Why the Cabrera Willis trade might be bigger...

[tigers527]

...of course we all know about this winters blockbuster deal. I am going to speculate on how this deal might effect the Tigers in the following year. Put your GM caps on if you will.....

....So, 2009 rolls around and Kenny Rogers (8 Million?) and Ivan Rodriguez (13 Million) get taken off of the Tigers books. Now, I am not a Math major but that seems like about 20 Million freed up. What free agent pitcher is going to be out there, who also happens to be childhood friends with Dontrell Willis?

I am speaking of one 2007 Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia. Something around 20 million per should bring him here? Then either bring pudge back cheaply, or make do with a average catcher.

Do you make this move?

[slugger33]

I have thought about this also. It would be a great move if the Tigers pulled it off.

[Captain Cold Nose]

This will be a very big year for Sabbathia, who is not thrilled with how well he perfromed in the ALCS last year, and feels he still has something to prove. I'm not sure I'd throw that much money at him, but they should try, as it would help them and hurt the Indians.

If Cleveland is unable to sign him and loses him to Detroit, you can bet they'll be howling across Lake Erie.

As much as I like him and all he's brought to the team, I would not be heartbroken if they don't bring Pudge back for 2009, he's in decline. What catchers will be FAs after this year?

[slugger33]

2009 Free agents catchers:

Rod Barajas (33)
Michael Barrett (32)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Kenji Johjima (33)
Jason Kendall (35) - club option for '09; vests with 110 games played in '08
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM club option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38) - $3.75MM vesting option for '09; vests with 160 games played in '08

So as you can see, there are some other options. The Tigers will also have to find another closer this off season.

[Imgran]

Be smarter to spend that money on an actual bullpen.

[tigers527]

2009 Free agents catchers:

Rod Barajas (33)
Michael Barrett (32)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Kenji Johjima (33)
Jason Kendall (35) - club option for '09; vests with 110 games played in '08
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM club option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38) - $3.75MM vesting option for '09; vests with 160 games played in '08

So as you can see, there are some other options. The Tigers will also have to find another closer this off season.

There is no way a Molina brother could not be a FA? I mean there are what like 30 of them ?

Besides with the line up being what it is, and the rotation setting up the way it would with the hypothetical addition of Sabathia....I would not really care if the went through the season with Skelton and Sardinha at catcher?

[NYMets523]

Francisco Rodriguez would be a much better investment. They could use a real closer.

[Evangelion]

Be smarter to spend that money on an actual bullpen.

What relief pitcher, that's not a closer, will be on the market next season then?

Francisco Rodriguez would be a much better investment. They could use a real closer.

Joel Zumaya? Last I checked, he isn't done. He's just injured.

Todd Jones can't strikeout players like Rodriguez and Papelbon. Since he can't do that, he's not a closer?

[NYMets523]

Joel Zumaya? Last I checked, he isn't done. He's just injured.

He's injured too much. They need someone who is reliably healthy.

Todd Jones can't strikeout players like Rodriguez and Papelbon. Since he can't do that, he's not a closer?

He is a closer but a very, very, very bad closer.

[slugger33]

Francisco Rodriguez would be a much better investment. They could use a real closer.

Closers are horrible investments. Look at Cleveland. Their closer in Joe Borowski, who was worse than Jones last season. They won 96 games. What the Tigers really need are better middle and long relievers.

[NYMets523]

Closers are horrible investments. Look at Cleveland. Their closer in Joe Borowski, who was worse than Jones last season. They won 96 games. What the Tigers really need are better middle and long relievers.

It's not a horrible investment if the GM is smart and not insane with years and/or money. It's easier to sign a closer who is guaranteed to be good than get middle relievers and hope they have a good year.

Tigers need a real closer, not an over-the-hill bum like Todd Jones.

[Captain Cold Nose]

It's not a horrible investment if the GM is smart and not insane with years and/or money. It's easier to sign a closer who is guaranteed to be good than get middle relievers and hope they have a good year.

Tigers need a real closer, not an over-the-hill bum like Todd Jones.

Perhaps, but they did make it to the world series in 2006 and had a decent run with him last year. As long as he's not asked to do too much (1+ innings a game) he's fine. That's why the middle relief is so important for the Tigers right now.

Dombrowski has proven himself as a smart GM. However, there isn't an abundance of top closers out there, period. F-Rod would likely be over priced, which would not be worth it.

[Dalkowski110]

I believe Jorge Sosa will be a FA after 2008. You think he'd be better? I like him on the Mets. Versatile, throws in the upper 90's with his four-seamer, has a nasty slider, and is finally developing a third pitch (two-seamer).

[Evangelion]

He's injured too much. They need someone who is reliably healthy.

You are aware how he's been injured?

It's not a horrible investment if the GM is smart and not insane with years and/or money. It's easier to sign a closer who is guaranteed to be good than get middle relievers and hope they have a good year.

Tigers need a real closer, not an over-the-hill bum like Todd Jones.

Most teams prefer not spending 10-15 million each year for a closer, which would be the going rate for closers reaching free agency. Examples being Ryan, Wagner and Rivera. Last I checked, didn't the Indians reach ALCS with Joe Borowski and it wasn't Borowski that caused the team to lose during the playoff. In 2006, I do not remember Todd Jones causing the Tigers a win during their run to the World Series.

Closers are over-rated. I can't believe a pitcher who pitches 2-4 innings a week is getting 10-15 million a year. Borowski terrible? Yet he lead the AL in saves last year. Not Papelbon, not Putz, not Rivera, not Nathan. Joe Borowski lead the AL in saves!

[Captain Cold Nose]

Joe Nathan just pulled in $12 Million a year. I can't see any closer legitimately commanding too much higher than that.

How the injuries happened still doesn't change the fact that's two years in a row Zumaya has suffered injuries that took him off the mound for significant periods of time. While it is foolish to write him off, as the injuries at least are not directly related to his delivery or overuse (I hope what has been said is what has actually occurred) I do think if things don't work out with him, the option of picking up F-Rod can be explored.

But one antidote to bullpen issues is to not have to rely on it so much. Sabbathia would help with that.