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Wouldn't Plan B be Brett Gardner? On any other team, fans would be excited about a rookie who showed world class speed and defense and who hit .270.

He struggled in the postseason, but he wasn't playing regularly. Plus, Gardner is a guy who struggles at first but always overcomes it to better himself and to make it to the next level.

That being said, if you you need to add a power hitting outfielder, Nady is clearly the guy.

Corey-

I am all for Gardner playing center everyday, but not left, he just doesn't hit enough for left (either does Melky for that matter)

forget these ham and egg guys, Ajax is the guy we should give a shot in CF, could be the future, five tool player,his power will come around why should we trade or look for guys who hit 260 270???.lets not give up on our youth..Don;t forget Montero..he is a beast with a bat..

BWP-

Great expression and you are right about getting younger.

But, you are making a big bet on Ajax. Are you sure he is ready for it?

Thank you Peter, Not that much of a gamble,think of all the guys we tried in CF since Bernie, We went and got Damon, big name CF , he hits and runs, but is brutal when he touches a glove.Also I would NOT trade for granderson..Seems they are focused on just power #s,He NEVER hit Leftys, you know we will see a ton from now on at the stadium.If you recall this past year his play in CF was terrible at times..you know my feeling go get Markakis..RF Ajax CF , Melky LF.keep gardner, as bench guy.. Swisher hits in balt. great, #s their. Joba Kennedy , swisher, and throw in another guy, I think it gets done. Spend dollars on Lackey, Halladay is going some place, hopefully the NL. I would not trade for him either..

Word is that Granderson can be had as well. Yep, he had an off year, but I suspect that Long could work with him, cut down his K rate, get him swinging shorter and sharper and possibly hit to the opposite field for good effect. His contract is a bit concerning with its length and steep raises coming annually, but I suspect that the Tigers might be willing to contribute some "relief" with him.

No, Peter, he's not the power bat you're looking for in LF - I'm just throwing my thoughts into the Plan B conversations.

Guy that weighs 185 lbs should be a doubles hitter, not a HR guy - working for doubles can cut your Ks down quite a bit. He throws righty but bats lefty, nice short porch for lefties at The Stadium sometimes turns doubles into dingers. He would add additonal speed to the OF. And yep, I know he plays CF but I tend to view OF positions as pretty much interchangeable.

And it seems that moving to the Yankees with the possibility of a postseason run tends to (ahem) energize some players and lift them out of their "what's the point" funk.

Ajax? Would like to see him get a shot, but, again, it's getting kinda crowded in the Yankee outfield.

Mitchell- 30 HR's is a pretty good power bat. My only concern is what would it take to get him? Joel Sherman suggested a package of Jackson, Kennedy and McAllitster. That seems like a pretty steep price for a player who you really can't use against LHP .210/.270/.344 in his career.

Peter those #s made me ill.. what is Cash thinking about. like I said just looking at power #s..That is way too much talent to give up. McAllister is great we need to groom him, not trade him.. Mitchell we do need a natural CF guy, could the yankees know something about lackeys health?? Would that be why now Doc is being talked about?

Peter - I think that the Tigers are vigorously looking to dump salary - the team is struggling financically, like all of Detroit and Michigan. Granderson's salary climbs steeply over the next few years so I think the deal could be done for lower level prospects plus salary assumption.

I would not look at the guy as a power bat - I would work with him to be a gap to gap kind of bat. If you look at his hitting chart, he hits a lot of "cheapies" to RF needing a short porch for most of them. If they tighten him up, he could bump his BA and OBP by big numbers. Swinging a lighter bat with a tighter swing is great doing that.

I consider Ajax and Ike "keepers" so I would pass if the Tigers insisted on that. I think Joel Sherman has it wrong. Were I Cashman, I would spend a few minutes on the phone to see what's what.

And BWP? I think that giving up Joba and Kennedy is giving up some deep, young and inexpensive talent - I can't imagine doing that for an OFer. No way, no how.

Peter, Markakis has a canon arm, he plays Rf. great at the stadium, 300 hitter, batting behind Arod affords a great deal of protection, and a chance to drive in a 100 runs, he also drives the ball real well to LF center.. He would fit the Mark Tex mold, He is a true BB player, a guy who does not need all the attention..i thought Joba was a lock also kennedy. this year joba has issues and kennedy needs to starts he will not be a factor if at all until next year..Looks like CC, AJ, A third starter that I think they will sign , Hughes, Pettitte, thats five ,,???So I think it will be a move that solidifies our weak OF.. and Next year Lee and Doc, come out.

BWP. I think that a great CFer can typically play a great corner - sure, it takes him some time to learn how a ball will slice away from him, but that's do-able for a guy who works at it, unless we're talking about someone who is truly challenged in the skills department. So I'm not sure what it means for someone to be a natural CFer. CF is for guys who can cover a lot of ground, life gets easier when there's less ground to cover.

I played CF. The slice of balls hit to you in the gaps are not as severe as the corners, ESP. RF. I was not able to play that position ,yes it sounds strange it is a lot less ground to cover, and RFs have to have the strongest arm on the team by far, Lf is easier,So why not get guys whom are natural to their positions, instead of molding guys into something the were not? In the middle of a season somebody goes down yes you try to adjust, but start from making a line up card with a hugh payroll lets get a natural guy. The strong part of a team is up the middle .Thanks for the input Mitchell

Mitchell-

If the Tigers want to start a fire sale I imagine the Yankees will be first in line. Granderson would be a nice pickup, his stats in 2009 point more to bad luck than a decline of ability. The two guys I want to hang onto are Jackson and Montero right now. Everyone else I would talk about.

Yep, of all the position players in Scranton, those are the two to make off limits.

Begin totally unprovoked thought -

It's time for Shelley to find a home in the majors. As the old sage used to say: "hitters hit" - and that guy hits. Someone's gotta give that poor guy a shot.

- end thought.

How about a Granderson/Duncan platoon in left for 2010?

duncan will never hit ml. pitchers.

I could see Shelley replacing Hinske but getting more time at the plate than Hinske did. And BWP, I disagree - I think Shelley is, at least, an inexpensive and average major league hitter with good power - which is what I'd want on the books and the bench.

Yes he won MVP of AAA, Either he takes a hugh hack or he waves at the pitch, when he is playing AAA, you can see his approach is more comfortable.. I feel thats why he can't play on the big stage. sort of like stage fright..he needs to play everyday..if you had to pick 3 outfielders plus a bench guy, include all minor league guys who would you keep and let go.. damon et. al.