1st Post -Renteria & J. Jones & Braves needs!!

Hmmm, what a day for me. First ever REAL blog and also the big moves the Tigers decided to make today.

Lets go for the trade. WOW is what I can say about this off season already.

1. Edgar Renteria- An awesome choice and an obvious major upgrade over Casey. I was calling this move ever since July as I knew Casey would be expendable either at the deadline or in the off season. As for the Braves they had an awesome starting shortstop in Yunel Escobar and he has seemed to take a liking to his position. With the thought of being an utility guy behind him and his 11 errors that accompanied that, Yunel sets off to try and make use of a great opportunity. Over on the Detroit side again Renteria is an upgrade defensively for the SS position. Moving Guillen to 1B, I hope will keep his stats high or hopefully higher by resting his knees. The cost was Gorkys(#5 prospect now in the Braves org.) and My baby Tiger Jair Jurrjens.( #3 prospect in the Braves org.) This cost will help the Braves in the future and quite possibly(depending on the undependable health of Hampton,) this year having Jurrjens be the #5 starter. The cost was high for the Tigers but filled a void we needed and with great offensive and defensive capabilities. As for the Braves the return was to fill in farm system holes that were voided after the Salty trade to Texas.

Trade advantage - Even for both teams.

2. And then comes Jacque Jones. Jones is a moderately above average OF who is in his prime, had a down power year(so did the Cubs all season) But this is also his FA year and he wants maximum buck for his talent so he wont be putting up 5 HR numbers this year but being platooned he wont get those 25+ HR he had a while back either. With his platoon ability in LF with either Thames/Raburn Jones is expected to become a solid or potentially loosely great #8 hitter for Detroit's lineup hitting .280-.300 this year. The Cubs in getting Infante, is another story. He hasn't had the chance to actually live to his full potential. As Infante has been on the non-favorable side of Leyland. He is a risky proposition for a everyday starter this season but getting him more AB and Fielding time will allow him to A) get more suitors for him next year, or B) train him for an everyday SS or 2B in '09 for the Cubs. Either way it is a very decent to great trade from DD. This cost of Infante is alright since we are getting a solid OF in Jacque Jones. It was a decent risk trade that I believe we got the better of the two.

Trade advantage - Tigers

3. FA Todd “Rollercoster” Jones was also signed today for 7 million. What can you say hopefully Zumaya will be back and not have to re-learn how to pitch after his accident . Jones will be there as our closer for the first half of the season and probably most of the second half and also mentoring Zumaya the closer role. So was more of an urgent move rather then smart move. And 7 million is a bit steep but I guess after having 3 million fill the ballpark for the first time Illitch wants to spend to have more fans fill Comerica this year lol.

Signing grade ~ B-

Still there are needs:

Tigers

SP-we need someone to fill In #4 or 5 or both depending on if we can sign Rogers again. Someone like Willis through a trade. Or perhaps a signing of Silva, Jennings, or Lohse might get the Tigers what they need.

RP- A setup guy would be awesome. I'm hoping for Brian Fuentes. He pitched great for Colorado this year I'm hoping we can get him and put him in the role Zumaya had for first part and give him some good duties afterward. Plus he would be great for a setup man after Jones is gone and Zumaya is the new closer. Plus Fuentes has closer experience so if Zumaya isn't as dominating as he once was, we still have Fuentes to fall back on to be our closer in ‘09.

Braves

SP- Tom Glavine is rumored to be ready to sign at the end of the weak for the Braves( via MLBTR )

CF- The Braves are in desperate need of a stop gap CF. The only ones i know of that are viable might be David DeJesus or Coco Crisp. Both of these are great CF have speed and leadoff capabilities. But what price are the Braves willing to give up for them. Time will tell.

Cant wait til the winter meetings to see what goes on next. Keep ‘em coming DD and Wren the fans(at least I) am loving these deals. Go Tigers and Braves!!!