Luvofthegame
11-07-2006, 12:13 AM
By Lenn Henning
Sports Insiders
Q . What will the Tigers discuss at Lakeland this week when the front office, manager, coaches, scouts, etc., huddle for postseason talks?
A . They will size up what they need, who fits in for 2007, and what players from other organizations might offer them as they try to add more muscle for a bruising American League Central Division race in 2007.
Q . What is general manager Dave Dombrowski's mind-set after making it to the World Series and losing?
A . A gut feeling is the Tigers would have been busy this offseason and that now they will be doubly aggressive after getting a taste of the World Series. Face it: The Tigers had their share of good luck. They dealt with Mike Maroth's injury (good planning by the front office made the loss of a prime starter almost irrelevant) and somewhat less successfully with Placido Polanco's separated shoulder. They otherwise stayed healthy but were still dangerously short on offense. First base was a low-output position, and the team's on-base percentage was not what you would expect from a contender.
They need to shore up their batting order in a couple of big ways.
Q . Will the Tigers trade Jeremy Bonderman?
A . A personal feeling is yes. I suspect the Tigers will receive an offer too good to refuse. This team has more needs than some folks appreciate. The Tigers need a first baseman with power, they need a catcher they can groom to succeed Pudge Rodriguez, and they need an upper-tier infield prospect as Carlos Guillen -- and even Brandon Inge -- prepare for possible free agency. A 24-year-old pitcher of Bonderman's 200-innings, 200-strikeouts status is going to command multiple players, all of which the Tigers will need if they expect to be a long-term contender.
Q . Isn't it suicidal to trade a pitcher of Bonderman's skills and youth?
A . A team that builds its organization around pitching will pay a price in hitters and position players. You compensate by trading one of those successful pitchers for multiple offensive players. There is risk involved, but these are the deals you must make, particularly when the Tigers could have 10 or more legitimate starters in camp when everyone reports in February.
Q . Whom will the Tigers trade for?
A . I like their chances to make a deal for Mark Teixeira of Texas. A young catcher in the Braves' system, Jarrad Saltalamacchia, is the kind of future starter they could be expected to grab in a separate trade for a pitcher, say, for someone like Jordan Tata.
If you think the Tigers are going to be bashful during this offseason, think again. I expect them to trade two pitchers and make at least a couple of significant deals, one of which is destined to be a blockbuster. If the Tigers get conservative, they could finish in third or fourth place in the Central Division. They are building for the long term in baseball's toughest division.
Trading a big name this autumn is an investment in keeping them competitive for the remainder of this decade.
Sports Insiders
Q . What will the Tigers discuss at Lakeland this week when the front office, manager, coaches, scouts, etc., huddle for postseason talks?
A . They will size up what they need, who fits in for 2007, and what players from other organizations might offer them as they try to add more muscle for a bruising American League Central Division race in 2007.
Q . What is general manager Dave Dombrowski's mind-set after making it to the World Series and losing?
A . A gut feeling is the Tigers would have been busy this offseason and that now they will be doubly aggressive after getting a taste of the World Series. Face it: The Tigers had their share of good luck. They dealt with Mike Maroth's injury (good planning by the front office made the loss of a prime starter almost irrelevant) and somewhat less successfully with Placido Polanco's separated shoulder. They otherwise stayed healthy but were still dangerously short on offense. First base was a low-output position, and the team's on-base percentage was not what you would expect from a contender.
They need to shore up their batting order in a couple of big ways.
Q . Will the Tigers trade Jeremy Bonderman?
A . A personal feeling is yes. I suspect the Tigers will receive an offer too good to refuse. This team has more needs than some folks appreciate. The Tigers need a first baseman with power, they need a catcher they can groom to succeed Pudge Rodriguez, and they need an upper-tier infield prospect as Carlos Guillen -- and even Brandon Inge -- prepare for possible free agency. A 24-year-old pitcher of Bonderman's 200-innings, 200-strikeouts status is going to command multiple players, all of which the Tigers will need if they expect to be a long-term contender.
Q . Isn't it suicidal to trade a pitcher of Bonderman's skills and youth?
A . A team that builds its organization around pitching will pay a price in hitters and position players. You compensate by trading one of those successful pitchers for multiple offensive players. There is risk involved, but these are the deals you must make, particularly when the Tigers could have 10 or more legitimate starters in camp when everyone reports in February.
Q . Whom will the Tigers trade for?
A . I like their chances to make a deal for Mark Teixeira of Texas. A young catcher in the Braves' system, Jarrad Saltalamacchia, is the kind of future starter they could be expected to grab in a separate trade for a pitcher, say, for someone like Jordan Tata.
If you think the Tigers are going to be bashful during this offseason, think again. I expect them to trade two pitchers and make at least a couple of significant deals, one of which is destined to be a blockbuster. If the Tigers get conservative, they could finish in third or fourth place in the Central Division. They are building for the long term in baseball's toughest division.
Trading a big name this autumn is an investment in keeping them competitive for the remainder of this decade.