Tracking the Tigers: Offseason Getting Interesting...
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by Oneflydude
As of Monday, November 12, 2007, Detroit Tigers general mangager Dave Dombrowski is officially serious about improving his ball club. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Tigers made a smart move by picking up former Atlanta Braves shortstop, Edgar Renteria. A great pickup for the Tigers ball club. There is know doubt that he will be a big help to team, offensively and defensively.
This past week, the Tigers front office have been working on getting the team together for the 2008 season by making a few moves.
The biggest move of the week has been picking up Chicago Cubs OF Jacque Jones on Monday. In exchange, the Cubs got the Tigers backup infielder, Omar Infante.
Infante has been a key, utility player for the Tigers the past couple of seasons.
The 25 year old Venezuelen has spent his whole career with the Tigers. He is a career .253 hitter with 32 career home runs and 154 career RBI's. He used to be the starting shortstop but he has been the backup ever since the acquisition of Carlos Guillen.
The Cubs will be getting a great fielder, but not the best hitter. This past year with the Tigers, he hit .271 with 17 RBI's. He is very versatile with the ability to play all outfield positions, third base, second base and shortstop. There is no doubt that Infante will be a very valuable asset to the Cubs orginization. He is still a young player and if he is given playing time, he will have the chance to develop into a great player.
In return, the Tigers will get cash considerations and OF Jacque Jones
Jacque Jones is returning to the American League Central, where he once played for the Minnesota Twins. This past season as a Cub, Jones hit .285 along with 5 home runs and 66 RBI's. A big drop from when he hit .285 with 27 home runs and 81 RBI's in 2006 in his first year as a Cub.
Jones struggled in the first half of the 2007 season only hitting .233 and 20 RBI's. But in the second half, Jones was a big help in bringing the Cubs back to the postseason. He hit .332 with 46 RBI's. Rumors in Chicago were involving Jones, saying that he would soon to be traded to the [[Florida Marlins]] around late June. The nine year veteran will most likely platoon out in left field along with Marcus Thames and Timo Perez.
If Jones can have the season that he had in 2006, it will definantly be a big help in the Tigers lineup. The Tigers lack speed in the lineup and the addition of Jones could bring the speed they need. The Tigers have also been looking for power from the left side of the plate, and if Jones can bring that with him, the puzzle would be complete for the Tigers.
On Tuesday, the Tigers decided to resign their closer, Todd Jones. He will be back for another year, making $7 million. Jones, also known as Roller Coaster Jones, will be closing for the 2008 season, on a count of Joel Zumaya will be out for half the season.
The Tigers were pushing to get Jones back into the bullpen, but there were reports of him talking to the Atlanta Braves organization. Zumaya was going to be to the new closer for the Tigers but now that he's gone, the Tigers didn't have anybody else in the bullpen that they could turn to. So they resign Jones for another season. Great move.
Today, the Detroit Tigers announced the club has acquired lefthanded
pitcher Danny Christensen from the Kansas City Royals as the player to
be named later to complete the trade on July 13 in which pitcher, Roman Colon was sent to the Royals. Christensen has been designated for
assignment by the Tigers.
Christensen appeared in 27 games with Wichita in the Texas League in 2007, making 24 starts and striking out 99 batters in 140.2 innings. He was selected by the Royals in the fourth round of the June 2002 draft and has 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 116 appearances during his minor league career.
The Tigers rotation currently involves Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, and Kenny Rogers (if he is re-signed). The fifth spot is empty right now and if Rogers doesn't re-sign, there will be two empty spots in the rotation.
Tigers Beat #3
