We'll have to include some combination of cash/prospects to move Melvin for Buerhle or Dickey. The goal would be to save 10-15 mil on his contract while filling out our rotation. We have to be realistic about the market for his services.
One silver lining is an apparent shortage of serviceable center fielders. There will be a number of teams in the market for one.
So, where does that leave BJ?
Hart probably realizes there is no way to move any of that contract. I have said all along that it probably makes more sense to use BJ as a 4th/5th OFer with a (very) small hope he recovers rather than include prospects with him just to save a few bucks.
@DOBrienAJC: #Braves John Hart spent much of a day with B.J. a while back in Fla., played golf, then met for few hours. Both sides say it was productive.
@DOBrienAJC: Purpose was go see what #Braves and B.J. could do to help him be more productive. Team thinks new hitting coach Seitzer can help with that.
I want to start by saying this: we're not trading Craig Kimbrel. I know that, I'm comfortable with that.
Still, if we wanted to, we could provoke a feeding frenzy by dangling Craig. The Tigers' bullpen has been a Superfund site seemingly for as long as I've been alive. Think they wouldn't salivate at the thought of locking down the ninth inning for the foreseeable future? And hell, we're pretty much the only team to get one over on Dombrowski in recent years.
The Dodgers' bullpen was a catastrophe last season. Pair Kimbrel with Jansen...it's a tempting thought. And they have some prospects to drool over.
Like I said, never gonna happen. But I do think we might be able to do something similar, if of a much lesser impact, using Walden as the bait. He'd represent a pretty huge upgrade for Detroit.
I want to start by saying this: we're not trading Craig Kimbrel. I know that, I'm comfortable with that.
Still, if we wanted to, we could provoke a feeding frenzy by dangling Craig. The Tigers' bullpen has been a Superfund site seemingly for as long as I've been alive. Think they wouldn't salivate at the thought of locking down the ninth inning for the foreseeable future? And hell, we're pretty much the only team to get one over on Dombrowski in recent years.
The Dodgers' bullpen was a catastrophe last season. Pair Kimbrel with Jansen...it's a tempting thought. And they have some prospects to drool over.
Like I said, never gonna happen. But I do think we might be able to do something similar, if of a much lesser impact, using Walden as the bait. He'd represent a pretty huge upgrade for Detroit.
I'm all for trading a reliever (not named Craig Kimbrel) for position players with upside-- that's usually a winning strategy.
I am, however, going to mention the Doug Fister trade as prima facie evidence that Dombrowski has been duped by more than just us. Still a great GM, overall, however.
At this point I want to keep BJ and see what Seitzer can do with him. BJ is in his physical prime, so his problems have to be mental.
At this point I want to keep BJ and see what Seitzer can do with him. BJ is in his physical prime, so his problems have to be mental.