Everyone in Tigertown is debating the addition of Magglio Ordonez. Will he work out? Can he work out? Just how bad is his knee? How much is it going to take for the Tigers to sign him? How long a deal should it be? The questions just keep coming. However, the question I ask is when do we think the Tigers farm system is going to produce productive everyday players?
In signing any free agent, that has to be the question. How long before a Tiger farmhand can fill that spot and produce at an all-star, or close to all-star, level? The Tigers have some starting pitchers that could make themselves viable candidates for the rotation in 2006 or 2007. That's why I was hesitant to see them sign guys like Derek Lowe. The long term answers may already be in the organization.
Conversely, it looks to me like the only Tiger minor outfielder close to The Show is Curtis Granderson. Granderson appears to be a hitter, but does anyone project him to be the hitter Ordonez is capable of being?
Even if he eventually comes close to Ordonez-like productivity, the emphasis is on eventually. It could take several seasons at the Major League level before Granderson reaches his full ability. With Bobby Higginson and Rondell White playing on the last year of their contracts and Dave Dombrowski spending quite a bit of time looking for an upgrade to Alex Sanchez, it appears the Tigers will need a minimum of three outfielders soon. Very soon.
How long will it take for the Tigers' farm system to provide more help than just Granderson? Two years? Three? More? It's an inexact science. A Tiger prospect could get hot, shoot through the system and become a big star in less than a year. It's unlikely, but possible.
It's equally possible that the Tigers are at least three years away from anyone other than Granderson contributing to their outfield. Again, unlikely, but possible.
That's, in part, why I am in favor of inking Ordonez. I suspect help from the farm system is somewhere between one and three years away. By the time the Tigers farm clubs have a number of outfield prospects on the verge of making the big league team, Ordonez' deal will be done.
I also like signing the ex-White Sox star because I believe the Tigers can sign Ordonez without changing the long term direction of the ballclub. They can continue to focus on stocking their farm system with prospects, but also try to be competitive at the same time. By the time a new wave of Tigers are ready to take over the contracts of Ordonez and Ivan Rodriguez should be expiring.
If the Tigers' farm system doesn't supply the big league club with a corps of solid Major Leaguers in three seasons, we will have much more to worry about than Ordonez' knees.
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