The Tigers and the Red Sox are deep in trade discussion involving one of each of the teams' key needs. The Tigers are inquiring about a starting short stop, while Boston is requesting a starting pitcher to cushion Matsuzaka and Beckett. Each has what the other needs, and both seem fit to go to the other team.
Detroit is asking for Julio Lugo, a veteran middle infielder with some talent left in his tank, to bolster their low-end defense. Renteria underperformed for the Tigers in 2008, thus their searching for a new shortstop. Lugo fits the defensive side of the spectrum just fine, but his offense is a little worse for ware. He played in 82 games last year, batting .268 with one homer and 22 batted in -- usual Lugo numbers, but not up to par for the high powered Boston offense.
Boston, it's rumored, would pick up Dontrelle Willis on their end of the deal. I'm not sure if this deal involves prospects or if it's a straight up one-for-one trade, but I would think Boston is getting the better end in this deal. Their shortstop position hasn't really been the same since Orlando Cabrera left after 2004, the year he missed out on a historic World Series win, for Montreal. Their minor league system is chock full of future shortstops, so they aren't losing much.
But they are gaining a whole lot! If Willis can remain healthy for the 2009 season, assuming this deal goes through, and stays in his normal form, he'll be nothing short of dominant. There's nothing worse than stepping into a batters box against a Dontrelle Willis when he's at the top of his game. The Boston rotation would jump forward and would feature an almost deadly 1-2-3 punch with Beckett, Matsuzaka and Willis (in no particular order).
The thing I'd be most worried about is for Dontrelle's health. D-Train only pitched in eight games last season and compiled an amazing 0-2 record. His ERA was a jaw dropping 9.38, not even close to what Detroit was expecting when they sent Maybin and some prospects to Florida for Willis and Cabrera.
Lugo at this moment is fit for the aging, with some specs of young thrown in, Detroit Tigers team, and Willis, if he can keep his name off the DL, will fit into the Boston game plan.
As a fan of an AL Central team, this deal is half and half on my radar. Lugo won't add much to the Tigers' offense but will greatly improve their defense while on the other hand they're losing a pitcher who, (here comes the hot topic once again) if healthy, could easily win 18 games.
I'm not really sure how to react to the rumors of this trade, but I know that Boston will eventually come out on top.
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