29 Trades to 29 Teams: Detroit Tigers

by TheLoneDavid on Jan 19, 2012 11:24 AM EST

Having just lost Victor Martinez for the year, the Tigers need someone to slot into the DH role. They're looking to go all the way to the World Series this year, but the Victor injury has kind of thrown a wrench in the works. That's why the Red Sox can make a deal for pitcher Max Scherzer and AA pitcher Drew Smyly... in exchange for Carl Crawford, Felix Doubront and $54 million dollars, paid over the next six seasons in installments of 9 million dollars per season.

Receiving Carl Crawford allows the Tigers to move their LF, Delmon Young to the DH role for the year. Delmon is not a good defender, and in a park like Comerica, that doesn't work too well. Crawford's supposedly elite defense plays well in the large Detroit ballpark, and if he bounces back, they get a #2 hitter to hit behind Austin Jackson and in front of Miguel Cabrera.

In return we get a pitcher to put behind Clay Buccholz, a AA pitcher with upside to produce when Beckett and Lackey's contracts are done, and the salary relief we need to fix our team in the long term, or sign Ellsbury to a long-term deal if he repeats his 2011 numbers. Having to give up on Crawford so soon kind of sucks, but he is not the right type of player for Fenway Park, and the Sox should deal him while he's still considered a possible MVP candidate, instead of a a big-contract bust.

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Crawford's "supposedly" elite defense

Try not to phrase it that way when you pitch this to the Tigers. :)

by Jake_W on Jan 19, 2012 11:56 AM EST reply actions

He's a good defender

Just not in Boston.

"There's something out there, beyond the horizon in the corner of your eye. I'm going to find out what it is."
-Thomas Solomon, Gentleman Adventurer.

by TheLoneDavid on Jan 19, 2012 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

I’m a little bit confused, the Tigers trade a pitcher of extremely high value for a struggling left fielder, some money and a “prospect” with a horrible control problem?

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by Brandon C. on Jan 19, 2012 12:06 PM EST reply actions

The Tigers fans at BYB seemed to like it.

"There's something out there, beyond the horizon in the corner of your eye. I'm going to find out what it is."
-Thomas Solomon, Gentleman Adventurer.

by TheLoneDavid on Jan 19, 2012 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

Am I missing something obvious?

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by Brandon C. on Jan 19, 2012 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

Looking at the comments there, I think when you said “non-Jacob Turner” they assumed that meant a prospect not named Jacob Turner, not an established #2 starter.

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by Brandon C. on Jan 19, 2012 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

the rest aside,

Doubront doesn’t really have a huge control problem. He did in his very small sample of innings in 2011.

by wolf9309 on Jan 19, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

I just did a quick check of fangraphs, if that’s true my fault on that.

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by Brandon C. on Jan 19, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, he doesn't really have any glaring issues

if he’s actually in shape. Probably maxes out as a back of rotation starter though, or a reliever. To me, his stuff makes more sense as a starter, but I know others think otherwise.

In any case, his 2011 was an embarrassment, and he probably has very little value to anyone right now.

by wolf9309 on Jan 19, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting deal, but who plays left for the Red Sox?

I do think Crawford is a bad fit for this team, but he’s still better than any other option in the organization right now.

by aubatron2011 on Jan 19, 2012 12:20 PM EST reply actions

We'd have roughly 11 million to spend

Could give a 1 year deal to someone like Maggs or Ryan Spilbourghs. It’s not the best option, but better than Crawford with more payroll flexibility.

"There's something out there, beyond the horizon in the corner of your eye. I'm going to find out what it is."
-Thomas Solomon, Gentleman Adventurer.

by TheLoneDavid on Jan 19, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

Spillbourghs would be better than Maggs.

I don’t want Maggs, way too injury prone, and you do need to take into account that there are 81 games where he would actually have to move around a lot more, which would lead to more possible injuries.

by aubatron2011 on Jan 19, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

I think Maggs would be a great platoon player

he has a good split against lefties and his numbers at Fenway are good also.

by ThoughtsAndSox on Jan 19, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

if his power is gone, he's useless

his power is completely gone and he can’t stay on the field.

by wolf9309 on Jan 19, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly.

by aubatron2011 on Jan 19, 2012 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll play left field!

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by Brandon C. on Jan 19, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

A very nice trade

I think the Tigers might try to weasel out Mike Aviles, though, to help out at second base.

Awesome O'Clock!!!

by Boston Red Sox on Jan 19, 2012 10:14 PM EST reply actions

If they want Aviles

instead of Doubront or instead of cash, I’d still make that trade.

"There's something out there, beyond the horizon in the corner of your eye. I'm going to find out what it is."
-Thomas Solomon, Gentleman Adventurer.

by TheLoneDavid on Jan 19, 2012 11:51 PM EST up reply actions

That's a brilliant idea.

Not.worried about LF. Ells, Sweeney, Aviles, DMac, Kalish, Lin, maybe Linares, Ross, etc. can handle the OF. However … Still think we are selling Doubront short and might be calling for Ben’s head if CC returns to 2010 performance in Detroit, which is likely.

by GerryT on Jan 20, 2012 2:10 AM EST via mobile reply actions