RINGOLSBY: Tigers' big spending paid off

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 7, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.

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Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press

The Tigers were able to acquire Miguel Cabrera, left, and Dontrelle Willis because they had two promising draft picks who were signed for well in excess of assigned slot money.

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The Detroit Tigers have thumbed their nose at Major League Baseball each of the past three years and signed their top draft choices for well above the assigned slot money.

This week, the Tigers benefited.

They took two of the players they overpaid (bonuses totaling $6.3 million) - 2005 first-round pick Cameron Maybin, an outfielder, and 2006 first-round pick Andrew Miller, a left-handed pitcher - and used them as the basis of a six-player package that brought them left-hander Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Had the Tigers followed the signing guidelines set by Major League Baseball, they would not have been able to make the trade because there were no prospects in their system who are close to the potential of Maybin and Miller.

Fact is, there aren't many prospects at all in the Tigers system.

With their moves this offseason - they also added shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Braves for two prime prospects - the Tigers basically have gambled that they can win a championship in 2008 or 2009.

After that, they figure to be headed back into the black hole that engulfed the franchise for nearly two decades before their World Series appearance in 2006.

The intriguing part of what the Tigers did this offseason was they focused on beefing up their strength, offense, and ignored their glaring weakness, the bullpen. And there are questions about Willis, who, despite pitching in the most pitcher-friendly park in the National League, went from 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA in 2005 to a combined 22-27 with a 4.49 ERA the past two years.

Marlins troubles

The Marlins are in a bind. And it's not their fault. Owner Jeffrey Loria tried to keep a core of players together after the Marlins won the championship in 2003.

But fan support has never developed at Dolphin Stadium, they can't get public support for building their own stadium and, of most concern, they have been told that by 2010, Wayne Huizenga doesn't want the baseball team as a tenant anymore.

Cashman nod

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman gave scouting director Damon Oppenheimer a subtle compliment this week.

Instead of stripping his farm system to pry left-hander Johan Santana from Minnesota, Cashman decided to put his trust in the young arms Oppenheimer has signed and developed, putting talks with the Twins on hold, at least.

Overheard

* San Francisco has a choice of Toronto outfielder Alex Rios or the Yankees' Hideki Matsui in exchange for right-hander Tim Lincecum, the Giants' first-round pick in 2006.

* The Cubs have interest in Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts but won't give up center fielder Felix Pie or left-hander Rich Hill.

* Washington is attempting to sign free-agent catcher Paul Lo Duca to fill a void created by the trade of Brian Schneider to the Mets.

Readers' turn

Jared Fiel writes, "I keep hearing Shawn Chacon may be coming back. Any truth in it?"

Jared, there have been conversations. Chacon has shown interest, and the Rockies have shown interest. The Rockies are interested in Chacon as a reliever, and he has indicated he would accept the role. Right now, however, there are issues with a contract.

Chacon is shopping to see if a multiple-year contract is possible. The Rockies, however, have been steady in their refusal to offer more than a one-year deal. Time will tell if Chacon decides to listen to one-year offers.

For responses to other questions or to ask questions of your own, check out the Rockies Inbox at RockyMountain News.com/rockies.

Two cents' worth

It has been a rough couple of months for agent Scott Boras.

First, the father of Mike Moustakas, the Royals' first-round pick and second player taken overall, overruled Boras' efforts to have his son hold out and made his son live up to an oral promise he gave the Royals that he would sign.

Next, third baseman Alex Rodriguez tried to clean up an already tarnished image that was done more damage when he stepped into the limelight the night of Game 4 of the World Series by announcing he was opting out of his deal with the Yankees. Rodriguez re-signed with the Yankees, but not until he agreed to deal on his own with the Yankees (although Boras was definitely a factor in the talks).

Next, Kenny Rogers fired Boras and negotiated his own deal with Detroit.

Then came the signing of Andruw Jones to a two-year, $36.2 million contract with the Dodgers this week. Boras saved face by getting Jones an average salary of $18.1 million, a tad more than Torii Hunter received from the Angels but five years less and nearly $4 million a year less than Boras had indicated he expected Jones to receive.

NUMBERS GAME

7 appearances last season in which Milwaukee reliever Derrick Turnbow, below, allowed three runs or more. The Brewers are hoping Turnbow can regain the All-Star closer status he had before losing his job to Francisco Cordero after a second-half meltdown in 2006. He had 39 saves and a 1.74 ERA in 2005, but he is 2-for-6 in saves with a 5.84 ERA in 99 appearances since July 15, 2006, a .209 average allowed offset by 63 walks in 861/3 innings.

MEEK INHERITS JOB

Pittsburgh released Jose Castillo, below, its starting second baseman two years ago so it could draft right-hander Evan Meek from Tampa Bay on Thursday. It's the same Meek who was released by Minnesota two years ago.

HE SAID IT

"One thing that's difficult when you make a decision like that, one that is made for the short term, is that what you're trying to do had better work. If it doesn't, you're swimming upstream."

Kenny Williams, White Sox general manager, on Detroit's trade for third baseman Miguel Cabrera and left-handed pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

MILE HIGH WATCH

* The Rockies are looking for bullpen help, but they don't want to make long-term investments.

Right-hander LaTroy Hawkins has said all along he wants to return to the Rockies, but he has been looking for a two-year deal.

Former Rockies right-hander Shawn Chacon is seeking a two-year contract, too, and he also has interest in returning to Colorado. The Rockies are adamant about not exceeding one-year contracts for relievers.

The waiting game appears to be paying off. Hawkins hasn't found multiyear opportunities, leading to agent Larry Reynolds renewing conversations with Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd.

* Right-hander Steven Register, the Rockies' third-round selection out of Auburn in 2004, was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Mets on Thursday. Any player with at least four pro seasons who is not on a major league roster is draft-eligible. The Rockies receive $50,000 from the Mets, but if Register doesn't spend the entire season in the majors with New York, he must be offered back to the Rockies for $25,000 before he can be sent to the minor leagues.

* The Texas League has instituted the Mike Coolbaugh award, honoring the coach of the year, in memory of the Double-A Tulsa (Okla.) first base coach who was hit in the neck by a line drive and killed in July. Scott Coolbaugh, Mike's older brother and a coach for Texas' affiliate at Frisco (Texas), was the first recipient.

* With right-hander Aaron Cook set to sign a three-year extension, the Rockies figure to try to do a long-term deal with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and could at least explore the possibility of Brian Fuentes, underscoring their desire to find a way to retain current players who want to remain in Colorado. The Rockies are expected to make a multiyear overture to outfielder Matt Holliday, too.

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