2013 Free agents

Can we get Josh Hamilton?

why? he is 31,injury prone. rarely can play more than 120 games and has the substance issues. $$ better spent on Sanchez.

why? he is 31,injury prone. rarely can play more than 120 games and has the substance issues. $$ better spent on Sanchez.

Why? Because I like his 43 homers and  128 RBI's as well as his speed and defensive ability. He played 148 games this year.  We have the depth with Berry, Dirks, and Garcia. And of course we could DH him as well to save the miles.   Yes he is injury prone and 31, but he's probably got 3-5 years left of his prime if he can stay healthy.

Plus our lineup could look like this.

Jackson CF
Infante 2b
Cabrera 3b
Hamilton LF
Fielder 1b 
Martinez DH
Peralta SS
Dirks RF
Avila C


 

if he can stay healthy.

And how many millions do you want to risk on his staying healthy...or even clean????

Some team will fork over more than $100 million for a 4-5 year deal. Do you want to resign Verlander after 2014? For the year 2015 you'll be paying Cabrera $22mil and Fielder $24mil...and if you sign Hamilton, it would be another $20+mil salary to cover. Perhaps we might learn a little from what we saw in the Yankee lineup. Let's see if DD's minor league system can produce another outfielder - say a Costellanos or a Garcia, in a year or two. Perhaps you can imagine using that $100mil to pay for an extension for Max Scherzer, or to keep Anibal Sanchez? Afterall....the Tigers seemed to do fine WITHOUT Josh Hamilton and his myriad of physical problems.

Agreed on the "NO" part from everyone's perspective. Thus far the Tigers are proving that great starting pitching beats great hitting and I would rather they spend the money on the rotation, bullpen and fringe players. That includes Sanchez at 12 mil or less coming up this Winter. Though I want Smyly as a depth guy for injury relief. I can see Porcello getting traded for the outfield need if they do not want to roll the dice on the Garcia/Berry platoon. And of course the future contracts of Verlander and Cabrera, Fister. 

If Hamilton were 27 like Fielder I might buy into the idea a little more...but not at 31. That for certain is a Yankee type deal. 

And how many millions do you want to risk on his staying healthy

Is there a salary cap? Then who cares about money? If the Illitches can afford who cares.

 

If the Steinbrenners can afford it - who cares?

most experts look for SF to open upthe bank. the fact texas doesn't want him back should be a warning sign. His defense isn't what i would consider great and his age is a concern. As far as $$ goes Illitch isn't a fool. If the Tigers win the WS based on terrific SP he isn't going to make the 2008 mistake (Sheff/renteria). power SP wins in the playoffs, not shiny FA's. yes prince did help, but he hit an average 8 for 38 so far this postseason. Defense has been shockingly good. In the postseason Tigers are # 2 amongst all teams in percentage and effiency. as it usually pitching and defense eventually wins out.

  Let the Yankees and Red Sox battle it out for him.

Maggs was 31 when we signed him...Sheff was 39 .. Just sayin. I know the trend is longterm 100 million dollar deals for stars. But those deals havent been working out to well... So lets say that teams are scared of JH longterm and the opportunity is there for a 3 year deal. Would you want him then?

No. Succesful teams (long-term) are ones that build from within. Like adrian said....why isn't Texas working harder to get him resigned? Seems like a big red flag to me. The Tigers will have no trouble spending the $20mil (plus) that they would need to spend on Hamilton (in 2013) and using it to get a starting pitcher, and a closer, and/or a corner outfielder...as well as paying salary increases. Let's hope that Castellanos or Garcia can fill an outfield spot, if not in 2013, then for sure by 2014. In the mean time use the money to patch weak spots.

No. Succesful teams (long-term) are ones that build from within. 

Really? Who? Ive looked at the past 20 World Series champs and none, with the exception of the Cardinals are built from within(loosely researched).  I remember now Iffster, you were plain pissed at the Fielder signing. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't want the club to waste money on the latter years of a huge contract on a guy that can't perform anymore. IE Maggs, Arod, Pujols.  Admittedly Hamilton at 31 is probably not the guy(unless we could get him for 3 years 60 million).  But I don't think we should stand pat with Dirks and a Garcia, Berry platoon, we barely made the playoffs ya know.  Valverde's 9 million will pay for his own replacement.  DY at 6.7 mill would make a nice dent in a better player's contract.  

  I like the idea of giving Garcia a shot. Save the money for JV.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want the club to waste money on the latter years of a huge contract on a guy that can't perform anymore. IE Maggs, Arod, Pujols.  Admittedly Hamilton at 31 is probably not the guy(unless we could get him for 3 years 60 million).  But I don't think we should stand pat with Dirks and a Garcia, Berry platoon, we barely made the playoffs ya know.  Valverde's 9 million will pay for his own replacement.  DY at 6.7 mill would make a nice dent in a better player's contract.  

well hamilton is said to be looking for a six year deal. That is way too long.

there will be no $ savings by getting rid of raburn, Valverde and Young saving 18 mil. we have 3 very significant increases due to first time arb players plus max.

Avila made $ 510,000   looking at a 4 Mil increase

Jackson made $ 500,000  looking at a 4.5 mil increase

Fister made $ 507,000  looking at a 5 mil increase

Max made 3.75 MIL  looking at a 5.5 mil increase

probably around 19 mil increase ( some think it will be closer to 20) plus modest arb increases due to Coke, BB and Porcello mean any savings from departed players are going to be spent on the youngsters.

Of course the good news is drawing 3 mil plus playoff gatesmeans the payroll probably could go up. In addition Mr I probably takes the option to renegotiate the FSN paying the Tigers 33 mil and gets 20 mil from FSN. So payroll may be able to go upto around 140-150mil, but I do not see them gambling that on hamilton with upcoming FA's of JV, Miggy and max.

 I remember now Iffster, you were plain pissed at the Fielder signing

It is always pleasing when one of my admirer's keeps close tabs on what I say. I'd say shocked - not pissed. lol

 But I don't think we should stand pat with Dirks and a Garcia, Berry platoon,

I agree. I'd like to see Detroit get a good fielding right handed bat for one of the corner outfield spots AND as a backup if VMart doesn't bounce back well. Give Garcia/Costellanos time to develop at AAA. I just don't think we need to spend $100mil on the flavor of the month. That money needs to be spent mainly on pitching. The bullpen is shakey and needs a closer....a starter (Sanchez or someone else) is needed. Hamilton is baseball's version of 'eye-candy'.

BTW...how did the massive spending spree by the Dodgers work out?

All this talk of FA and crazy money.....you want the Tigers to turn into the Yankees?.....We have a great young team that under achieved this year made it to the World Series....not saying we stand pat, there are holes to fill but throwing big money around is no answer.....bench players and help in the pen are the big issues to fill......replace Kelly, Santiago, Raburn and Boesch.....also signing Sanchez and have Smyly as a 5th starter.....Porcello must be woth something.....Garcia, Nick C and Rondon look like very good prospects sometime during 2013.....lets not get too Yankee crazy.....

lets not fotget the bad contracts to Bonderman, Robertson and Willis led directly to the granderson trade. although it has worked out, at the time there was close to universal condemnation of the trade on this board. So when we all say " well it's Mike's money and he wants to win" past experience shows he still runs the team on a budget based on evenue from ticket sales and TV $$. So I can't see the Tigers turning into the Yankees. I can see payroll though hanging around 135-150il however as long as the team is winning.

n addition Mr I probably takes the option to renegotiate the FSN paying the Tigers 33 mil and gets 20 mil from FSN. So payroll may be able to go upto around 140-150mil, but I do not see them gambling that on hamilton with upcoming FA's of JV, Miggy and max.

I wouldn't put anything past Mr. Illitch. He shelled out the dough to the Red Wings. The better the team was the more he wanted to spend.  If the guys can pull this thing off, I could see Mike(the Illitches)getting the World Series fever and going for 2, it seems like their M.O. 

having sanchez over Porcello makes the Tigers much better than having hamilton over the platoon berry/Garcia. IMOthe best play is to sign sanchez, DY gets replaced by Vmart and the pen gets fortified from the left side Downs and the right side by villareal. maybe the youngster Rondon joins the team at some point. That will still leave payroll around 147 mil. Highest in team history. beating the 137 mil for that dispicable 2008 team that finished in last place. $$$ don't buy everything. askthe Yankees.

 I just don't think we need to spend $100mil on the flavor of the month. That money needs to be spent mainly on pitching. The bullpen is shakey and needs a closer....a starter (Sanchez or someone else) is needed. Hamilton is baseball's version of 'eye-candy'. 

For once we agree Iffy.  Hats off, "eye candy" is spot on.  Hamilton is eye candy for our lineup.  A fan can dream can't he?  Cabrera, Fielder, Hamilton, Martinez.    A closer would be sweet too, but none on the free agent list were jumping out.  I wonder if we promote from within or ...gulp...re-sign papa grande.   Any speculation on the closer situation AD, Iffy?