Tiger337

That is fair. GMing is hard, but it was Harris' job to get something for Rodriguez and he didn't get it done so he has to take his share of the blame. If the same thing happened to Avila, there is no question that everybody would be blaming Avila.

attention

Harris traded our top pitcher and one of our best players for some guy hitting .179 in AA ball??? Who the **** is Carteraya??? What was he thinking???

It would have been more fun to talk about Rodriguez and Rogers for a big prospect haul than talking about Rodriguez opting in or out.

His track record is actually pretty good and consistent as far as performance. So, #2 would be my biggest concern as it would be with virtually every pitcher. Can he get 5-6 years with a rich free agent crop and concerns about his flakiness? After all, a number of smart people here are theorizing that teams didn't want him because of his contract.

I would be fine with it too, although I think the deal is good as is. I do want them to have enough proven pitchers to be competitive next year. I don't want too many starts from guys like Wentz and Faedo.

I was thinking about an extension before yesterday, but pitchers are delicate creatures. It would depend on the reason for his poor performance. If his velocity was down or strikeouts were way down, that would be a problem. Out-of-the-race would mean little to me. I want players to pitch well all the time. Six years would be too long. Four years would be reasonable for a pitcher of his caliber. I am not sure about five.

I think the only way he'll opt in is if he pitches poorly the rest of the way. If he's worth keeping, then they'll most likely have to extend him. f he doesn't do well, then I don't want him. I want them to attempt to be reasonably competitive next year. To do so, they will need sign at least one good starter from a strong free agent crop this off-season. If Rodriguez pitches well, they have the inside track to sign him before he becomes a free agent. That might be their best chance.

Fine. How You?

Solid Game for Rodriguez. Screw all the teams that didn't want him. 😃

Where is the Eddys Leonard discussion?

Los Angeles was ready to make a deal which Harris wanted. It is hard to believe another team would not have made a deal. Rodriguez seems like a difficult person with which to deal. If all people were easy, all jobs would be easy!

Do you think it is at all possible that the Tigers blew an opportunity here?

Correct. Chances are the prospects they got would not have made a substantial difference even with a good deal. I am just at odds with the idea that we can never question the GM because we don't know anything. A bunch of pitchers were traded at the deadline for decent prospects and the Tigers couldn't get it done with Rodriguez. I don't know for sure, but I believe the Tigers blew an opportunity (unless they think they can keep him beyond this year which is not out of the realm of possibility)

I agree, but I think this is contrary to Harris' philosophy of constantly churning players to get the best possible player available as organizational depth.

One could argue that fans would rather watch Martinez/Rodriguez for two months than trade them for garbage, but I wouldn't say it's important to worry about what other GMs think. It's possible that no team made a worthwhile offer for Rodriguez, but I suspect that was not the case given the great demand fpr pitching at the deadline. I believe Rodriguez could have brought back something decent in a trade, but I think there was either miscommunication or a change in mind on Rodriguez's part at the last minute. Either way, the onus would be on Harris.

No, I don't think that. I was questioning MTU's statement that he shouldn't make a move that would make him look weak in future negotiations. My feeling is he shouldn't make moves based on whatever GMs think of him.

Not making a move because you're afraid of what other teams might think is not a good idea. A confident GM makes the best move (or doesn't make a move) based on what helps his team the most at the current time.

The first big test line is stupid, but I think it's fair to say that the failure to get anything for Rodriguez is on him regardless of circumstances.

We know what Henning will be talking about for the next five years.

Joey Wentz and Beau Brieske aren't building a solid winning foundation for the future either!

Maybe he wants the challenge of some day winning in Detroit with teamates that he knows. The Dodgers are probably going to make the playoffs without him, so I don't see where joining a team that is already good is a great accomplishment. I know most athletes would choose that but it seems hollow to me.

Harris churns some more positional versatility.

I have never understood why it is considered honorable to participate in a pennant which you had nothing to do with creating. It's probably more fun, but it also seems kind of cheap. That part doesn't bother me at all. I am less sure about the other issue as I don't know the reasons for his absence, but I don't want to assume the worst.

There very well may have been a very good reason for him leaving the team last year. I will let the players decide whether or not he is a good teammate. Lefty pitchers tend to be a little odd. Personally, I view wanting to stay with you team for the long term (if that's the case) as more honorable than wanting to play in a pennant race which you did nothing to create