Check back later tonight, because I’ll analyze this deal. Although my initial reaction is that we didn’t get enough. I envisioned us getting a prospect or two, not a 30 year old infielder. A couple of teams were rumored to be interested in Polanco, so I wonder if we’ll be turning around and dealing him to someone else soon.
It appears Omar Infante’s starting job is justifiably in jeopardy, as Polanco has played mostly second base the last couple of years.
It’s an interesting one, for sure. The Tigers trade from a strength (short relief) to fill up a weakness (middle infield, on-base percentage). Salaries are mostly a wash. And Polanco is a free agent at the end of the year, too, so it’s certainly possible that he could get traded again at the deadline. This is certainly not a surrender trade.
--Posted by Jeff on June 8th, 2005 at 6:28 pm