Tigers Odds and Ends

• The Tigers should trade Porcello rather than Smyly if they trade a starter.  Smyly looks more promising but Porcello could still bring in a good return.  Smyly is also a lefty and he looks promising and I think he could get off to a quick start in 2013
• I still believe Porcello could pan out and be a really good starter and I’m totally for keeping Porcello as a number fie and Smyly as a swing man for right now
• Peter Bourjos is my number one target for the Tigers in a trade or Joel Hanrahan is worth it too
• Bruce Rondon could be a good closer if the Tigers stick with him
• I see Brennan Boesch being a great fifth outfielder for the Tigers this year
• I would still target a guy like Scott Hairston to be a fourth outfielder.  Hairston is suck a great fit in Detroit.  Jeff Baker and Ben Francisco could also be worth a look
• I see Ramon Santiago winning the spot over Danny Worth and I believe he is better than Worth and is a very much more ready to help the Tigers in 2013
• Avisail Garcia and Nick Castellanos could always sneak their way on this team too and they’re both extraordinary talents

Power Rankings Offseason

AL Power Rankings
1 Tigers
2 Blue Jays
3 Angels
4 Orioles
5 Athletics
6 Rays
7 Yankees
8 White Sox
9 Rangers
10 Royals
11 Mariners
12 Red Sox
13 Twins
14 Indians
15 Astros

NL
1 Nationals
2 Reds
3 Giants
4 Braves
5 Dodgers
6 Cardinals
7 Diamondbacks
8 Phillies
9 Brewers
10 Padres
11 Rockies
12 Pirates
13 Mets
14 Cubs
15 Marlins

Tigers Sign Brayan Pena

The Tigers have signed Brayan Pena to a one-year deal to replace Gerald Laird as the Tigers back-up catcher,  He will have competition from Bryan Holaday but I’d say that Pena is a heavy favorite to win the job.  The Tigers catching staff looks good and Pena is an experienced back-up, who even though he only has 14 career HR I feel could provide pop and be a god replacement at the bottom of the line-up in the 45 or so games Avila get off this year.  Pena fits well with Detroit and his contract is a no lose situation.  Pena won’t be the best guy of defense but he isn’t a slouch either.  The only thing is I don’t think you’ll be seeing him pinch run for Avila that often, or at least it wouldn’t be smart because Avila wins in that category.  I’ve always like Pena though and even tough it’s not a big move at all this helps fill in the team and I’m thrilled they got a guy like him.  It could be an under the radar pick-up for the Tigers that helps them out a lot.  The fact that he’s a switch hitter too only helps the Tigers.  I expect a good year from Pena and him just to help the Tigers, like Laird did only in a slightly different way.

My 2012 GIBBY Selections: If I Voted

MLB MVP

1. 3B Miguel Cabrera
2. CF Mike Trout
3. CF Andrew McCutchen
4. C Buster Posey
5. LF Ryan Braun

Hitter

1. 3B Miguel Cabrera
2. LF Ryan Braun
3. LF Josh Hamilton
4. CF Mike Trout
5. C Buster Posey
6. CF Andrew McCutchen
7. 2B Robinson Cano

Executive

1. Billy Beane
2. Dan Duquette
3. Dave Dombroski
4. John Mozeliak
5. Brian Sabean
6. Mike Rizzo
7. Frank Wren
8. Jon Daniels
9. Brian Cashman
10. Walt Jocketty

Postseason MVP

1. Marco Scutaro
2. Pablo Sandoval
3. Sergio Romo
4. Phil Coke
5. Justin Verlander
6. Delmon Young
7. Miguel Cabrera
8. Ryan Vogelsong
9. Barry Zito
10. Raul Ibanez
11. Carlos Beltran
12. Buster Posey

Defensive Player

1. Darwin Barney
2. Alex Gordon
3. Yadier Molina
4. Brendan Ryan
5. Mike Trout
6. Mark Teixeira
7. Jason Heyward
8. David Wright
9. Ryan Hanigan
10. Adrian Gonzalez

Breakout Hitter

1. Chase Headley
2. Edwin Encarnacion
3. Josh Reddick
4. Ian Desmond
5. Chris Davis
6. Allen Craig
7. Carlos Ruiz
8. Paul Goldschmidt

Breakout Pitcher

1. RA Dickey
2. Aroldis Chapman
3. Kris Medlen
4. Jim Johnson
5. Chris Sale
6. Tom Wilhelmsen

Comeback Player

1. Buster Posey
2. Fernando Rodney
3. Adam Dunn

Manager

1. Bob Melvin
2. Buck Showalter
3. Bruce Bochy
4. Davey Johnson
5. Jim Leyland
6. Mike Matheny
7. Dusty Baker
8. Joe Girardi
9. Ron Washington
10. Fredi Gonzalez

ROY

1. Mike Trout
2. Yoenis Cespedes
3. Bryce Harper
4. Jarrod Parker
5. Wilin Rosario
6. Wade Miley
7. Todd Frazier
8. Yu Darvish
9. Will Middlebrooks
10. Anthony Rizzo
11. Norichika Aoki
12. Ryan Cook

Closer

1. Fernando Rodney
2. Jim Johnson
3. Craig Kimbrel

Starting Pitcher

1. Justin Verlander
2. RA Dickey
3. David Price
4. Gio Gonzalez
5. Matt Cain
6. Clayton Kershaw
7. Felix Hernandez
8. Stephen Strasburg
9. Jered Weaver
10. Johnny Cueto
11. Chris Sale
12. Cole Hamels
13. Kris Medlen
14. Kyle Lohse

Setup Man

1. Sergio Romo
2. Joel Peralta
3. Eric O’Flaherty
4. Luke Gregerson
5. Ryan Cook
6. Joaquin Benoit
7. Mitchell Boggs
8. Vinnie Pestano
9. David Robertson
10. David Hernandez
11. Sean Marshall
12. Ronald Belisario

Red Sox Sign Mike Napoli

The Red Sox and Mike Napoli have a agreed to a three year contract that will pay Napoli 39 million.  Napoli is expected to play mostly at first base in the first year of his contract.  Napoli provides much needed power for the Red Sox and should hit very well at Fenway.  It’s a great fit for both sides and I think the Red Sox will enjoy their three years of Napoli.  His power should go back up to the 30 HR territory he was in during 2011 and his batting average should go way up in Fenway.  He should also do well against teams like the Yankees.  The Red Sox line-up is starting to look a little bit scarier now.  Napoli should be a guy like Beltre who really, really benefits from Fenway an the Red Sox were smart to lock him up for more than one year.  He’s a step in the right direction for the Sox too and though he won’t probably hit as high as .300, he won’t hit lower than .260-ish.  He can still play well enough to stick behind the plate for Boston if they need it at times this year, but I would keep Ross and Salty if I were Boston and go keep Napoli at first, as it’s best for their offense.  Napoli, who will be a below average defender but I don’t think he will hurt them a ton at first on defense.  His numbers in Boston should look impressive in the end at the very least.  Very good and needed signing for the Red Sox.

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. 1B Mike Napoli
5. RF Jonny Gomes
6. 3B Will Middlebrooks
7. C Jarrod Saltalamachhia
8. LF Daniel Nava
9. SS Jose Iglesias

 

Mariners trying to make Felix “Mariner For Life”

In the no-duh move of the day, the Mariners are trying to lock up Felix Hernandez to a large contract extension that would keep him a “Mariner for Life” and be their ace for the rest of his career.  Felix Hernandez has pitched for the Mariners since he was 19 in 2005 ad would be only 28 at the end of his current contract.  Hernandez has been involved in many trade rumors over the years but has remained a Mariner.  he is a true ace and irreplaceable tot he Mariners.  His career has already been very impressive and he seems Hall of Fame bound.  If I was Seattle I would give him a 10 year, 250 million dollar contract, he may get less years and less money, but he’s worth it at this point.  Hernandez’s best years are still ahead of him too, and if he hits the market he will be one of the better free agents ever.  The Mariners really need go through with this and lock him up as soon as they can.

Nationals Sign Dan Haren

In the latest 2012 Winter Meetings signing, the Nationals signed Dan Haren to a one year, 13 million dollar deal.  Haren will take Edwin Jackson’s place in the rotation.   This move is similar to what the Nats did with Jackson last year.  They’re taking a great starter with  good track record who is coming off of a bad year by their standards and taking him in on a short term, low risk deal.  I think Haren could do even better than Jackson did last year, even though he isn’t as powerful.  Haren will be a great number four starter for the Nationals this year though and I expect a full rebound from him, especially in Washington.  The losers here are the Padres because this was the perfect fit and a potential ace for them, but the Nationals will benefit a ton.  This is more than a great deal for the Nats.  I would predict a year close to 3.30-1.06-180.  Haren can handle the NL East well and his value should skyrocket throughout this year.  He made a great choice by going to Washington as he fits well with the team and he can manhandle the NL at times.  Haren could finally have a very special year at any time too, he may be getting older but he can still hold offenses well and he will itch many great games for the Nats, who made a smart move here.

Giants Re-Sign Angel Pagan

The San Francisco Giants have re-signed Angel Pagan to a 4-year, 40 Million dollar contract.  Now, Pagan is a great player and tends to fly under the radar and he helped the Giants win the World Series and in the postseason by his work last year, but I think this deal is one year too much and a little bit too much money.  Pagan will be a great hitter agin next year for the Giants though.  He m not repeat his numbers and play exactly but it should be close and the Giants need him to try to repeat their success from 2012, as Pagan was a key part.  The Giants also couldn’t live without his speed, his stolen bases and triples at the top of the order helped them a lot.  They also too him off the market as a great and cheap option in center field for NL rivals.  The first two years should be good because he should repeat most of his 2012 success but the last two years may not look as good, but the Giants did what they needed to do in getting him back, and it’s a pretty good deal all-around.  Pagan is a key signing for the Giants and I like how he played last year a lot for them, they’re the best fit for each other it seems and he should do a good job overall for the Giants, especially in 2013.

Rays Sign Loney to Play 1B

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed their new first baseman and as I predicted it will be James Loney, on a one-year, two million dollar deal.  Loney will replace Carlos Pena, who returned to Tampa last year and was a huge disappointment after having really good years in Tampa from 2007-09 and having  bad year in 2010 in which he left for the Cubs.  In 2011, when Pena was with Chicago, the Rays use first baseman Casey Kotchman who had a breakout season and helped the Rays make it into the playoffs.  Loney is similar to Kotchman, a former top prospect who had a bit of power and was expected to be a top hitter and defender and Kotchman showed he could do that in his year with the Rays and I think Loney could too.  Loney had a disappointing campaign in 2012 but had one or two good moments for the Red Sox and now has just a little AL East experience.  I think this deal could be a potential steal and Loney could put up a .300-12-65 type year and be a decent hitter at the bottom of the line-up.  If he does bust out again, he will not be a huge bust as he can help the Rays on defense and the contract is pretty much a no lose situation for the Rays.  Loney can hit .280-ish too like he did in 2011.  Loney has gotten a lot of grief in his career but truthfully he has had some pretty good years and he’s young enough to recover from all o that and be a classic Tampa Bay Rays signing.  I really like this deal all-around too because I feel the Rays will give Loney a very good shot to have a career year and maybe even go on a tear for some of the season this year.  The Rays should be optimistically excited about this deal.