Will the Tigers be jumping for joy in September?

By H. Jose Bosch and Dave Boucher

HJB: OK Dave, I’m going to start this exchange with a proposition for you. Toronto Blue Jays G.M. J.P. Ricciardi has made it known he’ll listen to offers for Roy Halladay. What do you think about packaging Ryan Perry, Rick Porcello and Wilkin Ramirez to Toronto for Halladay. I like it for two reasons:

1.) It solidifies the starting pitching and you have three starters who eat innings, so it makes up for the average bullpen. Not to mention starting pitching is extremely important in the playoffs.

2.) Halladay’s contract is up in 2010, so you aren’t stuck with him long term. That was more like four reasons but you get the idea.

So, what do you think?

DB: I think Roy Halladay is a beast, and I’d love to see him as a Tiger, but I’m not sure this trade would work. In order for a team to get Halladay, I believe they’re going to have to give up at least one huge name with a few highly-touted prospects. As good as he has been so far, I don’t think Porcello is the guarantee that Toronto would need. Perry and Ramirez seem to work as high quality projects, but I think Toronto would want at least Edwin Jackson, if not Verlander, which would be pointless.HJB: Haha, if we could just make Dontrelle and his contract disappear that would be lovely. But no one will take Dontrelle with that contract and I think it would be a stretch to say we could shop Galarraga or Magglio because both have struggled this season. But I’m glad you brought up both because if the Tigers stayed put and Magglio and Galarraga returned to their 2008 form in the second half of the year, that would be like two new acquisitions without making a move.

I’ve also never been a big fan of sending young talent to a team in order to get a veteran stud, just because that delivers the message Detroit thinks they can win now. All of that being said, if they could get Halladay for, say, Perry, Galarraga, and Magglio, then I think that would be the ideal trade for Detroit. Maggs is obviously struggling and his contract is up in 2010, so this would leave room if the Tigers wanted to re-sign Halladay.

We should throw Dontrelle and his 12 mil/year contract in the trade too…

So, I ask you, are the Tigers better off staying put and going all in? Or is there a hole you would like them to shore up before the deadline rolls around?

DB: I really think they would be going all in if they did try to swing a trade for a Halladay-type player. I feel the Tiger’s biggest issue over the past few seasons has been consistency. They’re not that different from the 2006 team that advanced to the World Series. But it’s all about playing to their potential, and it’s been the Tigers greatest strength and most frustrating weakness. If Porcello, Maggs and Galarraga can turn their seasons around and play as they have in the past, while Verlander continues to dominate, Inge surprises everyone and Cabrera continues to have the best season that no one is talking about, then I don’t see how the Twins or ChiSox could catch us down the stretch. But these are big ifs, obviously; still, I think the Tigers should stay with what they have, and only bring in some help for the bull pen if it comes cheap. I just saw a different Blue Jay pitcher, B.J. Ryan, was recently released. I’m sure Toronto will be paying the majority of his contract for the rest of the season, so perhaps Detroit could swing an expensive deal with the former stud and hope he returns to form.
HJB: The consistency has been the team’s downfall in the past and I guess you can make the case that playing consistently good baseball is the best move the Tigers could make.

What moves do you think Detroit needs to make in order to stay in the hunt?

In terms of a deal, again, I’d want to either get one more good starting pitcher or a left handed bat with a little more pop. (Something the Tigers haven’t had since, when? Louis Gonzalez? Carlos Pena? Bobby Higginson?).

I just read an interesting post at Deadspin about Pittsburgh’s Ian Snell. Apparently he’s depressed to pitch for the Pirates. I mean, who wouldn’t be. But it doesn’t appear to be a bunch of baloney. He asked to be sent to AAA, then struck out 17 pitchers in 7 innings. Perhaps moving him to a contender would work? Like, oh, Detroit? I think a team like Pittsburgh would take any two of Rick Porcello, Ryan Perry or Wilkin Ramirez, but I definitely wouldn’t offer all three.

You could also package any two of those guys to Washington for Adum Dunn. There’s a left-handed bat with pop. He could be a DH and actually hit home runs (22 so far) and he’d be much better protection for Cabrera.

Thoughts?

DB: I’ve never been a big Adam Dunn fan, but you do raise a fair point about the lack of a respectable left-handed bat in the Tiger’s line-up. Dunn would mix things up nicely, but I just can’t stand his strikeouts. With Inge k-ing so much less though, the Tigers could probably withstand Dunn.
HJB: Taking a good look at Snell again and you’re right. It wouldn’t be worth it. I just feel like Verlander, Jackson and Porcello just aren’t enough to be a contender. So, my final question to you, sir, is do you think Porcello can keep it up through the second half of the season a la Verlander in 2006? If so, will it be enough to be a title contender?

I’m not sure Ian Snell is any better than Perry or Porcello, especially in the long run. If we could pick him up for a less promising player, like Nate Robertson or Dontrelle (still trying to dish him!) then I think it would be worth it. But I don’t see Snell as anything better than a fourth starter.

DB: I do think Porcello can keep it up, but only if his pitch count is limited. I think it was a great idea to skip him in the rotation before the All-Star break, it gave him the extra rest a young arm needs. However, merely Porcello doing well will not be enough for the Tigers to win. Edwin Jackson has set the bar extremely high, and he needs to continue his dominance in order for Detroit to win. The scary part about the Tigers rotation right now is their age.

They are all relatively young and inexperienced, so the workload of a full MLB season could really hurt them come September. If they can stay healthy and focused, though, Detroit will be a scary team to face when it comes to post season play.

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