Speculation only out of Detroit - Axford

[Mass Haas]

Detroit Tigers could look at John Axford, former Milwaukee Brewers closer, as trade possibility

 

Does anyone think the Brewers will offer Axford arbitration to build off his current $5 million salary?

 

If not, then you can't just non-tender and let him walk.

[jmeks23]

I'd do it if you could get anything of value for him. Probably couldn't without more pieces involved though.

[Roderick]

Detroit Tigers could look at John Axford, former Milwaukee Brewers closer, as trade possibility

 

Does anyone think the Brewers will offer Axford arbitration to build off his current $5 million salary?

 

If not, then you can't just non-tender and let him walk.

 

No.

 

Yeah, technically you can just non-tender and let him walk.

 

But I assume you mean the FO has to automatically trade him this year to get something versus nothing (plus save $ too boot). I agree. If KRod and Axford aren't traded for something than they really dropped the ball.

[TheCrew07]

Well when thinking of the Tigers I instantly covet Castellanos given our 3B situation as an organization, but he's not a realistic target for a relief pitcher. I suppose if a bidding war ensued the Tigers could be desperate enough to put Nick out there, but seems highly unlikely.

 

The only other player that really interests me out of last year's top 10 is Jake Thompson. I'd take a kid who profiles as a #3 for a reliever any day, who knows he could develop into a #2.

 

The Tigers didn't have a first-round pick in 2012 after signing Prince Fielder, so their top choice didn't come until 91st overall. Detroit went with Thompson, who turned down a commitment to Texas Christian to sign for $531,800. He pitched Rockwall-Heath High to the Texas 4-A championship, going 12-1, 0.73 on the mound and hitting .448 with nine homers as a first baseman. Thompson looks like a future rotation workhorse with his physical, proportioned frame. He throws fastballs that sit at 88-92 mph and top out at 95. His fastball has heavy life and he works on a steep downhill plane to the plate. His slider shows occasional tight bite and the flashes of being a plus pitch down the road, though it flattens out at times. He also shows feel for a changeup. Thompson held his velocity deep into games during his high school season, but he pitched 90 innings as a senior and started to wear down in pro ball. The Tigers shut him down in early August and kept him out of instructional league. His stuff and consistency should improve now that he's focusing on pitching. Thompson has the stuff, athleticism and work ethic to profile as a mid-rotation starter. After his abbreviated pro debut, he'll likely start 2013 in extended spring training before heading to short-season Connecticut in June.

 

He's actually pitching in the Midwest league, recently called up and made his first start on May 31.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Castellanos has been horrific this year at AAA I believe. Not saying he wouldn't be worth it but I'm just saying.....

[TheCrew07]

Castellanos has been horrific this year at AAA I believe. Not saying he wouldn't be worth it but I'm just saying.....

 

He's hitting .290/.364/.477 which is an .841 OPS as 21 year old in AAA, perhaps you should look him up before posting something like that?

[nate82]

I wanted to trade Axford in the offseason to Detroit for Porcello but that is out of the question now.

 

I think the best possible outcome for a trade with Detroit and Axford would be Logan Ehlers or Joe Rogers and someone like Hernan Pérez.

 

The Brewers would have to add someone else in the mix and I would look at possibly trying to flip Thornburg or Gonzalez along with Axford if the Tigers were willing to give up Jake Thompson along with Joe Rogers. I don't believe Axford alone will get Thompson as the talent difference is just to much of a gap.

[brewmann04]

I think first person you ask for Porcello

[Badger]

I'd be all for trading Axford if its a good trade. Maybe throw Weeks in with it too!

[splitterpfj]

If we have the pieces, any discussion with the Tigers should be for Castellanos.

[nate82]

If we have the pieces, any discussion with the Tigers should be for Castellanos.

 

We don't unless you want to trade Braun for him.

[TooLiveBrew]

If we have the pieces, any discussion with the Tigers should be for Castellanos.

 

We don't unless you want to trade Braun for him.

I respect why you say this, but you really never know definitively. Who knows what the Tigers might think? I could certainly see a scenario in which they view 1B & 3B as blocked by Cabrera & Fielder. I realize it'd probably be in their best interest to slide Prince to DH, Cabrera to 1B, & slot Castellanos in at 3B... but Melvin managed to score Segura+ for half a season of Greinke. If the Tigers felt they could work with Axford's mechanics & rediscover the brilliant form of '10 and '11, they'd have him through two more seasons after this one. I get that SP>RP, but if a team believe they can fix Ax, that's a lot of potential value for a team clearly in 'win now' mode.

[sheetskout]

If we have the pieces, any discussion with the Tigers should be for Castellanos.

 

We don't unless you want to trade Braun for him.

I respect why you say this, but you really never know definitively. Who knows what the Tigers might think? I could certainly see a scenario in which they view 1B & 3B as blocked by Cabrera & Fielder. I realize it'd probably be in their best interest to slide Prince to DH, Cabrera to 1B, & slot Castellanos in at 3B... but Melvin managed to score Segura+ for half a season of Greinke. If the Tigers felt they could work with Axford's mechanics & rediscover the brilliant form of '10 and '11, they'd have him through two more seasons after this one. I get that SP>RP, but if a team believe they can fix Ax, that's a lot of potential value for a team clearly in 'win now' mode.

 

We may not know definitively, but it's like 99.999999999%. There's no way, NO WAY, they could swindle a deal swapping Castellanos for Axford. I'm not sure they'd do it for two Axfords.

[nate82]

I respect why you say this, but you really never know definitively. Who knows what the Tigers might think? I could certainly see a scenario in which they view 1B & 3B as blocked by Cabrera & Fielder. I realize it'd probably be in their best interest to slide Prince to DH, Cabrera to 1B, & slot Castellanos in at 3B... but Melvin managed to score Segura+ for half a season of Greinke. If the Tigers felt they could work with Axford's mechanics & rediscover the brilliant form of '10 and '11, they'd have him through two more seasons after this one. I get that SP>RP, but if a team believe they can fix Ax, that's a lot of potential value for a team clearly in 'win now' mode.

 

Right but I don't think any GM past or present would be crazy enough to trade a high level prospect for a relief pitcher especially now when prospects are treated like the worlds greatest diamonds. There is a 99.99% chance that this is correct.

 

This is nothing like the Greinke trade as Axford has a rather low value right now. I don't think the Tigers would do this trade if Axford is pitching like he was 2 or 3 years ago. You might get a top ranked prospect but I don't see how a team would give up their #1 and best prospect. Joe Rogers would actually be an over pay by the Tigers as he already has two good pitches and most scouts believe he can become a starter and if he does he could be a #3 with an upside as a #2 but that is if everything goes perfectly otherwise he is a bullpen guy. The value is just not there for an Axford for a Castellanos trade maybe if you add in someone like Gallardo but would the Tigers want to do that trade? I am not sure though Sanchez just went on the DL and depending on how long he is there I could see the Tigers wanting to a make a move for Gallardo. But that seems like selling low on the Brewers part if they are only getting Castellanos in return for Gallardo and Axford. Would really need something more and I fear that Melvin and Mark A would insist on Porcello coming back with Castellanos in that deal. Not really an ideal trade but kind of reminds me of a the Haren trade a few years ago from the D-backs to the Angels but instead of young pitching and a veteran pitcher the Brewers will get a semi young pitcher and a young hitter. Not bad but not really what I would like to see happen.

[bill hAll Star]

Leyland seems to fail at playing the splits sometimes and really likes the idea of "a closer" (since I is such a different art). Coke for some reason couldn't "understand the role" when tasked with a bunch of righties so they eventually went to Valverde who isn't great anymore, but he's "a closer."

 

Long story short, this seems like a situation to take advantage of.

[JohnBriggs12]

I wanted to trade Axford in the offseason to Detroit for Porcello but that is out of the question now.

 

I think the best possible outcome for a trade with Detroit and Axford would be Logan Ehlers or Joe Rogers and someone like Hernan Pérez.

 

The Brewers would have to add someone else in the mix and I would look at possibly trying to flip Thornburg or Gonzalez along with Axford if the Tigers were willing to give up Jake Thompson along with Joe Rogers. I don't believe Axford alone will get Thompson as the talent difference is just to much of a gap.

 

Ehlers?? No. I think a fair return would be a Drew VerHagen, or perhaps an Alex Burgos (Brewers could could accumulate all those named Burgos). Axford is worth a second tier pitching prospect who's 2-3 years away, and those names fit. I'd really like another guy currently at Lakeland, Kyle Ryan. But it's hard to see Detroit surrendering a 21 year old lefty who's having success in High A ball.

[brewmann04]

Porcello will help the rotation and is still pretty Young.

[3and2Fastball]

I would up the ante considerably if they won't go Axford for Castellanos and say "OK how bout Henderson for Castellanos" or both Axford & Henderson for Castellanos

[JohnBriggs12]

Porcello will help the rotation and is still pretty Young.

 

He's helping Detroit's rotation right now. I don't see them weakening their rotation to bolster the pen especially with Anibal Sanchez on the DL right now. The guy they brought up to replace Sanchez, Jose Alvarez, was awfully impressive in his major league debut, and he'd be a nice target assuming Sanchez returns healthy. But the better he pitches the less likely Detroit would deal him either.

[brewmann04]

well John if They really need a closer then they will have to five something back. Especially if they feel like they can win a WS

[PrinceFielderx1]

Axford has clearly turn around his season extremely nicely and is back to old form. He hasn't given up a run since May 14th. His value to anybody looking for a closer in my opinion is sky high.

 

I'd first try to do a packaged deal involving Axord + going to the Tigers for Castellanos. If that just won't happen, then go after Porcello.

 

Also in my view it's inevitable that the Brewers trade Axford because of the money he's making while not even being a closer, and the fact that they have a cheap better alternative in Henderson. It's not a matter of if, but when.

[DHonks]

if John has low value, then we should keep him. We could offer him $4.5 million in arbitration for next year (10% cut that's allowed). He's had very good numbers for 2 months now

[brewmann04]

maybe the redsoxs might be looking for a closer

[PrinceEatMeat]

Frankly, if the Brewers are looking to deal Axford and K-Rod and keep Henderson, then one of those two should be closing. K-Rod has a bigger track record, so I'd probably be getting Ax saves to boost his value. I could actually see Henderson get traded. He could probably bring back a lot more just based on salary and controllable years. I don't see him being a long-term answer as closer anyway, and I doubt the Brewers do either.

[Invader3K]

I look to trade all three separately or even together for a bigger package. Whatever works. All three should be seen as expendable at this point.