Wheeling and dealing: General managers talk at meeting
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By Jon Paul Morosi
The Detroit Free Press
Posted on Tue, Nov. 14, 2006
NAPLES, Fla. - Dave Dombrowski, the Detroit Tigers' club president and general manager, sat behind a small, shiny table in the lavish lobby lounge at the Naples Grande Resort & Club on Tuesday afternoon.
Al Avila and Scott Reid, two of Dombrowski's confidants, were on each side of him. Jon Daniels, the 29-year-old Texas GM, sat opposite the three men. He also had lieutenants on either flank, as the sides talked for more than 20 minutes.
Such discussions are common during the annual GM meetings. Club officials pair up to share opinions on players and explore near- and long-term trade possibilities.
This particular session carried intrigue. For weeks, media reports have mentioned the possibility that Detroit would consider dealing right-hander Jeremy Bonderman for Mark Teixeira, the Rangers' star first baseman. The deal would address Texas' long-standing need for pitching and fill the Tigers' need at first base.
So one couldn't help but wonder if the Detroit-Texas summit was a gateway to a sensational swap, the foundation for a trade that would present manager Jim Leyland with an All-Star-like lineup and propel the Tigers toward a second consecutive World Series.
But it wasn't.
"Just generalities," Dombrowski said.
In fact, one source with knowledge of the talks said that a Bonderman-for-Teixeira proposal was not discussed during the meeting. The dialogue instead centered on less prominent names and didn't yield any clear avenues to pursue an immediate deal.
Here, though, there are always more people to meet and more proposals to assess. So, just as quickly as the Texas delegation stood, shook hands and walked away, another group from Atlanta arrived.
The Braves have a 27-year-old first baseman, Adam LaRoche, who hit .285 with 32 home runs and 90 RBIs in 2006. He plays adequate defense, earns a modest big-league salary ($420,000 this year), and bats left-handed.
In other words, he'd be ideal for the Tigers. The only barrier to a deal would be the matter of Atlanta's own affinity for LaRoche. The Braves would likely demand a premium return package, headlined by pitching. The Tigers will need to determine how far they're willing to go.
Detroit's acquisition of a first baseman promises to be costly, either in players (through a trade) or dollars (through free agency). So Dombrowski is pursuing multiple avenues and also met with Sam Levinson following his conference with the Braves.
Levinson is a prominent player agent, based in New York. He represents two current Tigers - infielders Brandon Inge and Placido Polanco - as well as free agent Aubrey Huff. Detroit has shown significant interest in Huff and has been among the more serious suitors.
"The interest is mutual," Levinson said Tuesday.
Leyland coveted Huff, a left-handed hitter, prior to the trade deadline. Part of Huff's appeal is that he can play both infield and outfield corners. His current club, the Houston Astros, has interest in retaining him, and other teams - such as the Dodgers, Giants, Orioles, and Red Sox - could use the left-handed power that he provides.
He could receive a salary near the $8.5 million that Sean Casey, the Tigers' incumbent first baseman, earned during the 2006 season. If Detroit signs Huff prior to Dec. 1, it will need to give up its first-round pick in next year's draft.
Yet, despite all the effort that the Tigers will put into finding a new first baseman, there is a chance that Casey will collect his 2007 paychecks at Comerica Park. Then again, he might not. These meetings conclude Thursday, but the perpetual discourse involving Dombrowski and his counterparts should continue long after that.
Millions for Walker?: The agent for Detroit left-hander Jamie Walker has said he believes his client will sign a three-year deal this off-season. And it appears likely that he could.
Several observers here believe that a scarcity of middle relief on the free-agent market will enable Walker to sign for as much as $4 million per year. It's unclear if the Tigers will meet that price.
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© 2006, Detroit Free Press. |
