The surprising availability of Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson remains a hot story around the majors. Newday's Ken Davidoff is reporting that the Angels are in communications with Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski about a potential deal.
Seemingly under tremendous pressure to cut a payroll that no longer fits in the franchise's financial picture, Dombrowski has done very little to slow speculation about dealing any of his players, including prime-of-their-career guys Granderson, Brandon Inge and Edwin Jackson.
"I think I feel very comfortable in saying that there are generally a lot of conversations at these meetings, and this year there were really a lot of conversations," Dombrowski told Lynn Henning of the Detroit News after returning from the GM meetings. He acknowledged that "we are always open to talking about players, and we'll continue to talk and see if anything makes sense."
A source close to the Cubs said today that general manager Jim Hendry is "absolutely'' interested in offering a prospect-heavy package of players if Dombrowski decides to trade the Illinois-Chicago product. Offers have not been exchanged and the source said any potential talks could extend through the winter meetings Dec. 7-10 in Indianapolis.
Any New York deal probably would be built around center fielder Austin Jackson and one of perhaps three intriguing catching prospects, most likely Jesus Montero. A Cubs' package could include shortstop Starlin Castro, third baseman Josh Vitters and right-hander Andrew Cashner, among others. Carlos Marmol also may interest the Tigers.
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Why the fascination with Granderson? Great defensive player, nice power ... but he strikes out a ton and can't hit lefties -- .202 over the past three seasons.
Phil...
I don't know what kind of dope you usually take that keeps you thinking that you know something about the game of Baseball in general, or the Cubs in specific, but you must have gotten a real bad batch, if you think for one second that Hendry is going to give up either Castro OR Vitters to get Granderson, let alone both!
Granderson, as I have already stated on this blog, is certainly someone the Cubs have to pursue; but they have enough prospects to get him without including either of the two mentioned above.
Fuld, Cashner, Jackson, Diamond, Camp, Barney, Flaherty....just to name a few!!