Rumors have Soriano going to Detroit for Craig Monroe, minor league center fielder Nook Logan (fastest guy in baseball last year) and one of two pitching prospects in Sanchez or Tata. Soriano would play left for Detroit and leadoff and Granderson would move to the 9 slot to have speed at both ends of lineup and let Thames DH.
this isn't quite the rumor I heard. The one I heard was Sanchez (minor league all -star picther) whom you mentioned and Cameron Maybin, last years 1st round draft choice for Tigers who is only 19 and way down in the minors right now. I also heard the Monroe/Thames throw in possibilities.
Also heard Abreau mentioned to Detroit, as the Tigers lack a left hand stick. The guy has .440+ OBA. Something the Tigers sorely lack, a left handed hitter who can get on base
Also heard Abreau mentioned to Detroit, as the Tigers lack a left hand stick. The guy has .440+ OBA. Something the Tigers sorely lack, a left handed hitter who can get on base
here's the article
DETROIT -- Would you take a right-handed hitter with power and speed instead? The Tigers might.
With the trade deadline two weeks away, more than one report has surfaced that the Tigers have made serious inquiries about Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals -- so serious, in fact, they've even been rumored to have made an offer.
Not only that, but according to the reliable Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Mariners, Yankees and Tigers are showing the most significant interest in Soriano.
But a right-handed hitter instead of left?
After the Tigers -- who usually keep quiet about their needs -- have made it plain all along that if they're missing anything, it's a left-handed impact hitter for the middle of their lineup?
When it's a player as talented as Soriano, and when owner Mike Ilitch is saying: "I'll get Jim (manager Jim Leyland) whatever he wants," it could be the Tigers go the right-handed route instead.
Here's why it not only makes sense, but could happen.
Soriano, a potential free agent after the season, is on the block. He can be had.
Of his $10 million salary, the Tigers would be responsible for about $4 million.
Such amounts aren't a problem -- right, Mike? -- when you're talking about the first postseason for someone who has owned a team since 1992 and hasn't even seen the sunny side of .500 since '93.
Soriano would be a rented player, because of his free-agent future, but if the Tigers get to the postseason with him, and if he takes to the team as quickly as Placido Polanco, also from the Dominican Republic, did -- then it's not impossible he'd re-sign.
For a price -- a hefty price -- but Detroit is not the wasteland for free agents it once was.
Another reason he appeals to the Tigers is his speed.
They already have power -- but he has both speed and power -- a potential 40-40 player, meaning he's capable of hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases.
Soriano's career high in home runs is 39, but he has already hit 29 this year. Forty isn't out of the question. His career high in stolen bases is 43, and he has already stolen 23.
Without question, he'd give the Tigers a dimension they lack. Plus he's walking more than he used to.
With a .283 batting average this year, he has an on-base percentage of .354 -- significantly higher than the .332 OBP he had in 2002 with the Yankees when he hit a career high of .300.
If Soriano led off for the Tigers, Leyland could hit Curtis Granderson ninth, meaning they'd have speed at both ends of the batting order. There'd be a fit, in other words.
But more than that, the Tigers can offer the Nationals what they'd want.
General manager Dave Dombrowski has said he won't trade the Tigers' best prospects, but the organization's pitching is so deep, he could trade one of them -- either of the Toledo right-handers Humberto Sanchez or Jordan Tata.
For Soriano to play left, there'd have be a vacancy, so the Tigers would include an outfielder in the deal. Craig Monroe's name is no stranger to trade rumors.
But the Nationals would need more than that.
They'd have to get at least another pitching prospect in the deal, possibly from Lakeland -- and as a throw-in, because the Nationals need center-field candidates, Nook Logan.
Would the Tigers make such a deal -- two pitching prospects and Monroe for a player like Soriano? With a chance to not only get to the postseason, but also deep into the postseason?
It would have to tempt them.
Yes, the focus has been on a left-handed hitter all along -- and Bobby Abreu is an appealing thought.
But a quality right-hander hitter, one with speed, might be more attainable.
In fact, it appears to be.
DETROIT -- Would you take a right-handed hitter with power and speed instead? The Tigers might.
With the trade deadline two weeks away, more than one report has surfaced that the Tigers have made serious inquiries about Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals -- so serious, in fact, they've even been rumored to have made an offer.
Not only that, but according to the reliable Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Mariners, Yankees and Tigers are showing the most significant interest in Soriano.
But a right-handed hitter instead of left?
After the Tigers -- who usually keep quiet about their needs -- have made it plain all along that if they're missing anything, it's a left-handed impact hitter for the middle of their lineup?
When it's a player as talented as Soriano, and when owner Mike Ilitch is saying: "I'll get Jim (manager Jim Leyland) whatever he wants," it could be the Tigers go the right-handed route instead.
Here's why it not only makes sense, but could happen.
Soriano, a potential free agent after the season, is on the block. He can be had.
Of his $10 million salary, the Tigers would be responsible for about $4 million.
Such amounts aren't a problem -- right, Mike? -- when you're talking about the first postseason for someone who has owned a team since 1992 and hasn't even seen the sunny side of .500 since '93.
Soriano would be a rented player, because of his free-agent future, but if the Tigers get to the postseason with him, and if he takes to the team as quickly as Placido Polanco, also from the Dominican Republic, did -- then it's not impossible he'd re-sign.
For a price -- a hefty price -- but Detroit is not the wasteland for free agents it once was.
Another reason he appeals to the Tigers is his speed.
They already have power -- but he has both speed and power -- a potential 40-40 player, meaning he's capable of hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases.
Soriano's career high in home runs is 39, but he has already hit 29 this year. Forty isn't out of the question. His career high in stolen bases is 43, and he has already stolen 23.
Without question, he'd give the Tigers a dimension they lack. Plus he's walking more than he used to.
With a .283 batting average this year, he has an on-base percentage of .354 -- significantly higher than the .332 OBP he had in 2002 with the Yankees when he hit a career high of .300.
If Soriano led off for the Tigers, Leyland could hit Curtis Granderson ninth, meaning they'd have speed at both ends of the batting order. There'd be a fit, in other words.
But more than that, the Tigers can offer the Nationals what they'd want.
General manager Dave Dombrowski has said he won't trade the Tigers' best prospects, but the organization's pitching is so deep, he could trade one of them -- either of the Toledo right-handers Humberto Sanchez or Jordan Tata.
For Soriano to play left, there'd have be a vacancy, so the Tigers would include an outfielder in the deal. Craig Monroe's name is no stranger to trade rumors.
But the Nationals would need more than that.
They'd have to get at least another pitching prospect in the deal, possibly from Lakeland -- and as a throw-in, because the Nationals need center-field candidates, Nook Logan.
Would the Tigers make such a deal -- two pitching prospects and Monroe for a player like Soriano? With a chance to not only get to the postseason, but also deep into the postseason?
It would have to tempt them.
Yes, the focus has been on a left-handed hitter all along -- and Bobby Abreu is an appealing thought.
But a quality right-hander hitter, one with speed, might be more attainable.
In fact, it appears to be.
The_Man said:
I love Logan. I think that would be a HUGE score for Washington who need a leadoff hitter. Read my post #7 in this thread over a year ago:
http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=278444&highlight=Logan
I think he can turn into a great player.
If the Nats can get 2 young prospects and Logan, that would be a great deal. They dump Soriano's contract...pick up 3 players for a guy that was only going to play out this season and end up somewhere else as a free agent...plus they address their need for pitching.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
being a huge Tiger fan I got to watch everyday last year. He started out like gang busters and cooled off. The problem is Granderson just hits better than Logan all around (esp power).
Logan is a solid defensive centerfielder and everything goes right he could mold his game into a Gary Pettis type player over the next few years. Could get called up to Tigers later in year as a late inning defensive replacement and baserunner but not much of an everyday player, his offense will kill you. Crowd favorite though, exciting to watch run.
Logan is a solid defensive centerfielder and everything goes right he could mold his game into a Gary Pettis type player over the next few years. Could get called up to Tigers later in year as a late inning defensive replacement and baserunner but not much of an everyday player, his offense will kill you. Crowd favorite though, exciting to watch run.
Meanwhile, Soriano comes up with a runner on 3rd and 2 outs and does what he does best....leaves him stranded. He has the most useless home runs in baseball. The guy NEVER delivers when needed.
He was batting .176 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs prior to that at bat. Also batting a pathetic .217 on the year with runners in scoring position.
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg1 align=middle><TD>Category</TD><TD>G</TD><TD>AB</TD><TD>R</TD><TD>H</TD><TD>2B</TD><TD>3B</TD><TD>HR</TD><TD>RBI</TD><TD>BB</TD><TD>SO</TD><TD>SB</TD><TD>CS</TD><TD>OBP</TD><TD>SLG</TD><TD>AVG</TD><TD>TB</TD><TD>SF</TD><TD>SH</TD><TD>HBP</TD><TD>IBB</TD><TD>GDP</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=15><TD align=left>TURF</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>12</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>4</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>.231</TD><TD align=left>.250</TD><TD align=left>.167</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>0</TD></TR><TR class=bg3 vAlign=center align=right height=15><TD align=left>RISP</TD><TD align=left>78</TD><TD align=left>69</TD><TD align=left>40</TD><TD align=left>15</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>5</TD><TD align=left>26</TD><TD align=left>19</TD><TD align=left>18</TD><TD align=left>13</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>.382</TD><TD align=left>.478</TD><TD align=left>.217</TD><TD align=left>33</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>11</TD><TD align=left>2</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=15><TD align=left>RISP W/TWO OUT</TD><TD align=left>50</TD><TD align=left>34</TD><TD align=left>13</TD><TD align=left>6</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>13</TD><TD align=left>10</TD><TD align=left>11</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>.364</TD><TD align=left>.412</TD><TD align=left>.176</TD><TD align=left>14</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>6</TD><TD align=left>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
He was batting .176 with runners in scoring position and 2 outs prior to that at bat. Also batting a pathetic .217 on the year with runners in scoring position.
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg1 align=middle><TD>Category</TD><TD>G</TD><TD>AB</TD><TD>R</TD><TD>H</TD><TD>2B</TD><TD>3B</TD><TD>HR</TD><TD>RBI</TD><TD>BB</TD><TD>SO</TD><TD>SB</TD><TD>CS</TD><TD>OBP</TD><TD>SLG</TD><TD>AVG</TD><TD>TB</TD><TD>SF</TD><TD>SH</TD><TD>HBP</TD><TD>IBB</TD><TD>GDP</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=15><TD align=left>TURF</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>12</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>4</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>.231</TD><TD align=left>.250</TD><TD align=left>.167</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>0</TD></TR><TR class=bg3 vAlign=center align=right height=15><TD align=left>RISP</TD><TD align=left>78</TD><TD align=left>69</TD><TD align=left>40</TD><TD align=left>15</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>5</TD><TD align=left>26</TD><TD align=left>19</TD><TD align=left>18</TD><TD align=left>13</TD><TD align=left>3</TD><TD align=left>.382</TD><TD align=left>.478</TD><TD align=left>.217</TD><TD align=left>33</TD><TD align=left>1</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>11</TD><TD align=left>2</TD></TR><TR class=bg2 vAlign=center align=right height=15><TD align=left>RISP W/TWO OUT</TD><TD align=left>50</TD><TD align=left>34</TD><TD align=left>13</TD><TD align=left>6</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>13</TD><TD align=left>10</TD><TD align=left>11</TD><TD align=left>2</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>.364</TD><TD align=left>.412</TD><TD align=left>.176</TD><TD align=left>14</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>0</TD><TD align=left>6</TD><TD align=left>0</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
