Cleveland Sports Forum

Tigers Preparing To “Reboot,” Listening On Price, Cespedes

By Jeff Todd [July 29, 2015 at 2:54pm CDT]



The Tigers are lining up for a sale, as Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports that the team is telling rivals that they are “rebooting.” GM Dave Dombrowski confirms that he’s ready to listen on all of the team’s pending free agents, as Jason Beck of MLB.com tweets.

That means that Detroit is willing to sell David Price, Yoenis Cespedes, and other pieces. “We’re only going to make a trade if we think it makes sense for us,” said Dombrowski (via Beck, on Twitter). “But we think [the reboot] gives us a chance to restock our club.”

Needless to say, adding Detroit’s expiring veteran assets will have a significant trickle-down effect. Price will land atop the market for starters, possibly impacting the Phillies’ efforts to move Cole Hamels as well as the value of other arms. Clubs interested in corner outfielders can now look to Cespedes as well as Justin Upton and Carlos Gonzalez (among other options).

Those two aren’t the only veteran Tigers that should draw interest. Closer Joakim Soria becomes one of the more appealing rental relief arms, while Rajai Davis could be a nice piece (especially in high-leverage situations down the stretch and in the post-season) for a team that has a need in center field. Catcher Alex Avila can also be had, and Alfredo Simon may make for a useful swingman piece.


Price’s market, of course, is where most of the immediate interest will go. As Stark writes, teams like the Cubs, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Yankees have been waiting on other pitching moves to see whether Price would be available. Now that he is, expect his market to heat up quickly.

On the move again?

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2015/ ... ael-bourn/

Maybe Braves and Indians can ship Swisher and Bourn for Johnson back and forth a few more times, since neither team really wants any of them.

Actually if Johnson can learn how to play right field, could make a decent platoon with Chisenhall, since Chris hits well against lefties and lousy against righties and Chis is at least decent facing right handers.

Looking at their splits, I might have to amend that to say that a Johnson/Chisenhall shared RF yields a less-than average RF offensively; it only looks good when compared what a Johnson vs RH and Chisenhall vs Lf combination yields.

Chis vs RH plus Johnson vs LH: 267/307/384 OPS 691
Chis vs LH plus Johnson vs RH: 220/262/311 OPS 573

Murphy/Raburn combo outperforms that by a long way.

Kind of wonder if it makes a lot of sense for the Giants to sign a 30-year old starting pitcher to a 6 year $90M contract who's career high in wins [all of 11] corresponds with his worst pitching numbers: "American League-high 228 hits, 118 earned runs and 29 homers. He saw some staggering spikes in other areas as well including a 4.96 ERA". But then it's neither my money, nor my team's, and the Indians don't sign anyone until all the big names and gone and the dregs are left to pick over.

But that shows you how much a decent starter is worth, and why the Indians have rights to demand a very high price for any among Bauer, Salazar and Carrasco.

And Tigers throwing money at all sorts of stiffs:

$16M two years for Mike Pelfrey whose last double digit season in wins was 2010 [he's gone a solid 18-42 since].
"The first-year general manager told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press the team’s scouts believe Pelfrey will bounce back in 2016."

I know some other general managers who talk like that.


And add Saltimacchia who hit .225 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs in 79 games with the Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks. But in his case, apparently the Marlins are still on the hook for most of the salary.

I know some other general managers who talk like that.

Lol, but they might not throw that kind of money for 2 years at a hope/prayer!

Must be one heck of a lot floating around in baseball revenues, otherwise crazy contracts to mediocre relievers like Mark Lowe, average infielders like Asdrubal Cabrera, etc. etc. would not be signed.

No wonder everyone wants our apparently dramatically underpaid starting pitchers.

I wouldn't have a problem starting some of our "young talent" and not take some .240 hitter who is on the downside of his career. Do not trade some our start pitching. It would be a return to the old days of trading SP for hitters & then reversing the course.

Funny line to end this story:

Should they find a worthy suitor that has prospects to offer, the Braves would be wise to eat some of Swisher's contract and move on.

Prospects for Swisher?!

The Braves have been as active as any team this offseason—trading Shelby Miller, Andrelton Simmons and Cameron Maybin already—and appear ambitious to continue their rebuild by dealing veterans for prospects.

Swisher was acquired by Atlanta in a trade with the Cleveland Indians in August, but part of the perk was that the Indians sent cash in the deal, which also included Michael Bourn.

Swisher is owed $29 million over the next two seasons, per Spotrac, and Bowman indicated the Braves probably won't rid that full sum off their books in a potential trade:

Swisher posted a slash line of .195/.349/.339 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 118 at-bats over 46 games, including 36 starts—not exactly the figures the Braves are expecting from the amount they're paying the 12-year veteran.

The Braves already have All-Star Freddie Freeman at first base and an outfield corps of Bourn, Nick Markakis, Hector Olivera and Ender Inciarte, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Miller trade.

Even for a team that will likely struggle again in 2016, there is no room for Swisher and his hefty price tag. Should they find a worthy suitor that has prospects to offer, the Braves would be wise to eat some of Swisher's contract and move on.

Munch, munch, munch.

Tribe digesting Johnson's contract.

Pay guys not to play.

What a country!

Jerry Sands signs with White Sox

The White Sox and Orioles have emerged as the favorites to sign Cespedes, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.

I can't imagine having a lineup with Adam Eaton leading off followed by Melky Cabrera, Jose Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes, Todd Frazier, Avisail Garcia and Alex Avila/Dioner AND full year of Carlos Rodon. Of course, the sox will miss Jeff Samardzija. If this happens, I have to believe the Indians will have to keep pace. Upton or Gordon are the only players left that might offset Cespedes IF that happens. I have to think that Cespedes would like to be playing with Abreu again. That would be a nice 1-2 punch.

Chapman to the Yankees for 4 top prospects.