Well this all but solidifies two widely speculated moves...Carlos Guillen is moving to 1B in Detroit and Yunel Escobar has been handed the SS job in Atlanta. Don't be surprised if Torii Hunter ends up a Brave now either!
Update
I had a chance to listen in to the Tigers press conference that included General Manager David Dombrowski, Manager Jim Leyland and shortstop Edgar Renteria. Here are some notes...
- Renteria won't necessarily be the Tigers leadoff hitter.
- Management still believes Edgar is a leader who can still contribute offensively, even if he has lost a step defensively.
- Jurrjens would have gone to Spring Training competing for the 5th starter spot if he remained in Detroit.
- The Tigers do want to try to re-sign starter Kenny Rogers
- Detroit will not be a player in the A-Rod sweepstakes.
- Carlos Guillen has no problem "doing whatever it takes to help the team." Leyland feels that Carlos believes this is a good move for his career.
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Thanks to the Braves and Tigers media relations departments for the following information.
The Detroit Tigers announced today that the club has acquired shortstop Edgar Renteria and cash considerations from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for righthanded pitcher Jair Jurrjens and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.
“We are excited to add an all-star caliber shortstop in Edgar Renteria to the Tigers organization,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “Edgar is a quality player, proven winner and tremendous leader that solidifies our infield.”
Renteria batted .332 (164-for-494) in 124 games with the Braves in 2007, scoring 87 runs and collecting 30 doubles, 12 home runs and 57 RBI. He tied for third in the National League with a .332 batting average.
“Edgar is a premier major league player that is a great fit for our club,” Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said. “I have a great history with him and I’m looking forward to being reunited with him.”
Hernandez (first is pronounced GOR-keys), who just turned 20 in September, is considered one of the top outfield prospects in all of baseball. He completed his first full professional season in 2007 and earned the Class-A Midwest League Most Valuable Player Award while leading West Michigan to the league championship. Hernandez paced the circuit with 54 stolen bases and batted .293 with 84 runs, 25 doubles, four home runs and 50 RBI in 124 games. He grounded into just two double plays in 533 plate appearances.
A Midwest League All-Star, Hernandez was voted by the MWL's managers as being the Most Exciting Player and the Fastest Baserunner in 2007. The strong-armed center fielder walked and scored a run in the World Team's 7-2 win in the 2007 MLB Futures Game in San Francisco on July 8.
Jurrjens, 21, was rated by Baseball America to be the Eastern League's sixth-best Major League prospect (third-best pitcher) this past season. In 2006, Baseball America rated him as the best control pitcher in the Tigers organization.
Jurrjens (pronounced JEYE-air JER-jens) went 7-5 with a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts at Class-AA Erie in 2007 before making his Major League debut with Detroit in August. He worked in seven games (all starts) for the Tigers, going 3-1 with a 4.70 ERA. In his last three minor league starts, Jurrjens went 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA, with 24 strikeouts and just one walk in 23.0 innings pitched. In 502.2 career minor league innings pitched (89 games/84 starts), Jurrjens has posted a 3.20 ERA with 404 strikeouts and just 121 walks.