The Tigers got horrible news earlier this week when they were informed that designated hitter Victor Martinez would likely be lost for the entire 2012 season because of a torn ACL.
General manager Dave Dombrowski reiterated that the Tigers wouldn’t panic because of the loss however it’s anticipated that the team will look for a replacement bat via trade or free agency.
Manager Jim Leyland said recently on MLB Network Radio that the team probably won’t find someone better than Martinez and that if you don’t believe the loss would hurt the Tigers you would be lying.
MLB.com’s Jason Beck pretty much has the entire transcript on his blog.
Leyland also said that former Tiger Johnny Damon could be a fit despite not being the prototypical designated hitter.
Furthermore, Leyland does admit that there’s plenty of options out there in terms of hitters…
“How good they produce anymore, I don’t know,” he said. “And I always ultimately leave that up to Dave. We’ve already had some discussions, I won’t say who they are, of some guys internally.”
John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press takes a look at some of those options including Vladimir Guerrero and Raul Ibanez who Lowe believes could be a fit for the Tigers. Lowe then goes on to say that it’s not known how the injury to Martinez will affect the teams pursuit of Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
Cespedes mentioned earlier the week that the Chicago Cubs have shown the most interest in him however that it didn’t necessarily mean that’s where he would end up. It’s also assumed that the Tigers are still big players for the services of Cespedes.
In terms of a trade though it would seem that the Tigers could make some of their bigger prospects more available to acquire a bat.
According to Baseball America right-hander Jacob Turner, third baseman Nick Castellanos, left-hander Drew Smyly and left-hander Casey Crosby top the list of the Tigers’ best prospects heading into 2012.
Rumors though began circulating via Jim Bowden of ESPN.com that the Tigers could deal left-hander Andy Oliver to Houston for first baseman/outfielder Carlos Lee.
Ref: Baseball America, MLBTradeRumors.com, Detroit Free Press, Twitter, ESPN.com, MLB.com, MLB Network, Zimbio (image)