Tigers caught between rock and a "perm" place…
Real Deal Bloggin Dirty
By Neal Ruhl
Mike Illitch or "The Perm" as I like to call him, may be behind Magglios indefinite benching.
Tiger’s outfielder and 2007 AL Batting Champion Magglio Ordonez was benched “indefinitely” yesterday by the Detroit Tigers.
By now, we all know the deal with Magglio Ordonez and the contract, and if you don’t, then one last time, here are the details of the deal (courtesy of Cot’s Contracts) ; 5 years/$75M (2005-09), plus 2010 & 2011 club options that breaks down as follows...
I like Magglio, but this is just a ridiculous number that the Tigers simply cannot afford to stomach for a guy with two home runs. At the same time, this contract presents an incredible dichotomy for the Tigers to deal with.
If they do stop Magglio from reaching these incentives, they effectively kill their chances of obtaining top level free agents. What prime time player is going to want to come to Detroit where the rug could be pulled out from under them at any time?
Also, given the Tigers spending philosophy from last offseason that saw them lose some $30 million in salary and then replace that with the mighty Adam Everett and his robust $1 million deal, what guarantee is there the Tigers would even use that money to get anyone better? Given the fact the Mike Illitch just the other day said “we are going to do whatever we’ve got to do”, is getting rid of the second best hitter on your team doing whatever you got to do? How does Ryan Raburn in a pennant push sound?
The “Real Deal” is this: This was a good contract for the Tigers to take on at the time they did. Dave Dombrowski wrote in some protection for the Tigers with these options and I don’t have a problem if they cut Maggs before the option kicks in.
All this being said, if the Tigers do cut him and don’t replace that money with a player the caliber of a $15-$18 million per year guy, while at the same time ruining your rep in the free agent community, then I guess this was just a bush league move by a bush league organization.
I guess 'The Perm' was just giving lip service when he said “we are going to do whatever we’ve got to do.”
You can hear more of my opinions on the Tigers and other Detroit area sports teams, on "The Real Deal on Sports" Thursdays from 11 to 1 pm on 88.3 fm Auburn Hills and streaming live at WXOU.ORG.
By Neal Ruhl
Mike Illitch or "The Perm" as I like to call him, may be behind Magglios indefinite benching.
Tiger’s outfielder and 2007 AL Batting Champion Magglio Ordonez was benched “indefinitely” yesterday by the Detroit Tigers.
By now, we all know the deal with Magglio Ordonez and the contract, and if you don’t, then one last time, here are the details of the deal (courtesy of Cot’s Contracts) ; 5 years/$75M (2005-09), plus 2010 & 2011 club options that breaks down as follows...
Signed by Detroit as a free agent 2005
* $6M signing bonus (due 11/05, not guaranteed)
* 05:$6M, 06:$15M, 07:$12M, 08:$15M, 09:$18M, 10:$18M club option ($3M buyout), 11:$15M club option (no buyout)
* Tigers may void contract after 2005 if Ordonez spends 25 or more days on disabled list in 2005 with recurrence of pre-existing left knee injury
* $3M annually deferred from 2008-11 salaries at 1% interest
* No trade protection
2010 option guaranteed at $18M if Ordonez has:
* 135 starts or 540 PAs in 2009, or
* 270 starts or 1,080 PAs in 2008-09
* 2011 option guaranteed at $15M if Ordonez has:
* 135 starts or 540 PAs in 2010, or
* 270 starts or 1,080 PAs in 2009-10
I like Magglio, but this is just a ridiculous number that the Tigers simply cannot afford to stomach for a guy with two home runs. At the same time, this contract presents an incredible dichotomy for the Tigers to deal with.
If they do stop Magglio from reaching these incentives, they effectively kill their chances of obtaining top level free agents. What prime time player is going to want to come to Detroit where the rug could be pulled out from under them at any time?
Also, given the Tigers spending philosophy from last offseason that saw them lose some $30 million in salary and then replace that with the mighty Adam Everett and his robust $1 million deal, what guarantee is there the Tigers would even use that money to get anyone better? Given the fact the Mike Illitch just the other day said “we are going to do whatever we’ve got to do”, is getting rid of the second best hitter on your team doing whatever you got to do? How does Ryan Raburn in a pennant push sound?
The “Real Deal” is this: This was a good contract for the Tigers to take on at the time they did. Dave Dombrowski wrote in some protection for the Tigers with these options and I don’t have a problem if they cut Maggs before the option kicks in.
All this being said, if the Tigers do cut him and don’t replace that money with a player the caliber of a $15-$18 million per year guy, while at the same time ruining your rep in the free agent community, then I guess this was just a bush league move by a bush league organization.
I guess 'The Perm' was just giving lip service when he said “we are going to do whatever we’ve got to do.”
You can hear more of my opinions on the Tigers and other Detroit area sports teams, on "The Real Deal on Sports" Thursdays from 11 to 1 pm on 88.3 fm Auburn Hills and streaming live at WXOU.ORG.
posted by Kyle Bauer at 5:40 PM
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