Bobby Abreu to the...Tigers?
The Bobby Abreu trade rumors do not figure to stop anytime soon, so we might as well get around to handicapping the field of potential suitors. The hottest rumor on the Abreu front lately has been the talk that Abreu is the number one target of baseball’s biggest surprise, the Detroit Tigers. Names being mentioned out of Detroit include OF Marcus Thames, SP Zach Miner, and minor leaguer righthanded pitchers Humberto Sanchez and Jordan Tata.
The players mentioned below are meant to be bit players in part of a bigger package to land Abreu. The Phillies ought to begin every conversation with the Tigers by asking about Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya. After the Tigers finish laughing, the Phillies should turn their attention towards the previously mentioned Humberto Sanchez and, if that fails, Jordan Tata. Either Sanchez or Tata could potentially become the heir apparent to Tom Gordon as the Phillies closer of the future, thus filling a huge organizational need in the backend of the bullpen. Other possible names to consider:
3B Jack Hannahan (.288/.398/.415 in AAA): The 26-year old third baseman’s defense has been universally praised since signing his first pro contract, but his bat has always been lacking (career .267/.350/.374 minor league numbers coming into this year). He has turned it around this year to some extent, but he is still an older player for his league, a league he already had 238 at bats in before this season. Hannahan isn’t valuable enough of a commodity to be anything more than the worst player in a multi-player package for Abreu (Sanchez, Tata, and Hannahan might be an idea), but is seemingly undervalued enough around the league to be worth looking into. Maybe it would be best for the Phils to stop worrying about Abreu here and perhaps offer either Arthur Rhodes or Rheal Cormier to the Tigers in return for Hannahan.
2B/3B Ryan Raburn (.274/.354/.486 in AAA): Raburn is a better version of current Red Barons third baseman Brennan King, but in all honesty doesn’t really project to anything more than a big league utility man someday.
3B Kody Kirkland (.223/.294/.473 in AA – 93 K’s in 260 AB’s): I saw him play (and hit a homerun) against Reading last week. He is a real big kid, a plus defender, and the youngest of the Tigers interesting third base prospects.
C Chris Robinson (.266/.321/.340 in A+): Robinson is weak with the bat, but strong behind the plate and as a leader in the clubhouse. Those aren’t reasons to trade for a player, but Robinson is the best of a motley crew of Detroit Tigers catching prospects so he deserves a mention for now.
I'd push for Humberto Sanchez, Jordan Tata, and 3B Wilkin Ramirez (.215/.250/.355 in A+, but long on potential)...if that failed, then maybe substitute Hannahan or Kirkland instead of Ramirez. If the Tigers absolutely won't bite on including both Sanchez and Tata, then Sanchez and Ramirez would be acceptable. If they won't bite even on that...Abreu would stay put. Unless the Angels, Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, or Blue Jays could come up with a better offer...
The players mentioned below are meant to be bit players in part of a bigger package to land Abreu. The Phillies ought to begin every conversation with the Tigers by asking about Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya. After the Tigers finish laughing, the Phillies should turn their attention towards the previously mentioned Humberto Sanchez and, if that fails, Jordan Tata. Either Sanchez or Tata could potentially become the heir apparent to Tom Gordon as the Phillies closer of the future, thus filling a huge organizational need in the backend of the bullpen. Other possible names to consider:
3B Jack Hannahan (.288/.398/.415 in AAA): The 26-year old third baseman’s defense has been universally praised since signing his first pro contract, but his bat has always been lacking (career .267/.350/.374 minor league numbers coming into this year). He has turned it around this year to some extent, but he is still an older player for his league, a league he already had 238 at bats in before this season. Hannahan isn’t valuable enough of a commodity to be anything more than the worst player in a multi-player package for Abreu (Sanchez, Tata, and Hannahan might be an idea), but is seemingly undervalued enough around the league to be worth looking into. Maybe it would be best for the Phils to stop worrying about Abreu here and perhaps offer either Arthur Rhodes or Rheal Cormier to the Tigers in return for Hannahan.
2B/3B Ryan Raburn (.274/.354/.486 in AAA): Raburn is a better version of current Red Barons third baseman Brennan King, but in all honesty doesn’t really project to anything more than a big league utility man someday.
3B Kody Kirkland (.223/.294/.473 in AA – 93 K’s in 260 AB’s): I saw him play (and hit a homerun) against Reading last week. He is a real big kid, a plus defender, and the youngest of the Tigers interesting third base prospects.
C Chris Robinson (.266/.321/.340 in A+): Robinson is weak with the bat, but strong behind the plate and as a leader in the clubhouse. Those aren’t reasons to trade for a player, but Robinson is the best of a motley crew of Detroit Tigers catching prospects so he deserves a mention for now.
I'd push for Humberto Sanchez, Jordan Tata, and 3B Wilkin Ramirez (.215/.250/.355 in A+, but long on potential)...if that failed, then maybe substitute Hannahan or Kirkland instead of Ramirez. If the Tigers absolutely won't bite on including both Sanchez and Tata, then Sanchez and Ramirez would be acceptable. If they won't bite even on that...Abreu would stay put. Unless the Angels, Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, or Blue Jays could come up with a better offer...
posted by XXX at 5:46 PM
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