Today in a Nutshell

The Detroit Tigers are selling off assets like Michael Jackson but the club may be better off doing it.

To summarize: In a blockbuster deal, the New York Yankees get Curtis Granderson, the Arizona Diamondbacks get Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy, and the Tigers get Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke.

Basically this equates to the Tigers giving up their lead-off hitter and No. 2 starter for a top-flight center field prospect, a potential mid-range starter and a couple of bullpen guys that could be key if they continue to improve.

In theory it would seem the trade absolutely crippled a team on the brink of an AL Central title in 2009 and empowered the defending champions.

Not so fast my friend.

Let's break this down team by team starting with the Yankees. New York traded a bullpen arm, a former highly-rated pitching prospect and a 5-star stud prospect center fielder for Granderson.

All the pieces were expendable for the Yankees with the exception of Jackson. Coke is a mid-reliever and Kennedy recently had surgery so there wasn't a whole lot to think about on their side of the deal.

New York is always in a win-now mode and this trade was made for 2010, not further down the line where Jackson becomes a cheaper, better version of Granderson.

Arizona was another key player in this triangle deal sending two young promising pitchers in Scherzer and Schlereth to the Tigers in exchange for Edwin Jackson and busted Yankee prospect Kennedy.

Kennedy offers good buy-low value as a back of the rotation starter but does Jackson really springboard this team into a legit NL West contender?

It's a start in the right direction but this trade doesn't improve a brutal team that drastically. Then again it depends on what you think of Scherzer's potential. Is he an ace-in-waiting or a future closer who has been mechanics and a tendency to walk a lot of people.

It's too early to tell about all this but that's why I saved Detroit for last because I think it won this deal.

Granderson hit a career worst .249 in 2009 with a sub-par on-base percentage of .327. He continued to play great defense and his 30 home runs were a career high.

But who is the real Granderson? Will he return to being one of the top-tier lead-off men in baseball for the Yankees or will he be tempted to use the left field launching pad to boost his already bloated home run numbers at the expense of batting average?

That remains to be seen but the haul the Tigers received for him and Jackson is pretty darn good. They received an immediate boost to the bullpen with the addition of Coke and while Scherzer and Schlereth are pretty raw, they provide an enormous amount of upside.

Couple those players with their center fielder of the future (Jackson) and you have a win for Detroit.

Will those youngsters be able to contribute out of the gate in 2010?

That's the question on the mind of Tigers fans wondering if these moves were made as part of a fire sale or a Florida Marlins like plan of selling high.

Physicals pending, of course.

(Ed. Note: Did someone say fire sale? If so, you can't go wrong with a burning Detroit photo...)

Curtis Granderson Is Gonna Be A Yankee

It certainly looks like Curtis Granderson will be roaming the spacious center field of the (new!) Yankee Stadium come Opening Day 2010.  I know a lot of Cubs fans wanted him, but I'm not sure why.

Corey Patterson is just burning up the league right now.  At the age of 30, he's tearing the cover off the ball and still is in the prime of his career.  He hit 25 home runs, knocked in 107 runs batted in and stole 31 bases.

(Man whispers in my ear.)

Really?  That didn't happen.  He only hit .071 in 11 games with Milwaukee last year.  That's too bad.  Oh, now I see what you're saying.  Those were his projected stats over 650 plate appearances in 2003.  My bad.

Well, what about Felix Pie?  He's got to be coming off a monster season.  Why would you want to let him go and replace him with Granderson?  OK, so he's not an All-Star yet.  But he did post a .283/.341/.451/.792 line with 15 HRs 57 RBIs and 17 steals.  Under Rudy Jaramillo, Pie must be poised for a breakout 2010 year, he'll be 25 in February.

(Man returns.  Whispers in my ear yet again.)

Oh.  My mistake.  Those were Pie's 2006 numbers after a full season of Triple A ball.

And he was traded to Baltimore last season?  Cool.  Who did the Cubs get in return?  Brian Roberts?  Miguel Tejada?  Erik Bedard?  Nick Markakis?

Garrett Olson?  Henry Williamson?

Never heard of 'em.

Oh well.  Who needs Granderson anyway?

I understand why some general managers are cautious to give up their prospects.  All I'm saying is that Starlin Castro better have Ernie Banks' power numbers, Ozzie Smith's defense and Hanley Ramirez's speed.

Time To Bring Curtis Granderson Home

The Cubs have had opportunities to fill holes through free agency over the last few seasons.  Now it's time to hit the trade waters and bring Curtis Granderson back to Sweet Home Chicago.

Jim Hendry brought in Alfonso Soriano to jumpstart the line-up.  And for two years, he did just that.  He brought in Ted Lilly to help anchor the rotation.  Since joining the Cubs, Lilly has a 44-26 record.  Hendry was blasted for signing Mark DeRosa, then blasted harder after he traded him away.

However, the last two offseasons have seen Hendry swing and miss, much like the players he brought in.  Kosuke Fukudome was brought in and he was hyped as a Hideki Matsui/Ichiro Suzuki hybrid.  While Kosuke's patience helped change the Cubs' approach at the plate, his whirlybird routine during strikeouts have been an eye sore.

As for Milton Bradley, I don't have to even go there, do I?

So, here we are in November 2009 and for the fourth consecutive offseason, the Cubs are looking for an outfield bat to help the offense.  TBDS was among the first to discuss a Granderson-to-Chicago deal before the Johnnie-come-latelys came, fucked up our village and stole our women thunder.  Now, there will be many major league teams looking to bring Granderson to their team and it is Hendry's job to prevent that from happening.

At 29, Granderson would be the youngest among the Cubs' outfield trio.  And arguably, the most talented.  He would be the unit's best defender at a position where defense is at a premium.  One of baseball's best gap defenders, the Cubs need Granderson to make up for the lack of range by the corner outfielders.

In the batter's box, Granderson's skills are further highlighted.  He is one of baseball's premier lead-off men, with a .276/.336/.516/.853 line leading off a game, .276/.340/.518/.858 line leading off an inning and a .273/.345/.485/.830 line when he's the team's No. 1 hitter.

As well as Granderson covers the gaps is as well as he peppers the ball into the gap.  Since 2006, Granderson has smacked 118 doubles, 53 triples and 94 home runs.  His 2007 season is among one of the best statistical seasons for any player in the history of baseball.  A rare player with speed and power, Granderson hit 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs and stole 26 bases.

Speed and power are two areas in which the Cubs were sorely lacking in 2009, ranking last in steals and 10th of 16 NL teams in on-base plus slugging percentage.

I cannot say this enough.  The Cubs need Curtis Granderson.  Heck, Phil Rogers agrees with me -- and Phil Rogers' good ideas come around as often as playoff victories for the North Side Nine.

So, where do we start?

Suddenly, Josh Vitters becomes very touchable.  In fact, there is no prospect who should be deemed untouchable when a talent such as Granderson is on the market.  The Tigers will likely lose their closer, Fernando Rodney, to free agency.  Should Carlos Marmol be dangled?  The Cubs have internal options (Angel Guzman, Esmailin Caridad) as well as free agent options (Jose Valverde, Billy Wagner, Mike Gonzalez & Rafael Soriano) on the market.

Detroit also needs a proven MLB shortstop.  Ryan Theriot, your plane is departing shortly.

In fact, the Cubs have exactly what the Tigers are looking for in a trade partner.  Young arms and a need for a player of Granderson's stature.

Does a package highlighted by Vitters and Marmol, with Sean Marshall and Ryan Theriot do the trick?  Well, that's for Jim Hendry to decide.

If he somehow pulls it off, he might be in line to get a box of donuts sent his way.

Hot Stove Hopefuls: Curtis Granderson

Editor's Note: Nothing says playoff baseball like the MLB hot stove.  The only thing more amusing than fans playing GM is when beat writers do it.  Usually they do it with more pizazz and insight than Joe Blogger -- myself included.  Hot Stove Hopefuls highlights some of the hot names on the market and tries to find a spot for them on the Cubs.

Today's feature: Curtis Granderson.

Player: Curtis Granderson (baseball-reference.com bio page)

Age:28

Current Team: Detroit Tigers
Contract Details: 3 years, $23.75 million remaining on a five-year deal worth $30.25 million when signed in February 2008 (plus $13 million club option for 2013)

Publication: "The Tigers need help, possibly lots of it. There are better ways to acquire necessary players than to trade your leadoff batter and center fielder, but the Tigers may have no choice if the right package is offered.
Granderson has the kind of clout (30 HRs, eight 3Bs, 23 2Bs, 20 SBs) and manageable contract that could make him, at age 28, a player capable of bringing a significant return on a trade. A blue-chip relief pitcher and middle infielder, perhaps, with maybe a replacement-level center fielder as part of a possible two-player acquisition for Detroit."
Source: Lynn Henning, Detroit News


The Blue Island, Ill., native might be exactly what manager Lou Piniella is looking for in an offseason acquisition.  Granderson has averaged 25 home runs, 29 doubles and 14 triples over the last three years out Detroit's lead-off spot.  With a career OPS of .828, Granderson is only two years removed from a remarkable 20-20-20-20 season in which he collected at least 20 homers, doubles, triples and stolen bases.

Granderson would clearly improve the Cubs' outfield defense with his presence in center field.  The move could also move Kosuke Fukudome to his natural position in right field.  Offensively, Granderson's 2009 production would help improve an outfield whose offensive output was inept.  In 2009, Fukudome, Milton Bradley and Alfonso Soriano combined to hit .252/.352/.413.765 with 43 HRs and 149 RBIs.

And, hey, who doesn't love a homecoming story?

WHAT CAN THE CUBS OFFER?

"A blue-chip relief pitcher and middle infielder, perhaps, with maybe a replacement-level center fielder as part of a possible two-player acquisition for Detroit" is what the article references, so let's start there.

If the Cubs are looking to deal a "replacement-level center fielder" they can start with Tyler Colvin.  One of the Cubs' top prospects, he was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2006 draft.  GM Jim Hendry could also possibly dangle Sam Fuld and see if he is beloved in Detroit as he is with some of the bleacher bums at Wrigley.  As for relievers, the Cubs could offer Jeff Samardzija if they can get him to waive his no-trade clause, or Jeff Stevens, who the Cubs acquired from the Cleveland Indians in the Mark DeRosa deal.  Other names could include Angel Guzman, Esmailin Caridad, Justin Berg or Mitch Adkins.

As for a middle-infielder, shorstop Ryan Theriot could fit the bill, but prospect Starlin Castro might intrigue the Tigers moreso than The Riot.

The Tigers also might be looking for someone to fill the role of designated hitter.  Enter another fan favorite, Jake Fox.  Fox slugged 11 homers and posted a .779 OPS in 241 plate appearances in 2009.  Projected over a full season, the small-sample size balloons to a 21 homer, 86 ribbie season over 650 plate appearances.

It's a shot in the dark, but that's what this segment is all about.  You're not going to get Granderson in exchange for Milton Bradley and Mike Fontenot, but I'm not suggesting that.  You've got to give some to get some.

And think about it, once upon a time, you were a shot in the dark, too.

/zing

Should the Cubs try to acquire Tigers CF Curtis Granderson

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Created on Oct 10, 2009

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