Wild speculation

[Trots]

News around here lately centers around the possible trades of Bobby Higginson and Jeff Weaver. Rumor has it, Dombrowski has been shopping both. He is looking to get a couple of very young MLB players or "can't miss" prospects in return.

While NY papers are reporting the Yankees are interested in Higgy, Weaver has not been tied to any other teams, yet. The general opinion seems to be that trading Higgy would hurt short term, but losing Weaver would really come back to haunt the Tigers.

I like both of them, so my happiness with any deal would be judged on what the Tigs get in return. Off the top of my head, if Weaver got shipped somewhere like Texas (who needs pitching and has some cash) and the Tigers got Hank Blalock and Mark Texiera (sp?) in return, I might be happy with that. I'm sure Rangers fans would never agree to that kind of deal, but that's the type of trade Dombrowski needs to make.

I haven't heard any names mentioned in a Higginson to NY deal. Obviously, Nick Johnson's name would probably come up. I'm not sure he's the type of player the Tigers need, but I like him better than the Tigers top 1B prospect, Eric Munson.

[GiveHyzduashot]

The problem with trading for Blalock AND Texieria is both are third baseman. What would the Tigers do with both of them?

And as you said, Hart would never make that trade.

Besides that, both are a Boras agent.

[Trots]

I would move one to first. However, I use the Ranger prospects only as an example of what the Tigers need in a trade. Weaver, in particular, cannot be shipped out without getting some substantial returns, both long and short term.

[Fullabull]

I hope they don't trade with the Yankees. All of their can't miss prospects are over hyped.

[PissedPrincess]

It is most-->:barf: knowing that if the Yanks aren't 20 games up by June, that Fat George will go buy everyone available. STAY HIGGY STAY!

[Tigers#1]

Originally posted by Fullabull
I hope they don't trade with the Yankees. All of their can't miss prospects are over hyped. I can't agree more. Look at most of their prospects over the last few years!

I don't know why we need Nick Johnson though. He's been a bust so far, and we already have Dmitri Young, Randal Simon, and Eric Munson.

[Trots]

I would hold up Jeter and Soriano as Yankee prospects that have worked out well. (We would have had Soriano if Gonzo had accepted the trade to the Yankees. He's killing the Tigers even after his departure.) Every organization has a number of "cant miss" kids that always do. The fact is most prospects never even make the majors, let alone contribute in a significant way.

I'm not a huge Nick Johnson fan by any stretch, but the Tigers firstbase corps is only slightly better than mediocre. Simon is what scouts call a "AAAA" player. A guy who isn't really an everyday MLB player, but too good to be in AAA. Munson is struggling once again and has a history of injuries. He has more question marks, imo, than the average prospect. As for Young, he's a nice hitter w/o a defensive position. If the rest of the team was loaded offensively or solid on D, Young is not an issue. However, that isn't the case here. I'd unload any or all of them to upgrade the position.

[Tigers#1]

I don't know if i'd call Simon a "AAAA" player. He's hitting .300, with 7 HR's, and 25 RBI's, and he's a decent feilder. He's not the future of the Tigers, but he could be a decent everyday player for a team.

Munson's got 10 HR's, and 28 RBI's in AAA, which is better than anyone on the Majors team. He's got a load of potential, and i'd wait till he gets called up before i judge him.

Young has been good since coming back. He could move to third, or outfeild if needed.

And Johnson hasn't shown anything yet. Yankee fans hate him, and are calling him a bust. We need other positions to be filled before firstbase.

[Trots]

Oh, don't think for a minute that I want Johnson. He scares me too much. I view him as another free swinger. The Tigers have been saddled with far too many of them over the last ten years. I'd much rather have Ted Lilly than him. I'd also be happier with Lyle Overbay in Arizona's system (trapped behind Durazo and Grace).

I also stand behind my earlier assessments. Simon has been playing pro ball for years, I remember him mostly with Atlanta, and couldn't keep a job. Maybe he has finally blossomed, maybe he's having a career year or maybe he's having a good couple of months. History favors the latter.

I really like Dmitri Young, but he just can't field very well. I think he can be a productive member of the Tigers, but will always cost them some on "D". As for Munson, I know opinions vary on his potential. My problem is that he's a college player who has already spent a number of years in the minors. He is hitting just above .200 at AAA and has missed extended time in his career due to injury. Remember Tony Clark? Munson appears headed down the same road. I'm all for him proving me wrong, but hitting homers at Toledo isn't impressing me.

[Tigers#1]

I love Lyle Overbay. I'd like to see the Tigers try to trade for him, and third baseman Chad Tracy.

I don't think Simon's just having a career year. Last year he was playing real well after we picked him up, and everyone then thought it was a fluke. He's not the future, but i think we can use him for a couple years at first, or DH if necessary.

I still want to wait to judge Munson yet. Minor league stats don't mean as much. A lot of players struggle in the minors, then do better in the majors. His only bad stat is his B.A.. If he is injury prone, then i'd like them to look elsewhere. We have too many injury prone players.

[Trots]

I do agree that minor league stats don't reflect potential. However, with the amount of time Munson has been with the organization I would think if he had the type of up-side Smith thought he had, he would have been here by now. Although, I'd be more than happy to be wrong about him.

Do you think that the Tigers should just call most of their prospects up now (and let the kids play) or would you rather continue with what we have and only bring those up that are having good seasons?

[Tigers#1]

They should call up players who are close/or are ready to play in the majors(Torres, Infante, Munson, etc.), and if they play well for awile, let them stay, if not, put them back untill their ready. We have no reason to rush anyone. We're not going to win anything this year, might as well try out new players.

[Trots]

I tend to agree with your thought. Why rush the youngsters? Many feel they can learn just as much at Comerica Park as they can at Erie or Toledo. Sure some of them will handle the change well, but others will get crushed emotionally running into the failures they are bound to have at the Major League level.

I also don't really want too many of them hanging around guys like Higgy, who have been made cynical and depressed about the last decade. Do we really want them subject to that tone in the clubhouse?

My thinking is the veterans will be shipped out at a steady pace culminating with a wave of departures at the deadline. Then, on August 1, the kids arrive and take over the dugout. Dombrowski and company will then get two months to see what the prospects are made of. It will also give him time to evaluate Pujols. Although, I think we will have a new manager in '03.

[Tigers#1]

I'd like to see the Tigers get rid of some of their vets, like Higgy, and Easley, for that reason. Even if they have to cut them, i'd do it. Most of the guys who were with Erie last year, have really good chemistry together. That's why i'd like to see Pujols stay as a bench coach if/and when Alou takes over.

[Trots]

My hunch is that the Tigers will be willing to eat some salaries in order to unload the likes of Higginson and Easley. I also suspect that neither Alou or Pujols will be the manager next year.