El Caballo Carlos Lee was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Texas Rangers hours after Lee ejected a 4-year, $48 million deal, ESPN reports.

Texas kinda forgot it needs pitching moreso than it needs another big bat, which Lee definitely provides. Milwaukee got Kevin Mench and Francisco Cordero.

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While the Tigers look at Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Bobby Abreu, Baseball Prospectus’ Nate Silver put up the mirror to find which team needs to make an acquisition the most. The results were surprising. It wasn’t Detroit. It wasn’t even Minnesota. It was the White Sox — 8 1/2 games behind the Tigers and 1/2 game behind the Yankees for the wildcard — despite being a leading run-scorer in the American League.

It’s not that the Tigers or Twins wouldn’t benefit, but Silver doesn’t feel they need anyone. Meanwhile, with the struggling Scott Podsednik and so-so Brian Anderson in Chicago’s outfield, the aforementioned trade commodities would help plug those holes.

The White Sox and Cardinals are employing players who simply don’t have any place in a playoff-caliber outfield. Meanwhile, the Tigers and the Twins–if PECOTA’s optimistic projection for Jason Kubel is to be believed–are getting by relatively well with the status quo. …

The White Sox stand the most to gain by making an acquisition, nearly a 20% increase in their playoff odds by acquiring Abreu.

I don’t disagree with the fact the Tigers don’t need to make a move to make the playoffs. (Baseball Prospectus puts their odds more than 95% at this point.) However, my fear is that the Twins actually win the wildcard, and the Tigers are forced to take on a pair of left-handed pitchers for up to four of seven games — and I’ve already documented how they hit against lefties — the pounding of Cliff Lee Monday notwithstanding. That is why your season-long statistics come up short in the playoffs.

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Injury issues for the oft-injured Humberto Sanchez? Maybe. He won’t be starting tonight, Jon Paul Morosi of the Freep reports, due to a health issue.

Tigers prospect Humberto Sanchez will not start for Triple-A Toledo tonight against Durham because of a health reason, according to president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

If it’s an actual injury and not some ploy, that’s gotta put a bit of a dent in his trade value with the deadline approaching. But it’s also why I was not / am not afraid of moving him for a rent-a-player.

Danny Knobler update:

Sanchez has a sore elbow, the Tigers say, and won’t pitch for Toledo tonight.

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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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Sphere It

I don’t generally solicit comments, but I’d like a bit of help here. Where the dickens did this one come from: Bobby Abreu for Marcus Thames and Zach Miner. Plus a contract extention for Abreu. Keep in mind I am linking to Rob Parker with the assumption it came from Rob Parker, who must have the lowest reliability in Detroit journalism.

If this deal is correct, as some believe it is, general manager Dave Dombrowski should pull the trigger as soon as possible and not look back.

Obviously if it was real, you do it. But it wasn’t done, so I have to imagine it’s not real. So is this something that has some real base in reality, or is it the first you’ve heard of it, too?

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Jon Paul Morosi reported that the Washington Nationals asked for Humberto Sanchez, Jair Jurrjens and possibly Brent Clevlen in exchange for Alfonso Soriano.

At least it’s nice to have something concrete as a starting point. Actually I thought any deal would involve either Sanchez/Jordan Tata or Sanchez/Jurrjens, so I’m not suprised. The Tigers are probably seeing if they can get more (Abreu) for less (Sanchez/Tata?)

From my standpoint, I don’t know if Sanchez has figured it out, as his numbers are certainly excellent this year but weren’t in years past. Or if this is a one-year bump. And then there’s the history of injuries.  In any case, as dominant as he is I don’t see him as a staff ace. There’s a lot of dominant young guys, but they don’t all become aces. I would concede trading him. Jurrjens is probably a middle rotation guy. Clevlen, I’m just not big on.

More than just giving up prospects, the other thing that the front office is likely weighing is if Soriano gives the Tigers a better future than the prospects. It’s not just about losing two good prospects for a guy who might stay for one year. It’s deciding if Soriano puts the Tigers over the top, and if the increased excitement and ability to bring in more free agents by a World Series run is worth giving up the prospects.

Just something to think about. It’s just nice to have a little “real” trade talk.

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Everyone knows Upper Peninsula loyalties are split. “Half of them are Packers fans, half of them are Lions fans.” More like 75% are Packers fans, but you get the point. What you never hear is that U.P. loyalties are really split when it comes to baseball. Cubs fans are everywhere. For awhile, I would have no trouble finding a Cubs T-shirt but found absolutely no Tigers stuff. Since 2004, the Tigers seem to have taken the lead. Olde English D caps are appearing on heads everywhere.

And then there’s the Milwaukee Brewers. That’s a strange one. For awhile, Bob Eucker broadcasts covered much of the peninsula. They don’t now, which any baseball fan would agree is disappointing. They were always a pleasure to listen to. You can pick up your local newspaper and read about the Brew Crew. Last night, the main U.P. television station led its baseball highlights with Milwaukee. And yet, I haven’t actually met a Brewers fan, nor have I seen a jersey, nor have I seen a hat. There must be Brewers fans somewhere. But it’s possible they’re a dying breed up here.

But on to the home-run hitting Wallbangers, or, at least, as close as Milwaukee has come to them in some years. The Brewers come into the series with 95 home runs, good for second in the National League. As we’ve seen lately, they seem to really enjoy the longball in the ninth inning. The Milwaukeee Journal Sentinel reports the Brewers have 20 come-from-behind victories in 24 games  wins at Miller Park. Not sure how many are in the ninth, but it seems like quite a few. Given Todd Jones recent struggles, that leaves me a bit nervous if El Caballo Carlos Lee brings his 23 HRs and 58 RBIs to the plate. Protecting him is Cecil’s boy, Prince Fielder, who brings 13 homers and an OPS of .889 into the series. And protecting him is Bill Hall, who brings 13 HRs and an OPS of .918. So the meat of that lineup is nothing to overlook.

Milwaukee’s woes come mostly from its lack of pitching and defense. It gave up the most runs in the league without a designated hitter, so that’s probably not a good thing. Tigers batters are going to have to jump all over their pitching just in case a pitcher has an off day. I do not want to see a close game in the ninth inning, as I’ve mentioned. But give Milwaukee some credit, it held the slumping Indians to nine runs in three days and, thanks to that, are one of the four NL teams with a winning record in interleague play. And Detroit faces Milwaukee ace Chris Capuano on Wednesday.

A few interesting things I picked up in the Journal Sentinel. (I may actually buy a copy of it this week. Yes, it’s available right next to the Detroit newspapers). Michael Hunt writes:

Not since their 5-0 start have the Brewers put together a sustained run of success. There was the four-game winning streak in mid-May and various flashes of promise here and there, but nothing to equal the near bottoming out that occurred during eight consecutive days of gloom and despair against Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington. The Brewers’ vulnerability was on full display then, with the problems at the bottom of the rotation and with the gloves threatening to undermine all the promise they brought into 2006.

But now the Brewers are winning again because they can catch the ball.

It has the potential to be an interesting series. Like Detroit, there’s a lot to be excited about in Milwaukee right now. If they had pitching to go with their batting, they’d be a scary team, indeed.

Trade Rumors starting

First on Sunday Night Basebal on ESPN, there’s talk about John Smoltz to the Tigers, and even Smoltz mentioned something about it. I don’t buy that it would happen, but it was interesting to hear. Now the Detroit News reports Aubrey Huff being traded to the Tigers would surprise no one — or almost no one.

The Devil Rays will be happy to trade Huff and the remainder of his 2006 contract ($6.75 million) for, well, for what will you give them?

Although by no means ideal, Huff makes sense for Detroit. He is a left-handed hitter with power. He can play first, third or even the outfield (albeit, not very well). He ranks, in that sense, as a Dmitri Young -type player without the career average.

…Huff, 29, is having a lousy season (.200, three home runs, 14 RBI), but he hit 120 homers through his first six big-league seasons and could find life with a possible playoff contender to be just the Vitamin B shot a career Devil Ray needs.

I don’t like that one either unless he came cheap. Carl Crawford, maybe I’d accept that. But Huff better come for some low ceiling prospects Detorit isn’t excited over, because I am not convinced he could catch on, nor that there’s really a position to put him at. Given his career numbers, I’m sure he’s primed for a rebound of some sort. So, maybe I’m one of the three or four who’d be surprised because I don’t think it makes enough sense from Detroit’s side of things.

Tigers remain 3 in SI power rankings

No changes worth noting really. White Sox and Mets are Nos. 1 and 2. Tigers are 3.

Spam Filter

My apologies to anyone who has posted a comment and not had it appear. As far as I can tell that’s only happened to one person, and twice. The spam filter flags things and is pretty accurate but sometimes flags non-spam, as Bilfer mentioned at DTW today. I thought I’d best check mine and low-and-behold, nonspam snuck in. If your comment doesn’t immediately appear, e-mail me at mensching-at-gmail.com. Thanks!

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I saw this first on The Cutoff Man, reporting Buster Olney was speculating about Detroit adding Barry Bonds to Detroit. Manager Jim Leyland is quite a Bonds supporter, and Detroit needs a left-handed bat. While Scott Warheit just summed things up, we get a a pair of posts from the Daily Fungo on the subject that I’m going to refer you to. Mike first brought this up as a controversial question: ‘Do you want Bonds on the Tigers?’ several days before the topic came up from Buster Olney. First, it was speculation of a free agency acquisition. Now it’s speculation of a trade.
I refer you to part 2 and part 3 for a nice recap.

Do I want Bonds on my team? Sorta. Not really, because I’m not too much in favor of his personality, his media circus, nor his insistance that he continue flying out rather than sending line drives all over the park like he’s shown he can do. That Barry Bonds, the one with a great liner and great OBP, that intrigues me. But he’s expensive and getting old. And would Tigers fans accept him? I’m not sure. I don’t really think so. Would he accept Detroit? If they’re winning, possibily, although I hear he doesn’t really want to leave the Bay Area and would probably prefer Oakland.

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