Read: Tigers will not hold a Fire Sale
Lynn Henning of the Detroit News says that while the Tigers are intent on cutting payroll, they are not holding a fire sale this winter.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, who was a part of fire sales with the Marlins and Expos, told Henning:
“I can assure you 100 percent that we do not have any kind of fire sale, or salary dump, or whatever you might call it, taking place…I can also tell you that I’ve been part of that in my career, so I know what that situation is like…In that situation, you go to your owner and say, ‘This is not a good trade, but I can move this salary. Would you still want me to do this?’ And he says, ‘Yes,’ and you just move the salaries … I’ve done that, but not here.”
…i don’t think that he would tell people that he is having a fire sale, because that greatly limits the return on potential trades he would like to make…
The Tigers have $31 million committed to 34 year old Carlos Guillen and soon to be 36 year old Magglio Ordonez in 2010, and if they choose to pick up Ordonez’s 2011 option, he would earn another $15 million.
…Guillen was limited to just half a season in 2009 due to various leg injuries which i think makes his contract unmovable…Ordonez had a disappointing season for Detroit so i wouldn’t think that any team would be willing to take a risk at that dollar amount and commitment…
Last week, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said that the Tigers could be looking to deal outfielder Curtis Granderson, who is due $5.5 million n 2010, and pitcher Edwin Jackson, who is a Scott Boras client and is arbitration eligible after earning $2.2 million in 2009.
…both are very interesting and i think the Mets in particular should pay close attention to Jackson…he is still young and made major progress in 2009 and could be a nice addition to the middle of the rotation at a relatively low cost…
…their problem is that they have so much money committed to aging superstars with diminishing skills, and i would assume that hinders their ability to sign their younger players to long term deals, leaving them no choice but to try and get value in return while they can for them as they wait for their older players to come off the books…
