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...)

Milton Bradley & Hyperbole, FTW!

George Ofman has been covering the Chicago sports scene for 36 years. So, that should mean he should know better than to bust out this crap in his recent Chicago Now blog.

Bradley isn't just a negative.  He's a pariah, a lowlife of the lowest magnitude.

Focus on this line though.
He's a pariah, a lowlife of the lowest magnitude.

Wow.  Tiger Woods, you're off the hook dude.  Transgressions?  Pffft.  You ain't got shit on Crazy Uncle Milton according to George The All-Knowing.

I defended Milty on this blog for months, but stopped when he blew up in September.  For one final time, I'll defend him.

Bradley didn't play well in Chicago.  He sucked.  He made a lot of bad baseball decisions and while he had a good July and was serviceable in August, it didn't merit what he made this season and what he will make in the next two years of his contract.

But I think it is time for people to stop acting as if Milton Bradley cooked up swine flu and spread it among Americans for his own pleasure, while kicking puppies and pissing on your uncle's grave in the process.  Bradley may have offended you with his poor play and lack of sportsmanship, but it is not like he sucker-punched your brother and had a go with your sister, video taped it and posted it online.

Milt is a Cub right now, and if Jim Hendry cannot fix his boo-boo, he'll have to live with Bradley for another season in right field.  And even if/when Hendry dumps Bradley on some unsuspecting team (though they should all be expecting the worse this time around) the Cubs will still have a hole in the outfield (among other areas) to fill.

The Cubs could use a guy who has posted a .907 OPS over the last three seasons.  I wonder where they can find that guy?

Chicago Cubs Holiday Shopping List

Baseball's busiest season for shopping GMs coincides with America's busiest shopping season.  How convenient.

And while the Chicago Cubs are not expected to be big spenders, let's take a look at where they can plug some holes starting this week at the Winter Meetings.

Milton Bradley

There is no secret unloading Milton Bradley is the team's No. 1 priority at the Winter Meetings.  It has been at the top of Hendry's to do list, just above "doctor's appointment" and below "building Krispy Kreme donut shop in basement."

The good news is there are three teams willing to take Bradley in exchange for something more than what he's worth.  And seeing Bradley is worthless in the eyes of many Cubs fans, getting anything for Bradley is a good thing.

Right now, it seems as if Bradley's most likely destination is Tampa Bay, but it is not as if the team's are close to an agreement.  Pat Burrell is the guy the Rays are looking to send to Chicago, but the Cubs have nowhere for Pat The Bat to play.  The Rangers still seem interested, and the Cubs could try to pry away Kevin Millwood or Brandon McCarthy if they are willing to meet the Rangers' asking price.

Prediction:  Cubs lay the groundwork for a deal, but don't trade Bradley during Winter Meetings.

Center Field

After the Cubs move Bradley, they will need a player to replace the dismissed outfielder.  Kosuke Fukudome will return to right field, leaving center field vacant.  The three names that have been tied to the Cubs have been Mike Cameron, Marlon Byrd and Rick Ankiel.

Byrd and Ankiel would be classic Hendry signings.  And that is not a good thing. 

Ankiel is a left-handed hitter, who can play all three outfield positions.  He's also an above average fielder with knowledge of the National League Central.  In past years, Hendry would have already faxed a copy of a contract worth $27 million over three years.

Byrd, at age 31,  is coming off a career year at a hitter friendly park on a contract year.  Last time that happened, Hendry outbid himself for the services of Milton Bradley.  Here's hoping that does not happen again.

If manager Lou Piniella has his way, Mike Cameron will be patrolling center field at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.  Cameron posted a .795 OPS last year in Milwaukee, and an .805 OPS in three years under Piniella in Seattle.  He has hit at least 20 home runs in five of his last six seasons, averaging 23 home runs and 72 runs batted in over the last three seasons.

If signed, Cameron would instantly become the team's best defensive outfielder.  Outfield defense is a place where the Cubs desperately must get better.

Prediction:  Cubs sign Cameron to a two-year deal worth $15 million.  Rick Ankiel gets added as a fourth outfielder on a one-year deal worth $4 million.


Second Base/Shortstop

Top target Chone Figgins is off the boards after reaching a mutual agreement with the Seattle Mariners.  So, what's left for the Cubs?

If the team is truly serious about improving its team defense, Orlando Hudson should be the guy Hendry goes after.  He is a Gold Glove caliber defender who would fit in the team's offensive plans as well.  Hudson hit .293/.377/.463/.840 out of the No. 2 spot last season.

Cubs who hit out of the two-hole in 2009 batted a collective .265/.343/.411/.754.

The Cubs might be better served with a stop-gap shortstop and moving Ryan Theriot to second base in the process.  Unless, of course, the Cubs think Starlin Castro is going to be ready in 2010.  And if that's the case, is it too early to order my Castro replica jersey?

The two most attractive one-year options are Miguel Tejada and Orlando Cabrera.  If the Cubs want a middle-of-the-order hitter, then Tejada is their guy.


A former All-Star shortstop, Tejada could be a guy who hits 20 homers and drives in 80 ribbies batting behind Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.  However, Tejada amounted 303 plate appearances batting second in the Astros line-up and hit .367/.393/.529/.922 with 7 HR and 34 RBI.  Could be intriguing for a top-heavy line-up.

A more reasonable choice could be Orlando Cabrera, who is a career .297/.329/.403/.727 batter out of the second slot.  Cabrera is a two-time Gold Glove winner who hit .289 with a .742 OPS in 260 plate appearances for the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins.

For what it's worth, Cabrera's team's have made the playoffs in each of the last five seasons.


Prediction:  Cubs sign Orlando Cabrera to a one-year contract worth $5.5 million.

Starting Pitcher

With Ted Lilly being sidelined for the early part of the season, and Rich Harden all but gone, the Cubs need another arm out of the rotation.  It will likely be on a one or two year deal, and since Hendry seems wary of trading his highly regarded prospects, acquiring Roy Halladay is very unlikely.  Here are five affordable starters I've targeted for Chicago.

1. Ben Sheets
2. Justin Duchscherer
3. Erik Bedard
4. Randy Johnson
   
5. Noah Lowry
   

Each has a high upside and potential, but with a many, many risks.

Prediction:  Cubs sign Ben Sheets to a one-year deal worth $7 million (plus incentives) -- similar to what Rich Harden's contract was last year.

Relief Pitcher

The Cubs would be wise in adding a hard-throwing, right-handed reliever to off-set bringing back John Grabow on a two-year deal.

Octavio Dotel, Chad Cordero and  J.J. Putz should each be looked at closely.  Each of these have experience as a closer, which is something that might be important if Carlos Marmol struggles at any point next season.

Do you really want Grabow closing ball games?

Prediction:  Cubs sign Octavio Dotel to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million.

Utility Infielder

The Cubs need a guy to replace Jake Fox's production, and I found just the guy.

Chad Tracy posted OPSes of .911, .794 and .800 before the injury bug depleted what looked like a bright future.  He's logged innings at first, third, left and right.

Conclusion

Good idea?  Of course.  That's why none of it will happen.  Still, I'm anxious to see what Hendry has up his sleeve.  Hopefully it is more than a Snickers bar.