The Oakland Athletics traded away Cliff Pennington (to Arizona, who apparently doesn’t consider him to be a major league regular at short), then watched as Stephen Drew became a free agent. A couple days ago, the A’s had all but agreed to a deal that would have brought them Yunel Escobar from the Marlins, only to back away at the eleventh hour over concerns about Escobar’s reputation as a malcontent.

Drew remains on the market and Oakland has maintained dialogue, but the Scott Boras client figures to land a contract larger than the one Oakland wants to give him. According to Susan Slusser, GM Billy Beane would like to make a deal with the Tigers to obtain Peralta, should Detroit find a way to upgrade the position themselves. They are know to have been interested in Drew as well.

Could Weeks re-invent himself as a left fielder? Image: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Slusser’s piece notes that while Oakland cannot offer the right handed hitting outfielder the Tigers are seeking to play left field, Detroit like second baseman Jemile Weeks and envision moving him to the outfield. Despite a mid-season demotion to Triple-A, the A’s are still high on Weeks and are in no hurry to move him and it seems unlikely the Tigers would feel like this is a great fit for them either. Weeks has only ever played second base and the Tigers have Omar Infante employed at that position.

Weeks is just 25 years old and has elite speed, but is a below-average defender at second base. He struggled at the plate last season, but burst onto the scene in 2011 with a .303/.340/.421 line. Part of his struggles was due to a near 100 point drop in his batting average on balls in play, facilitated by a significantly lower line drive rate. Assuming Weeks is actually somewhere in the middle of the hitter he was in 2011 and the one who struggled in 2012, you find a guy who gets on base at a fairly high rate and can wreak havoc once he gets there. The Tigers haven’t had many guys like that in the past 30 years or so.

One remote possibility, should a trade involving these two take place, is that the Tigers could install Weeks at second and play Infante at shortstop. Though he has been primarily a second baseman throughout his career, Infante has logged nearly 1800 career innings at short. He likely wouldn’t be as good defensively as he is at second base, but Infante would cover more ground than Peralta, which is what the Tigers are trying to accomplish by seeking out a new shortstop.

Oct 13, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez speaks at a press conference before game one of the 2012 ALCS against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

According to Jon Heyman, the Tigers efforts to re-sign starter Anibal Sanchez have not been met with enthusiasm by Sanchez and his agent.

#tigers a few weeks ago offered anibal sanchez $48M, 4 yrs. Agent told them that offer would insult anibal. Seeks 90M/6

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 3, 2012

Sanchez is looking for a longer and much more expensive deal and he’ll likely get it. Once Zack Greinke signs, Sanchez will be the premier name on the starting pitching market and one of the traditional big spenders (Angels, Rangers, Red Sox, Dodgers) will likely have lots of money to spend and a huge hole to fill.

History says that the Tigers would be willing to add money to the deal for Sanchez, but I am hesitant to think they’d go to six years for any pitcher not named Justin Verlander. GM Dave Dombrowski has said previously that if they cannot keep Sanchez they liely would not pursue another starter.

UPDATE: According to Tigers MLB.com beat writer Jason Beck:

#Tigers still talking with agent for Anibal Sanchez. Source says 4-yr, $48 million offer not accurate.

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) December 3, 2012

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Tigers’ interest in Soriano and free agent shortstop Stephen Drew is overblown and a deal for Indians’ shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, which has also been rumored, isn’t happening either. The Tigers are one of the teams on Cabrera’s no-trade list, Rosenthal says.

Soriano left $14 million on the table in New York and now needs Detroit to get in the mix. Image: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Moments after Rosenthal’s report, fellow MLB Network insider Peter Gammons said on air that Soriano ‘s market includes the Tigers. Gammons’ rationale is that the window for the Tigers to win is now and cited agent Scott Boras’ good working relationship with Tigers owner Mike Ilitch. Both of those things are true, but the underlining truth of the situation is that Soriano and Boras need the Tigers to be interested or the entire market for the former Yankees closer is basically gone.

The Tigers have maintained that young Bruce Rondon will be given every chance to close games for the big club in 2013 and reports have him hitting 103 mph while throwing in the Winter Leagues. Could they be downplaying their interest in Soriano by hyping Rondon’s potential? It’s possible, of course, but I think Dave Dombrowski genuinely feels that spending on a closer is a fool’d errand this Winter. Whether Ilitch agrees or winds up green-lighting a deal for Soriano is another question.

Jhonny Peralta had a rough year at the plate for the Tigers in 2012, but according to some advanced defensive metrics, was pretty good with the glove. He is severely limited in terms of range, however, and with Miguel Cabrera playing third base, the Tigers could use a guy that covers more ground. Both Drew and Asdrubal Cabrera would fit that bill, but Rosenthal says Detroit was only looking at a one-year deal for Drew, who is seeking a multi-year contract.

Rosenthal says the Tigers are focused on finding a right handed hitting left fielder to platoon with Andy Dirks and also to find a left handed reliever to pair with Phil Coke.

This is the first I had heard of Detroit’s interest in a southpaw. While they did choose to part ways with former first-round pick Daniel Schlereth this week, the Tigers have Darren Downs, who pitched to a 3.48 ERA and struck out nearly a batter per inning in a limited role in 2012. They also have a couple of starters in Drew Smyly and Casey Crosby that could see time in the big league bullpen.

Smyly pitched well in that role during the post-season. If the Tigers are able to re-sign Anibal Sanchez, it’s possible Smyly gets bumped from the rotation. What this could indicate is that either the Tigers are no longer confident they’ll be able to retain Sanchez or that fellow starter Rick Porcello would be the odd man out if they do.

Meanwhile, the most impressive closer in the league last season, Rafael Soriano, has opted out of the final year of his contract with the Yankees and is seeking a new deal. His timing, it seems, couldn’t have been worse. With Mariano Rivera nearing a deal to re-claim his job in New York and major market clubs like the Dodgers and Angels already sewing up their bullpen issues, Soriano is likely regretting leaving $14 million on the table in his quest for a multi-year contract.

Soriano was due to earn $14 million in New York, but opted for free agency. Image: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

Enter Scott Boras, Soriano’s agent, and his relationship with Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch. For the better part of a decade, Boras has found a home for some of his toughest free agent cases by picking up the phone and working directly with the Tigers boss. In 2004, it was Pudge Rodriguez who couldn’t find more than two years from any other club, but Mr. Ilitch and the Tigers gave him four years at $10 million per season and even threw in a fifth year option.

It’s a pattern that has repeated itself over and again including last year when Prince Fielder found himself without his desired mega-deal come January. Within a matter of a couple of days, Boras and Ilitch had hammered out a nine-year contract to bring Fielder to Detroit when no one else was offering even five years.

Now, with Boras perhaps sensing that the market for his top relief client is nowhere near what he was hoping, he has turned to Ilitch again. The two spoke on the phone on Monday according to veteran baseball insider Peter Gammons, who noted the conversation during an appearance on MLB Network Tuesday morning.

Soriano is said to be seeking a four-year contract in the neighborhood of $60 million and is without a doubt the top closer available on the market this year. In a climate where more and more teams seem to be turning away from high-priced closing options, however, Soriano will have a lot of trouble coming close to this deal.

Unless, of course, his agent can convince the billionaire in Detroit to open up the checkbook once again.

Tigers President and GM Dave Dombrowski would surely, given his druthers, like to have a relief ace like Soriano at the back end of his bullpen. He understands, however, that his team is already well-stocked with high impact bullpen arms with as many as a half dozen relievers in Detroit capable of closing out a win. Money that could be given to Soriano is better spent on retaining Anibal Sanchez or on adding an outfield bat or on upgrading the shortstop position; all things said to be on Dombrowski’s to-do list.

But when it comes to chasing the elusive World Series crown, Mike Ilitch tends to throw caution, and budgetary constraints, to the wind. It’s what Scott Boras is counting on. The Tigers’ great success with Boras clients certainly makes the idea more palatable to the owner as well.

If Ilitch listens to his baseball people, Boras will have to find a new owner to sidle up and whisper sweet nothings to. But Boras has sweet-talked Ilitch before and each time the Tigers owner has ponied up the cash.

Rafael Soriano has gambled $14 million on Boras being able to do it again.

The Indians don’t figure to contend and Cabrera is coming off a couple of excellent seasons at the plate. St. Louis and Boston has both shown interest in obtaining Cabrera, who will draw a healthy return from either club.

Drew can cover a lot more ground than Peralta. Image: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

For those clubs who think the asking price on Cabrera is too high, Detroit offers a cheaper alternative in Peralta, who was displaced by Cabrera as the Tribe shortstop a few years back. Peralta is under contract for only one more year at an affordable $6 million and the Tigers won’t be asking for the moon in return. The one caveat is that Detroit won’t make such a move without a clear alternative at the position.

One of the few shortstops on the free agent market is former D-back Stephen Drew. Drew has struggled to come back to his pre-injury form at the plate, posting a .223/.309/.348 line in 79 games last season, split between Arizona and Oakland. In the six seasons prior to his 2011 broken ankle, Drew posted a .773 OPS for his career. There is no question he can hit when healthy and despite taking nearly a full year to get back onto the field, Drew’s legs weren’t under him for much of 2012.

According to John Heyman, Drew has drawn interest from teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers. New York makes little sense unless Drew sees himself as a utility player. Boston could offer a job as a one season place-holder until Jose Iglasias is more mature. The Tigers, on the other hand, have no viable shortstops coming through their minor league system for quite a while and at age 29, Drew could conceivably hold down the position in Motown for several years to come.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden indicated on twitter that the Tigers are in pursuit of Drew and would sign him with the intention of then trading Peralta away, either to Arizona, as we discussed earlier, or to Boston, where Peralta’s expiring contract would make sense with Iglasias’ arrival.

Peralta has proven over the past two seasons that can still handle the shortstop position defensively, though his range is limited. Detroit would like to add someone who covers more ground to play next to Miguel Cabrera. While offensive concerns wouldn’t be paramount in this equation, Drew’s left handed bat does have pop. The Tigers would be thrilled to exchange Peralta for Drew.

In November of 2009, Detroit traded away Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson, they watched as second baseman Placido Polanco and closer Fernando Rodney left as free agents. The club at that time, according to president and GM Dave Dombrowski, needed to make some adjustments to the payroll structure to allow them to compete going forward. Not only did those moves free up considerable finances, but it allowed the Tigers to get younger by adding Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, and Phil Coke – all cost controlled players.

Ilitch continues to invest in his team an places winning above profit. Image: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Of course, those players are now into their arbitration years, but they aren’t the only expenses going up for the Tigers. Since Dombrowski made those adjustments, he’s spent a healthy dose of owner Mike Ilitch’s money. The Tigers are operating like a club that prioritizes winning over all else, including profitability. Need someone to protect your superstar in the lineup? Go get a $13 million per year DH. That DH gets hurt working out in December? Here’s $214 million for a new free agent first baseman. Make it to the World Series only to get swept? Spend another $26 million on a new right fielder.

When the deal was done with Torii Hunter, Ilitch turned to his baseball people and had one question: “Where do we stand with (Anibal) Sanchez?” He’s not done spending.

This, of course, is great news for Sanchez, who needs a bit of a bidding war if he’s going to get the kind of money he’s been seeking; reportedly six to seven years and $90-100 million. Most clubs will look at those figures and laugh, but Sanchez isn’t marketing himself to those clubs. Instead, he’s drawing interest from the Dodgers, Tigers, and Red Sox – three of the biggest budgets in the game.

The Tigers, with the addition of Hunter and expected raises to arbitration-eligible players, will already boast a payroll above $140 million for next year, which will be the highest in team history. If the Tigers are able to sign Sanchez, that’s another $15 million on top. Sure, there are ways to trim some of the fat. Trading a starter like Rick Porcello would make sense if they re-sign Sanchez, and that would free up roughly $6 million. There have been rumors the Tigers would look to move shortstop Jhonny Peralta, also making $6 million, but that only happens if they can upgrade the position. Upgrades usually mean bigger investment dollars as well.

There are a couple of factors at work in Detroit. The first is the new national television contracts, which will basically double the TV revenue for every team. Those new contracts alone will pay 90% of the tab for Hunter and Sanchez. The second, and biggest, factor for the Tigers is Ilitch’s desire for a World Championship at any cost.

He’s in his 80s. The clock is ticking. The time for the Tigers to win is now. So, the man who is worth billions will spend another dozen or so million.

It’s a stark and refreshing contrast to the situation in Miami, where Jeffrey Loria has placed profitability ahead of winning at every opportunity.

The fit for both parties is simply too strong to ignore, which is probably why this marriage will happen. Hunter would give Detroit the complete player in right field, drastically improving both the offensive production there and the team defense. Going from Brennan Boesch, who was decidedly below average at the plate and with the glove, to a player with the pedigree of Hunter would be like replacing Delmon Young with Victor Martinez. Oh yeah, the Tigers get to do that, too.

For a team that won the American League pennant last season, it would be an embarrassment of riches.

But beyond the surface improvements a Hunter signing would bring the Tigers, Lynn Henning of the Detroit News sees an opportunity for Detroit to improve their defense even more.

If Tigers get Hunter, who was always a top target, they add a bat in LF and a bat in V-Mart. Allows a trade of Peralta and making Worth SS.

— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) November 12, 2012

Peralta struggled at the plate in 2012. Image: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Earlier in the off-season, the Tigers picked up the $6 million option on shortstop Jhonny Peralta. Though Peralta is coming off a down season at the plate, his glove work was steady all season and outstanding during the playoffs. Danny Worth, however, has a reputation as an elite defender. The only question is whether or not he can hit enough to hold down the position.

If the Tigers can add Hunter, however, some of that offensive slack is already picked up.

The market for shortstops is exceptionally thin this Winter and third base is probably the only position thinner. Peralta is an attractive option thanks to his affordable salary and experience at either position. That he’s still just 30 years old and only one year removed from a 21-homer season in which he produced an .824 OPS suggests he has something left in the tank.

Peralta is a solid hitter. In fact, over his 10 year career, he’s been exactly average with a .750 career OPS and a 100 career OPS+. He’s also shown himself to be a sure-handed defender, though one without ideal range. Any ball he gets to, however, Peralta is as close to automatic as they come.

If the Tigers view Worth as a significant upgrade defensively, and range-wise he is, they may like the idea of moving Peralta. But Worth has spent a career in the minor leagues getting the bat knocked out of his hands. He’s improved in recent seasons, but still has never seen an OPS in the minor leagues higher than the .785 mark he produced in just over 200 at bats in Triple-A Toledo in 2012. In parts of three big league campaigns, Worth is a career .244/.310/.318 hitter. At age 27, Worth is no longer young and doesn’t figure to improve much. At this point, he is what he is, which is a capable defender at three infield positions. Anything he adds offensively would be pure gravy.

That just doesn’t seem like enough for a team that expects to contend not only for the playoffs, but for their first World Championship since 1984.

Henning, for those of you not familiar, has a history of being right about these hunches he gets. While all of Detroit was swooning over Curtis Granderson in 2007 and 2008, it was Henning who saw blockbuster trade to the Yankees coming when no one else did. Of course, like any prognosticator, Henning has missed on his fair share as well. Still, he’s got a better sense of Detroit’s front office and their line of thinking than most do.

I can see Peralta’s value to other clubs that need what he can offer and I can also see why the Tigers would desire an upgrade at shortstop, even if Peralta is the best they have today. Detroit’s minor league system is devoid of middle infield talent, so there’s no one coming up to challenge for the job anytime soon. Be it for the 2013 season or beyond, GM Dave Dombrowski will be tasked with finding the next Tigers shortstop and he’ll do it by looking outside the organization.

But if Worth is their alternative, Dombrowski should just go ahead an hold on to Peralta for another year.

Hunter hopes his next contract is the one that brings him a World Series winner. Image: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

Danny Knobler of  CBS Sports lists the Tigers and Rangers as the most likely destinations for the 37-year-old former Angel and Twin. Hunter told Knobler back in Spring Training that his next contract won’t be about the money, but about getting his first World Series ring. Hunter has never played in the Fall Classic.

The Tigers see Hunter as a near-perfect fit in their lineup, their outfield, and their clubhouse. Detroit battled through major issues in their corner outfield positions to win the AL pennant in 2012 and the addition of Hunter would go a long way toward solidifying at least one of those positions. Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has said that a corner outfield bat would be on eof his club’s top priorities this Winter. At the same time, Hunter’s age eliminates the need for a long-term contract and allows the Tigers to continue to develop top prospects Nick Castellanos and Avisail Garcia in the minor leagues.

If the Tigers were to land Hunter, he would join a lineup that already features Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder and will also see the return of Victor Martinez in 2013. Slotting a professional hitter like Hunter into either the second slot or the six-hole would only serve to lengthen an already strong lineup.

The Rangers, of course, also boast one of the better lineups in baseball, but it looks more and more likely that they move forward without former MVP Josh Hamilton and catcher Mike Napoli. Take Hamilton and Napoli out of the Rangers’ order and it’s no where near as formidable, even if you add Hunter to offset some of the lost production. The Rangers sport a very good pitching staff, but so do the Tigers and Detroit has far fewer questions about their team right now.

If Hunter is looking for his best opportunity for a ring, joining a club in Detroit where he’s replacing Brennan Boesch and his .659 OPS has to be a lot more attractive than trying to make up for the probable loss of more than 65 home runs in Texas.