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If it's a real deal, Tigers must pull trigger for Abreu
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DETROIT -- The much-talked about deal for a left-handed hitter is apparently on the table.
The Tigers can have Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bobby Abreu. All they have to do is give up left fielder Marcus Thames and rookie pitcher Zach Miner. Plus, they would have to give Abreu a contract extension to get him to waive his no-trade clause.
If this deal is correct, as some believe it is, general manager Dave Dombrowski should pull the trigger as soon as possible and not look back.
The Tigers, who have the best record in baseball despite Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the White Sox, are in position to win now. And when you're there, you have to seize the moment. The last thing you want to do is swing and miss in a big situation.
If the Tigers don't secure Abreu, it might come back to bite them.
What deal?
Manager Jim Leyland, as usual, played dumb about the proposed deal. But that's what he's supposed to do. After all, the last thing you want to do is fawn over a player and then not get him.
One thing is clear: The Tigers' brain trust had a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss options as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.
"I'm going to worry about what I got," Leyland said before the opener of a three-game set against the White Sox at Comerica Park, "not what I don't got."
What the Tigers need -- whether they want to admit it or not -- is a left-handed bat like Abreu. Granted, he wasn't an All-Star this summer. But he is still a dangerous bat and a change of scenery might be all he needs. Abreu is batting .287 with eight homers and 61 RBI.
It's hard to talk about Abreu, 32, and not think about the absolutely awesome show he put on in the All-Star Home Run Derby last summer at Comerica Park. Abreu hit 24 homers in the first round of the competition en route to 41 total.
But he's more than just a big swinger. Abreu is a lifetime .302 hitter. Since breaking into the majors in 1996, Abreu has 198 home runs and 837 RBI. In 2005, he walked 100 times. It was his seventh straight season of accomplishing that feat.
Abreu is also a good outfielder. He would fit in very nicely in left field.
Good timing
Sure, some wouldn't want to give up Thames, who appears to have finally come into his own. Thames, who is 29 years old, entered this season with just one major league season under his belt. Thames is batting .295 .with 19 homers and 43 RBI.
Thames' trade value will never be higher. Coming into this season, Thames had a lifetime .226 batting average and 19 home runs and 55 RBI in 136 games.
The same goes for Miner. He has had a tremendous start to his career. Miner, who was a marginal minor league pitcher, is 6-2 with a 3.30 ERA, filling in for Mike Maroth. With the pitching coming up through the minors, it's probably going to be impossible to keep Miner in the majors anyway.
In the end, you have to give up something to get something. Dombrowski, just do it.
You can reach Rob Parker at [email protected].
If it's a real deal, Tigers must pull trigger for Abreu
Advertisement
GET FREE HEADLINES BY E-MAIL
Related Articles
Leyland hedging on Abreu trade?
Monroe slams Tigers to victory
Printer friendly version
Comment on this story
Send this story to a friend
Get Home Delivery
DETROIT -- The much-talked about deal for a left-handed hitter is apparently on the table.
The Tigers can have Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bobby Abreu. All they have to do is give up left fielder Marcus Thames and rookie pitcher Zach Miner. Plus, they would have to give Abreu a contract extension to get him to waive his no-trade clause.
If this deal is correct, as some believe it is, general manager Dave Dombrowski should pull the trigger as soon as possible and not look back.
The Tigers, who have the best record in baseball despite Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the White Sox, are in position to win now. And when you're there, you have to seize the moment. The last thing you want to do is swing and miss in a big situation.
If the Tigers don't secure Abreu, it might come back to bite them.
What deal?
Manager Jim Leyland, as usual, played dumb about the proposed deal. But that's what he's supposed to do. After all, the last thing you want to do is fawn over a player and then not get him.
One thing is clear: The Tigers' brain trust had a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss options as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.
"I'm going to worry about what I got," Leyland said before the opener of a three-game set against the White Sox at Comerica Park, "not what I don't got."
What the Tigers need -- whether they want to admit it or not -- is a left-handed bat like Abreu. Granted, he wasn't an All-Star this summer. But he is still a dangerous bat and a change of scenery might be all he needs. Abreu is batting .287 with eight homers and 61 RBI.
It's hard to talk about Abreu, 32, and not think about the absolutely awesome show he put on in the All-Star Home Run Derby last summer at Comerica Park. Abreu hit 24 homers in the first round of the competition en route to 41 total.
But he's more than just a big swinger. Abreu is a lifetime .302 hitter. Since breaking into the majors in 1996, Abreu has 198 home runs and 837 RBI. In 2005, he walked 100 times. It was his seventh straight season of accomplishing that feat.
Abreu is also a good outfielder. He would fit in very nicely in left field.
Good timing
Sure, some wouldn't want to give up Thames, who appears to have finally come into his own. Thames, who is 29 years old, entered this season with just one major league season under his belt. Thames is batting .295 .with 19 homers and 43 RBI.
Thames' trade value will never be higher. Coming into this season, Thames had a lifetime .226 batting average and 19 home runs and 55 RBI in 136 games.
The same goes for Miner. He has had a tremendous start to his career. Miner, who was a marginal minor league pitcher, is 6-2 with a 3.30 ERA, filling in for Mike Maroth. With the pitching coming up through the minors, it's probably going to be impossible to keep Miner in the majors anyway.
In the end, you have to give up something to get something. Dombrowski, just do it.
You can reach Rob Parker at [email protected].