Renteria to Tigers

Don't know if Atlanta would have gone for either of those trades, but I think that would have been worth it, particularly if we believe we're close to being competitive.

It seems like a bad idea to wait until your team starts playing well before you make trades for good players.  In fact, I don't think it's really even possible to play well if you don't have good players.  It's like waiting for Godot.

It would be so nice if we could get an above average year out of him next year. If we could get 140 innings out of him next year with some decent rate stats and maybe a 110 ERA+ he could be a valuable asset going in to next offseason. The more pieces we have to play with and make trades with the better.

I don't know how much stock anyone puts in it but is n't his repertoire of pitches similar to Meche? Does having to guys featuring knuckle curves hamper each other? I don't really think so but its something to give thought to.

I think he could  be best served as a swingman kind of like Greinke was this year. I think a guy who can come in a pitch a couple of innings at a time without several days of rest in between appearances is an undervalued and underused role in baseball. Pair him with Bale and you could have two lockdown multi-inning guys to set up for Soria.

Man, I always go long in this but I just love imagining a rotation of Bannister, Meche, Hochevar, Greinke, and a 5 starter. It could be pretty damn good too!

Now we just need the offense to come around. God, it would be nice to see Gordon come out of the gate fast and don't let up, and then see Butler knock it up a notch, get Teahen back on track , hope DDJ return to form and then get some improvement from Pena, the exact same from grudz and I think you are looking at team ready to contend.

Wooo!!!

Hernandez' Cube

Jurrjens' was rated a B- prospect by Sickels before the season, the #4 prospect in the Detroit organization.  It looks like he did better than expected, but from what I see there is nothing about him that shouts "potential impact pitcher."

Hernandez is basically unprojectable at this point.  He is 19 and has only played one full minor league season.  He did fine, but nothing eye popping.  Probably a C or C+ prospect at this point.

These are valuable additions.

Does anyone know how much of Renteria's salary the Braves are going to pick up?

I think the Tigers win on this one.  Jurrjens might be an OK MLB pitcher but he is no sure thing.  Hernandez is a long shot.  Renteria is a solid citizen.

I think the Buckner analogy is useful.  Basically the Tigers got Renteria (who is signed for two more years at $20M, some of which the Braves are picking up) for a pitcher somewhat better than Buckner plus a long shot speedy outfielder in the low minors (maybe similar to Joseph Dickerson).  If I were Moore I would have made that trade in a heartbeat.  I understand the Braves were motivated to move Renteria because his replacement is ready to move up next year.  It was a salary dump.

Renteria's OPS during the last two years was .797 and .860.  He would have been the best offensive player on the Royals last year.  His career line is .291/.349/.407.  And he will only be 32 next year.  He might not start declining at the plate for another three or four years.  His revised zone rating was .815 at short stop last year which makes him a slightly above average defender.  Roughly at the same level as Orlando Cabrera or Miguel Tejada.

The Tigers lost nothing they were counting on and gained at least two years of service from a well above average major league shortstop.