Do the Tigers need a trade? Green vs. Morosi
posted in trade rumors |It’s 1 week from the trade deadline. Big names are being bantered about a lot because it’s generally seen as a slow trade market. Alfonso Soriano and Bobby Abreu are the top ones. But a number of lesser known guys who can get the job done are available, too. The question? Do the Tigers need to make a trade? Today’s panel features Jerry Green of the News and Jon Paul Morosi of the Free Press.
Your humble host: What do you think of trade season, Jerry?
Green: You know…
It is an annual running of the bullbleep artists. Toss out a bunch of names and if one of them sticks, self-congratulations prevail. But never apologize nor confess failure or mistakes.
Your humble host: And Jon Paul, do the Tigers really need to make a trade? You say, ‘yes.’
Jon Paul: It’s about the stretch run.
Here’s one view: On Aug. 11, Detroit will play the first of 10 remaining games against the Chicago White Sox. The following Monday, the Tigers travel to Boston for three games. Two weeks later, they’ll be in the Bronx for three with the Yankees. In all, 16 of the regular season’s final 48 games will be against those three teams closest to Detroit in the overall standings.
The Tigers not only have to beat those teams, but they have to be beat some of the best pitchers in the game. To do that, it’s going to take another weapon at the plate.
Your humble host: So my next question for you, panel: What do the Tigers need the most?
Jerry: They keep saying a left-handed bat. They keep saying an outfielder.
[S]ome free advice. This time I’d pass — Dombrowski should resist the urge to trade despite the rampant rumors. Scoff at the purveyors.
The Tigers’ chemistry is perfect. Why risk upsetting it?
Jon Paul: I disagree there, Jerry.
Soriano is the preferred solution — and, in fact, the most likely one. Detroit wants him and can swap some of its minor-league pitching. Dave Dombrowski, Tigers president and general manager, has made many such aggressive trades during his career.
There is little doubt Soriano is the best fit for the Tigers. They could use his speed and power. He has already topped 30 home runs and might become only the fourth man in baseball history to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the same season.
Abreu appears to me out of the running, but teammate in the outfield, David Delucci, as well as Pittsburgh first baseman Sean Casey both appear to be possible affordable targets that would benefit the Tigers.
**Suddenly, Ken Rosenthal bursts onto the stage**
Ken Rosenthal: Allow me to cut in… Sor-eee-ahhhh-noooooo
Your humble host: Cut his mic. Look, the Tigers have a great team. There’s no debating that. 65-32? That’s excellent, one of the best records in franchise history and the past several decades. But other teams are not going to stand pat, nod congratulations, and let Detroit run away with it. They’re going to get better. The Tigers have to get better, too, and by grabbing a top player like Soriano, they deny him to any of their American League rivals, let the world know they’re serious about winning, and likely complete that final step toward free agents looking at Comerica Park and seeing intriguing possibilities, not one of baseball’s backwards outposts. Detroit has to make a move in the next week to cement its gains and insure against a suddenly hot hitter cooling off.
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