Bunt Single: Schilling a free agent
posted in 2007-08 offseason |As I continue my three-day celebration of the NBA season opening …
Curt Schilling filed for free agency — the same day the Boston Red Sox celebrated their World Series with a parade. While that may not sound like a great teammate to some, hey, he has two World Series rings in Boston and so do they, so I wouldn’t complain too loudly.
Anyway, this is of interest for one reason: Schilling is OK with the D.
He writes on his blog 38 Pitches:
The list of teams that our family has talked over, that we think would be a fit for next year, should we not come back, are pretty much teams in cities we agree would be ok for our last year, and teams I think have a legitimate shot at being in the post season and/or World Series.
…
Cleveland, Detroit, Anaheim, New York Mets, Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A., S.D., Arizona, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis, Milwaukee
So, while making a list with Milwaukee may not be one’s highest goal in life, having Schilling on your team would certainly make sense for any GM hoping to win the World Series.
Knowing that it would only be for one year, holding a spot in the starting rotation until prospects such as Andrew Miller or Dallas Trahern are ready for prime time, is Schilling worth the Tigers’ interest?
My answer (which can be found in his comments) was the same as the others: YES.
He’s Curt Schilling. He’s aging, but he’s intelligent and knows how to pitch. And if the Tigers are going to sign an aging pitcher, and giving acknowledgment to what Kenny Rogers helped do for the team, I take Schilling.
This, for me, is based on the injury risk. I mean, maybe Rogers comes back from his blood clot and later elbow problem fine. I hope he does.
But maybe he doesn’t. It just seems to me that makes him more an injury risk. So I’ll take Mr. 38 Pitches. I think he’d be a fine fit.
Sphere It
I was thinking they should sign both, consider them one starter and thank their lucky stars if they both hold down their spots in the rotation. Of course, there’s no guarantee the time each misses won’t coincide but there wouldn’t be much harm in leaving 10 to 15 starts to guys like Chad Durbin.
To me, it all depends on the asking price more than limiting the number of elder pitchers. If they can afford it, great.
And now, apparently, they have to factor in the cost of a closer.
Of course, tell me if my line of thinking is crazy but:
Wouldn’t you give up a Cameron Maybin and a Andrew Miller for Miguel Cabrera? Miggy is only 24 years old, and is definitely in the prime of his career at such a young age.
No, I wouldn’t. We’re stuck with Inge one way or the other, and we have to think about what the Tigers will look like in 2010. Can’t keep giving up A-chippers.