Tigers and Mets discussing a trade for Willis.

[MyDogSparty]

According to Sweeney Murti on WFAN, the Tigers have approached the Mets about Dontrelle Willis, with Ivan Rodriguez also perhaps being involved.

ROTOWORLD: It appears that the Tigers would like to shed some salary after picking up Miguel Cabrera, and this would be a creative way of doing it. The Mets have long been interested in Willis, but the Marlins didn't want to trade him in the division. If they took on both Willis and Pudge, they'd be adding $20 million to the payroll -- or maybe $15 million if they threw back Brian Schneider -- and they might have to extend Rodriguez in order to get him to waive his no-trade protection.

[slugger33]

According to Sweeney Murti on WFAN, the Tigers have approached the Mets about Dontrelle Willis, with Ivan Rodriguez also perhaps being involved.

ROTOWORLD: It appears that the Tigers would like to shed some salary after picking up Miguel Cabrera, and this would be a creative way of doing it. The Mets have long been interested in Willis, but the Marlins didn't want to trade him in the division. If they took on both Willis and Pudge, they'd be adding $20 million to the payroll -- or maybe $15 million if they threw back Brian Schneider -- and they might have to extend Rodriguez in order to get him to waive his no-trade protection.
This could actually be a pretty good deal for the Tigers. They would free up some cash to sign some relievers. And if they did get Brian Schneider in the deal, they would be adding another left-handed hitter, which they need. Brian Schneider had a much higher OBP than Pudge, and he also strikeouts a lot less.

[NYMets523]

It's not happening.

[Old Sweater]

It's not happening.

Yeah it is! Along with Cabrera.

[AutographCollector]

Yeah it is! Along with Cabrera.
We already have a shortstop by the name of David Wright.

[Old Sweater]

We already have a shortstop by the name of David Wright.

Was talking about the Tigers, not Mets.

[AutographCollector]

Was talking about the Tigers, not Mets.

Gotcha! It's still early here in my neck of the woods. :yawn:

[TonyStarks]

We already have a shortstop by the name of David Wright.

Since when did Wright play Shortstop?

What can the Mets offer the Tigers for Willis?
The Mets don't have too many chips to offer anyone.

[digglahhh]

I want no part of Pudge - hear me, Omar!

Any of our options are better than Pudge, and more economically efficient.

If Omar trades for Pudge, and his sub .300 OBP, we might as well give the position to Steve Phillips.

We already have a defense only C who makes a fraction of Pudge's salary and actually sports a higher OBP.

[Mattingly]

This Jayson Stark article discusses how Tigers & Detroit Red Wings (NHL) owner Mike Illitch decided to open up the payroll a bit, but not go overboard:

Tigers have mastered art of decisive dealmaking (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove07/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3143226)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'd tend to stay away from Pudge (http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rodriiv01.shtml). Big name, fields well from what little I've seen of him, but $10m last season bought you 11 HRs, 63 RBI, a .714 OPS. Besides, the Mets already have a catcher and a backup catcher.

I'm not sure what happened to Dontrelle. He used to be an ace, but his ERA went from 3.87 in 2006 to 5.17 in 2007. Is there something wrong with him mechanically that could be fixed?

I guess that trading the two of them is how Illitch intends to save $17m next season.

[tigers527]

This Jayson Stark article discusses how Tigers & Detroit Red Wings (NHL) owner Mike Illitch decided to open up the payroll a bit, but not go overboard:

Tigers have mastered art of decisive dealmaking (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove07/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3143226)
Why does everyone (media) seem to think the Tigers now have to make a "salary dump" move? Illitch owns the RedWings, and before the salary cap in the NHL they were always among the highest payrolls in hockey. Once a good farm system was put together Illitch allowed the Wings GM to pursue what ever talent was out there that would make the Wings better. Either through trade or FA. And now the Tigers are in that same position.

Besides going into this season the Tigers are raising the ticket prices almost entirely $5 across the board. If they repeat the preformance of last year and draw 3 million fans (I'll put my 54 butts in their seats next year), that's 15 million extra in revenues right there. That's before one beer gets bought.

I found this line from the above link funny:

"You know, my son is 7 years old," Dombrowski said. "And he said to me last year, 'Hey, daddy, I wish the Tigers would get Albert Pujols.' And I said, 'Oh, that's great.' And he said, 'I think you should trade Ramon Santiago for him.'


Although, the Tigers did get Carlos Guillen for the same Ramon Santiago a few years back. So maybe I sould not of found that so funny?

[Dalkowski110]

I'd be utterly shocked if Pudge came to the Mets. They have Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro, not to mention Johnny Estrada all at catcher. Willis? Maybe, maybe not. Remember, one of the main reasons the Tigers dumped Andrew Miller was because he had mechanical problems/trouble repeating his delivery. And they got back? Miguel Cabrera, along with a guy who has mechanical problems/struggles to repeat his delivery. With the Mets desperate for some kind of starting pitcher...ANY kind of starting pitcher...along with a pitching coach who is practically obsessed with project pitchers (Rick Peterson), I don't see it as totally impossible. He'd be cheaper than when he was with the Marlins, I'm sure, but would still net some good players. But that's about as far as I'd put it. The Mets have interest in other pitchers (as in, 5 or 6 other different pitchers) and would likely pursue other options first.

[TonyStarks]

I'd be utterly shocked if Pudge came to the Mets. They have Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro, not to mention Johnny Estrada all at catcher. Willis? Maybe, maybe not. Remember, one of the main reasons the Tigers dumped Andrew Miller was because he had mechanical problems/trouble repeating his delivery. And they got back? Miguel Cabrera, along with a guy who has mechanical problems/struggles to repeat his delivery. With the Mets desperate for some kind of starting pitcher...ANY kind of starting pitcher...along with a pitching coach who is practically obsessed with project pitchers (Rick Peterson), I don't see it as totally impossible. He'd be cheaper than when he was with the Marlins, I'm sure, but would still net some good players. But that's about as far as I'd put it. The Mets have interest in other pitchers (as in, 5 or 6 other different pitchers) and would likely pursue other options first.

The only reason that the Tigers might dump Pudge now is because of the Mitchell Report.

You could be pretty sure that Pudge Rodriguez's name will be on that list.
The Tigers might not want to have to deal with that kind of PR or that $13M contract.

[skyking162]

I'm not sure what happened to Dontrelle. He used to be an ace, but his ERA went from 3.87 in 2006 to 5.17 in 2007. Is there something wrong with him mechanically that could be fixed?

He was hurt by poor Marlins fielding and allowed a flukishly high percentage of flyballs as homeruns. Accounting for that, ballpark, and league, his ERA deserved to be more like 4.70. Another big factor is a rising walk-rate, up to 3.8 walks per game. His ERA in the 2's a couple years ago was mostly due to luck, and has really been a 4.00 to 4.50 pitcher over his years in the majors. With the Tiger's fielders, I estimate his 2008 ERA to be around 4.50, perhaps 4.00 if he can bring the walk-rate back down.

[Mattingly]

According to Sweeney Murti on WFAN, the Tigers have approached the Mets about Dontrelle Willis, with Ivan Rodriguez also perhaps being involved.

ROTOWORLD: It appears that the Tigers would like to shed some salary after picking up Miguel Cabrera, and this would be a creative way of doing it. The Mets have long been interested in Willis, but the Marlins didn't want to trade him in the division. If they took on both Willis and Pudge, they'd be adding $20 million to the payroll -- or maybe $15 million if they threw back Brian Schneider -- and they might have to extend Rodriguez in order to get him to waive his no-trade protection.
Would the Tigers be interested in trading D-Train for Mets prospects, or would they insist that he be packaged only with Pudge (like how Florida packaged Beckett, but only with Lowell when sent to Boston)?

Here's the Tigers link on the Detroit Free Press (www.freep.com):

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=SPORTS02

He was hurt by poor Marlins fielding and allowed a flukishly high percentage of flyballs as homeruns. Accounting for that, ballpark, and league, his ERA deserved to be more like 4.70. Another big factor is a rising walk-rate, up to 3.8 walks per game. His ERA in the 2's a couple years ago was mostly due to luck, and has really been a 4.00 to 4.50 pitcher over his years in the majors. With the Tiger's fielders, I estimate his 2008 ERA to be around 4.50, perhaps 4.00 if he can bring the walk-rate back down.
Thanks for the info. Shea Stadium is definitely a pitcher's park, so his ERA may float down to a more comfortable level. Since Mets GM Omar Minaya says that he's still in the Johan Santana Sweepstakes, I presume that they won't sell the farm to obtain Dontrelle.

Either case, he knows how to hit, so his remaining in the NL would be a nice thing.

How much is Dontrelle set to make? Is he arb-eligible in 2008? Supposedly, the Tigers can't afford him, but his $6.4m salary seems relatively cheap.