Lynn Henning: Play for later; IASID: Play for NOW
In yesterday’s Detroit News, writer Lynn Henning stressed that Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers need to cash in their chips and be sellers at the trade deadline (July 31). Essentially, he said that the Tigers should give up and think about next year and the year after because they aren’t good enough to continue competing with the White Sox and Twins. Essentially, I’m saying he’s wrong.
If you go player-by-player, the Tigers may have the least amount of proven talent of the three teams, I’ll give that to Henning. But, when is the next time the Tigers will have the following: the no-brainer American League Rookie of the Year in Brennan Boesch, quite possibly the second best rookie in the AL in Austin Jackson, the best closer in baseball in Jose Valverde, a pitcher on pace to get 20 wins in Justin Verlander, a healthy productive Magglio Ordonez, a healthy Carlos Guillen and a very legit Triple Crown contender in Miguel Cabrera? The answer: who the heck knows?
Who does Henning want the Tigers to deal? Johnny Damon? Jeremy Bonderman? Great, I wouldn’t be able to contain myself getting a Single-A arm with limited upside. How does that help? It may help in three years when that young arm develops a third pitch, but why are we waiting until then? The division is there for the taking. Nobody wants to take on any of the Tigers bad contracts (Guillen, Magglio, etc.) and you aren’t going to get anything worthwhile for the “commodities” that teams may want. Therefore, the Tigers wouldn’t be saving any cash by dealing a veteran for a youngin’. Henning wants the Tigers to trade Damon to open up a spot for stud prospect outfielder Ryan Strieby. Strieby will get his time, Lynn, next year when Damon isn’t brought back.
My suggestions: build on what you already have at the Major League level. If the Arizona Diamondbacks would accept a package of Casper Wells, Wilkin Ramirez and a minor league arm not named Turner, Crosby or Schlereth, I’d welcome Stephen Drew and Danny Haren to the D with open arms. If they want minor league arms, I’d give them another one. Haren seems destined to be dealt and his floppy hair would look less gross under an old English D.
With AJax and Boesch already starting to prove they can hit in the Big Leagues and Strieby quickly on his way up, I think Wells and Ramirez should be looked at as trade chips. Both are tools guys that some scouting departments would crave. With Verlander and Porcello under team control for the next handful of years, guys like Andy Oliver should be made available. How many right-handed fireballer relievers does one organization need in the minor leagues? Trade bait.
It’s time to make Jim Leyland’s dreadful second half record less dreadful. It’s time to add another nice bat and quality starting arm. The Tigers have holes at short, third (with Inge now out four to six weeks with a broken hand) and starting pitching. Sure, a trade or two may not put the Tigers among the likes of the Yankees or Rays, but if you’re waiting around for the Yankees to show weakness, good luck with that.
This isn’t the first time and won’t be the last time I completely disagree with Henning. Barring a meltdown over the next 12 days, it would be a crime for the Tigers to sell their season short and not at least attempt to be buyers at the deadline.
Category: Detroit Tigers
Create A Bumper Sticker
Loading ...
Lynn Henning obviously doesn't know baseball. If he is so quick to sell off talent, he should write about the Lions or Pistons.