Tigers target Putz, Wood for closer vacancy
From the Detroit Free Press:
The team has shown interest in free agent Kerry Wood in recent days and had preliminary trade discussions with the Seattle Mariners about J.J. Putz.
Both right-handers have been targeted by the New York Mets, so Detroit officials may need to move quickly in order to have their pick.
Putz, 31, would certainly make for a compelling storyline if he were to become the Tigers’ closer: He grew up in Trenton and pitched at the University of Michigan.Â
Now, obviously there’d be a bit of a “selling low” factor with Putz, as last year wasn’t his best. At the same time, though, if you’re interesting in moving him–and he’s certainly one of the team’s most valuable trade parts–the time might be right. Putz makes a mere $5.5M next season, followed by a $9.1M club option (or $1M buyout) in 2010.
GIven what we’ve seen from Zduriencik so far with respect to building a cheap 1B platoon, I have little doubt he could cobble together an effective bullpen–closer included–without plunking down $14.6M over two years for a proverbial “proven” closer.
I’m certainly not looking to trade him, but if you can turn Putz into a young position player and give yourself $14.6M to spend while at the same time not hurting the bullpen too much, more power to you.
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25 Responses to “Tigers target Putz, Wood for closer vacancy”
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Keep your fingers crossed for Matt Joyce! While JJ is definitely a valuable guy in his own right, I’d love to see the M’s take advantage of the inflated value of saves league-wide.
I’m hoping for a deal with Porcello in it but I heard he is untouchable but hey things can change…
oh, let’s start more rumors flying
Well, in an about-face from previous years, I say “Go for it!” based upon my confidence in Z-man not landing Ramon Santaniago or Miguel Olivo or some such similar player in return. As I said, I had Putz penciled in as closer long before Eddie actually was shown the door. So replacing him (and we had to do that a lot last year anyway) is certainly doable. But not with Morrow, we need him in the rotation.
Baker rambles on about the subject
P.S. Does the following qualify as a finalist in the WFB Memorial Roster Construction Contest?:
“Putz, 31, would certainly make for a compelling storyline if he were to become the Tigers’ closer: He grew up in Trenton and pitched at the University of Michigan.”
Yes! Storylines! Local boys! GO! GO! GO!
I’m not too high on a Putz for Larish deal and Detriot’s minor league talent is pretty barren aside from Porcello…
Would moving Putz increase our chances of keeping Beltre?
Putz moving means the beginning of a minor firesale.
We know Porcello is off the table. In his absence I’d love to see Joyce, Iorg, or Larish coming to Seattle. Ideally, Joyce and Iorg for Putz and Betancourt (obviously other minor players and/or cash would be needed to work that out).
No way Putz is going anywhere for a return like Larish, but Matt Joyce would be nice. Something like Joyce and an interesting second piece (Cale Iorg? Wilkin Ramirez? Ryan Perry/Casey Crosby? Man the Tigers’ system sucks!) would still be a paltry return for Putz, but if it was the best we could get, I’d do it.
I think with the way the market is looking, it’s not a real great time to sell anyone and expect great return. The deals for Sabathia, Santana, Teixeira, etc. were all below what the clubs were initially asking for. I’d like to hold onto Putz for now unless someone blows us away. I think he’s equally valuable later on in the season if we’re looking to move him. Plus it might help him rehab some of his value that he lost with the injury.
And the Tigers would give what?
As much as I like the idea of throwing him in as part of the price for getting Putz, I don’t think you could convince the Tigers to take Betancourt — they’re already poking and prodding Adam Everett. They obviously are looking for defense in a SS, and that’s not spelled Yuniesky.
Wow, the Tigers farm is fallow.
In short, I think we’d be crazy to take Larish for Putz. A 26 year-old 1B who’s been up and down from the minors and is a bit of a free swinger with contact problems at the MLB level? I’ll pass. If he were 24, I might be interested. Guys like Larish are almost available free.
Joyce is probably too much to pay for Putz.
Matt Joyce? Is a *good* deal for JJ? There have to be better fits…can’t you drag someone like a Gamel away from the Brewers – I mean, I’m as up on the misuse of the save stat as the next guy, but Putz, provided a return to reasonable health, is a very good bullpen piece. Is Joyce projecting that far above fourth outfielder?
I’d try to work out something like Nick Evans/Bobby Parnell before a Matt Joyce package. Tell me the Mets wouldn’t be motivated to make that move.
I’d be telling the Tigers to go pull a Theo Epstein and find a third team that has interest in some of the Tigers spare parts and a young mashing corner outfielder in their system to send to Seattle for Putz.
While I’m not eager to see JJ depart so soon, this is also one of the first times where we can see Z (potentially) evaluate a trade, talent for talent.
I have high hopes that we won’t see anymore Soriano-for-Ramirez kind of swaps. Nonetheless, I’ll be interested to see if we can come out with the better of the deal for once.
You guys have all missed the biggest news in this post – the return of JMB!
oh, I noticed 🙂
Way cool. I’d noticed his comment, but not that he posted this. Yay!
I am eagerly awaiting Z’s first trade…I’d rather them keep JJ, but if he gets good value in return, then I say go ahead…
And can anyone tell me why it seems that every reporter wants Morrow to become the closer if JJ is traded? Are they that stupid?
I worry about the comments that this may mean sending Morrow back into the bullpen as the “closer”. That would retard any progress he made last year in becoming a starter. IMO 175+ innings as a even a #5 starter has more value than 50 innings as a closer. Hopefully the authors are right and Z understands that you assemble your bullpen for cheap. Closers are easy to both find and create. Starting pitchers with Morrow’s potential are not.
What would it take for the Cardinals to get Putz?
PS, no one mention Rasmus.
Baseball America named Joyce the 7th best prospect in the (depleted) Tigers system, and named him their best defensive OF. Joyce has a career of hitting well in the minors and did very well (wOBA .355) in 277 PA last season in the majors. 277 is too few to draw any bold conclusions, but there are no red flags pointing to luck.
I think Joyce will hit like an average to above average LF and defend much better than average at his position, making him a 3-4 wins above replacement, with five or six years of control.
Gamel’s fielding is appalling. He committed 53 errors at 3B in 2007 and 32 in 2008. The team that puts him in the infield is going to cost itself more runs than Prince Fielder will produce.