches to hit. Do you think he’ll ever be more selective? If not, its going to inhibit him from reaching his potential.

    I’m so thankful I don’t have to watch Guillen at SS anymore, that has been painful the last 2 years. I can’t imagine how ugly it would get with him trying to find 1st from the hot corner.

    But I’m with you on Bonderman, no way I trade him now. If healthy, he’s a solid #1, and if he ever improves his change up, he has Cy Young upside.

  10. I would like the Jacque Jones move. When he gets hot, he’s a great player. When he’s not, not so much. BUT, we wouldn’t need too much out of him, just better than what Monroe gave us, then we could platoon Thames against RH and spot start him at 1B if needed. Rayburn is a better version of Infante, but not as fast. Jones could also be some speed off the bench and a nice defensive replacement/pinch hitter in the late innings when he doesn’t play. I think this would be a good move and really wouldn’t be giving up all that much in return.

  11. Buh, Jones? Meh. He’s cheap enough and we could get somthing for Infante…although this bothers me

    2006 Jones – 31 doubles, 27 HR, 285/334/499
    2007 Jones – 33 doubles, 5HR, 285/335/400

    Holy heck where’d all those homers go!?

  12. btw, if you lovvvve gossip that MLB Trade Rumors is a great site…They will grasp at anything and make it a story.

  13. I do like the MLB Trade Rumors site. It does put every rumor out there but they do a wonderful job of consolidating trade information from around the league.

    It’s a must read for me.

  14. Interesting, maybe I’m crazy, but if I’m the Marlins, I’d be dismayed that the aforementioned Angels package was the best I could get. Miggy is already an all star, still young, with more upside in him. I’ve heard at least one scout say he’ll be better than Pujols(regardless of whether or not that’s accurate, that’s his stock with some baseball people).
    But apart from the upside, right now Miguel is a proven stud, of the 3 Angels prospects, there’s nothing proven among that trio.

    Wood has great power, he strikes out alot and according to what I’ve read has real trouble with quality breaking stuff and off speed pitches. Maybe he’ll adjust and be an asset, or maybe he never makes it in the bigs. He could be an all star, or just another MacPherson who never puts it all together. Adenhart is a decent prospect, but he underwhelmed at AA this year, with a K/BB ratio K/9 ratio that doesn’t impress me. Kendrick is good, but he’s injury prone and impatient at the plate, and doesn’t have much power.

    If I’m a Marlins GM, I’m not impressed with the Angels offer and look to other teams for a better deal.

    Kemp is a very toolsy guy. I’ve heard comparisons such as Manny Ramirez. But like many toolsy prospects, he’s impatient, thus doesn’t see very many good pitches to hit. Do you think he’ll ever be more selective? If not, its going to inhibit him from reaching his potential.

    I’m so thankful I don’t have to watch Guillen at SS anymore, that has been painful the last 2 years. I can’t imagine how ugly it would get with him trying to find 1st from the hot corner.

    But I’m with you on Bonderman, no way I trade him now. If healthy, he’s a solid #1, and if he ever improves his change up, he has Cy Young upside.

    Well, when you make a deal like that you’re going to get ‘unproven’ kids back. That’s what they got back from Boston. An unproven, toolsy SS that was big for the position, had questions about his glove and his consistency. Now Hanley Ramirez was the best offensive SS in the game last year.

    I’m still a skeptical believer in Wood, but I wasn’t nearly as high as tons of people seemed to be on him last year (with good reason — he was putting up unreal power numbers). I’m a believer in Adenhart as well and Kendrick I think is a solid bet to be a solid 2B in the future.

    I’m INCREDIBLY HIGH on Matt Kemp. I think he’s a safe bet for .320/.355/.500 with 25 HR next year.

    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/11/jacques-jones-f.html

    Jacques Jones for Omar Infante rumor. This would add to the competition for LF as well as team age 🙂

    If we get someone from the Cubs, I’d really like to zero in on Matt Murton — someone they don’t seem to be overly excited about. Not to mention they might not have room for him in the OF.

  15. I don’t think they want him as a LF, but I may be wrong. He’s mostly played in RF and CF which would give Maggs a break if he needs one. I may be wrong on this one, but just thought I’d throw it out there.

  16. Also, Santiago was signed and 8 arbitration eligible Tigers. Wonder if Nate is included in that also.

  17. Sorry, only 1 of 8 was signed and that was Ramon. Looks like they have a way to go yet. That was just too easy.

  18. If they got Jones it’d be as a left fielder. If Mags wants some time off they’d probably rather throw Raburn out there.

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