Trade Rumors: Jack Wilson to Tigers, Dodgers?

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 4, 2008 5:18 PM EST

Jack Wilson has been traded to the Tigers, NJ.com reports. They don't know what the Pirates get in return. (Thanks to Dan H.)

Johnnycuff points out in the comments that Frank Coonelly says this is untrue, that no trade has been consummated. Also, Wilson and his agent don't know about any trade, which is significant because Wilson has a clause in his contract that would prevent him from being traded to Detroit without his approval. The Tigers also deny the NJ.com report.

It wouldn't be a shock if this happened today or soon, though. Lots of dominoes in the shortstop market are falling--Edgar Renteria appears headed to the Giants on a two-year, $18.5 million contract, while Khalil Greene may be traded to the Cardinals.

Personally, I hope Wilson doesn't go to the Tigers, if only because the Tigers just don't have many prospects I'd want the Pirates to get. If Wilson's going to the Tigers, the Pirates aren't likely to get much in return. Wilson isn't likely to draw a top prospect no matter who he's traded to, but a trade to Detroit would rule out that possibility almost completely. Hopefully, the Dodgers will swoop in with a better offer.

UPDATE 2:03 PM: Despite receiving a denial from the Tigers, NJ.com (linked at the top of the post) isn't backing off its initial report and says the deal could well be announced soon. Nobody else is saying the same thing, so take that with a grain of salt for now.

UPDATE 2:15 PM: Via Johnnycuff (again) the Pirates are looking for a shortstop for Wilson. If they're planning on trading with Detroit, they've hopefully noticed that the Tigers don't have a good young shortstop to offer. The Tigers could likely offer either Danny Worth or Cale Iorg, but neither of those guys are particularly good prospects. I've heard Iorg described as the Tigers' shortstop of the future, but his performance hasn't come close to earning him that label. A lot of people like Iorg, but their reasons why are unclear to me.

UPDATE 5:17 PM: The Dodgers are still very much involved, the Associated Press reports.

UPDATE 5:21 PM: The Dodgers will try to trade for a shortstop, the LA Times reports.

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Comments

not so fast

dejan says no, according to coonelly, jack and jack’s agent:

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/archive/2008/12/04/report-wilson-traded-to-tigers.aspx

by johnnycuff on Dec 4, 2008 1:06 PM EST reply actions

The update on the Dejan link says the Dodgers and Tigers are both players.

“Detroit re-emerged last night with a fresh offer, one that was enough to cause some buzz within the Pirates’ front office”

Can’t be a bad thing.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 4, 2008 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Not too many prospects

but it will only take one. If Casper Wells is part of the deal… book it Danno. That’s probably a stretch but Jurrjens was on the table before, so who knows. Also comes back around to money as well.

by BSpar on Dec 4, 2008 1:28 PM EST reply actions

That’s true. I hadn’t thought much about Wells, but he had a really nice year.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 4, 2008 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

if the market is moving

this has to be a good thing for the pirates. the dodgers missed out on the other shortstops and obviously don’t want furcal back, which should make their interest in jack skyrocket. i wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if this report came from a bucco source, trying to get the dodgers to sweeten the deal.

by johnnycuff on Dec 4, 2008 1:34 PM EST reply actions

I'm still worried...

about Wilson’s no trade clause. He may have chosen Detroit as one of the six teams for personal reasons…

by scully0505 on Dec 4, 2008 1:36 PM EST reply actions

Dejan’s report (I think) said Wilson would approve a deal to Detroit.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 4, 2008 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

if i recall, i believe he indicated that he would the last time the detroit rumors happened, before DL’s insistence on acquiring craig monroe scuttled the deal.

by johnnycuff on Dec 4, 2008 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

(bangs head against table)

by Charlie Wilmoth on Dec 4, 2008 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, I was unaware.

by scully0505 on Dec 4, 2008 1:40 PM EST up reply actions

official statement

from the mothership:

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081204&content_id=3701934&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

quick summary: detroit denies the report too. some mlb official says negotiations are continuing but a deal is not likely today. we’re looking for a young shortstop and another prospect but won’t rule out a deal without the shortstop.

by johnnycuff on Dec 4, 2008 2:09 PM EST reply actions

If we do a deal with Detroit...

…hope for no SS. Because all of their young SSs suck.

by Vlad on Dec 4, 2008 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

I like Cale Iorg...

by scully0505 on Dec 4, 2008 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

He's an interesting lottery ticket.

But not someone I would’ve drafted high, and not someone I’d want as the primary return in a trade.

by Vlad on Dec 4, 2008 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

Think it's possible....

That Jack knows the Dodgers are in this too and is pressing the Pirates to take whatever they are offering in order to get back to the West Coast?

This is assuming that he hasn’t “officially” waived his no-trade to Detroit in advance of any deals.

Just a thought.

by lost_zero on Dec 4, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions

maybe I'm not completely crazy....

by lost_zero on Dec 5, 2008 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

link

by lost_zero on Dec 5, 2008 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

I read that...

Iorg spent two years at a mission in Spain (I think), where he played little baseball, before playing a year of college ball. Many scouts believe his numbers will get better as he gets more into the swing of things. Although I understand this can also be taken pessimistically, his ceiling is higher than his numbers indicate.

by scully0505 on Dec 4, 2008 3:12 PM EST reply actions