Reviewing the roster cuts
Sorry to neglect the blog the last couple days. Between opening day stuff, a long drive to Vero and a sometimes glitchy computer, it’s been a tiring couple days, but we should be OK from here on out. Anyway, to review the roster moves:
Logan, Gomez, Kelly, Mercado, Woodyard, Hessman and now Roman Colon are headed to the minors, presumably Triple-A Toledo for all of them. Former Twins catcher Rob Bowen has been added. So between now and Saturday, the Tigers have to cut a pitcher (German most likely, Grilli possibly) and figure out what to do with Bowen.
Bowen is out of options, so he has to either go north with the big club or go through waivers again. I’m guessing it’s the latter, since there’s no real reason to carry three catchers and Bowen hasn’t shown any reason to stick.
Jason Beck
Jason, on the radio Jim Price said that another deal was probably in the works because we still have two utility infielders (infante and santiago). What do you think?
Tom
I’m not buying it, not while Infante still has a bad shoulder. Santiago was a non-roster invitee, and I’d be borderline shocked if they could move Infante while there’s still questions about his throwing arms.
Logan going to Toledo was the right move to make. Hopefully he can get himself straightened out. There’s still a chance he could be a Tigers contributor in the future, but he needs to sharpen up and smarten up. Some will say “but what about his speed?” I say, what about it? One of the biggest knocks against him was that he didn’t seem to know how to use it (i.e. he wasn’t a great/smart baserunner). If you don’t know how to use your talent, you’re just spinning your wheels.
Colon to Toledo was also the right move. I read in one of the reports that Leyland wants him to start down there. I agree with that. This could end up benefitting us in the long run. I think Grilli stays, which means that we’ve got our spot starter in place should we need him.
I read somewhere they plan to put this Bowen guy back through waivers with the intention of sending him to Toledo if he clears. I wasn’t aware that he was out of options.
Indeed, he’s out of options, which is why he got onto waivers. The reason you claim someone like that and then try to put him back through waivers is that you hope no one else wanted to claim him. In this case, I like the Tigers’ chances.
Granderson clearly – and convicingly – won the centerfield job this spring, so I, like others who’ve posted here, wasn’t surprised to hear that Logan was sent down. My fear with both of these guys – moreso Logan than Granderson – is that they will become the second coming of Milt Cuyler.
I think Colon could be a real gem and they’re simply playing it safe with him. If he could join Verlander, Bonderman, Robertson and Zumaya as the rotation of the not-so-distant future, our top five would match up nicely with anyone else in the division.
There’s no way Bowen was picked off waivers to be part of this years team. There’s also little chance he won’t clear waivers again unless someone wants to try what Detroit did. Hopefully Colon will go to Toledo and put together a solid season as a starter. It could mean very big things for him later. Same goes for Logan even if it means a chance with another major league club as the later aspect. I believe the same as ozzradio above, Grilli is in and German is out. Colon gains valuable support with a good year and Logan shows us if he can adjust and improve as an everyday player. Most importantly Leyland has chosen his team and given them his direction for a successful season. This gives us hope for greater competition and improvement in the standings. I feel very strongly that Verlander is a big improvement over #5 last year and I feel much better about the people in the pen as well. If any of those other starters falter badly there could be a new face or two in the rotation fairly quickly. If there is anything I hate to see, it’s a game or a season getting out of hand with no effort to correct it. Leyland wants to win now and that’s what I like. I think he’s got some people who can truly have impact status. What does anyone else think about that.