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DETROIT -- Would you take a right-handed hitter with power and speed instead? The Tigers might.
With the trade deadline two weeks away, more than one report has surfaced that the Tigers have made serious inquiries about Alfonso Soriano of the Washington Nationals -- so serious, in fact, they've even been rumored to have made an offer.
Not only that, but according to the reliable Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Mariners, Yankees and Tigers are showing the most significant interest in Soriano.
But a right-handed hitter instead of left?
After the Tigers -- who usually keep quiet about their needs -- have made it plain all along that if they're missing anything, it's a left-handed impact hitter for the middle of their lineup?
When it's a player as talented as Soriano, and when owner Mike Ilitch is saying: "I'll get Jim (manager Jim Leyland) whatever he wants," it could be the Tigers go the right-handed route instead.
Here's why it not only makes sense, but could happen.
Soriano, a potential free agent after the season, is on the block. He can be had.
Of his $10 million salary, the Tigers would be responsible for about $4 million.
Such amounts aren't a problem -- right, Mike? -- when you're talking about the first postseason for someone who has owned a team since 1992 and hasn't even seen the sunny side of .500 since '93.
Soriano would be a rented player, because of his free-agent future, but if the Tigers get to the postseason with him, and if he takes to the team as quickly as Placido Polanco, also from the Dominican Republic, did -- then it's not impossible he'd re-sign.
For a price -- a hefty price -- but Detroit is not the wasteland for free agents it once was.
Another reason he appeals to the Tigers is his speed.
They already have power -- but he has both speed and power -- a potential 40-40 player, meaning he's capable of hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases.
Soriano's career high in home runs is 39, but he has already hit 29 this year. Forty isn't out of the question. His career high in stolen bases is 43, and he has already stolen 23.
Without question, he'd give the Tigers a dimension they lack. Plus he's walking more than he used to.
With a .283 batting average this year, he has an on-base percentage of .354 -- significantly higher than the .332 OBP he had in 2002 with the Yankees when he hit a career high of .300.
If Soriano led off for the Tigers, Leyland could hit Curtis Granderson ninth, meaning they'd have speed at both ends of the batting order. There'd be a fit, in other words.
But more than that, the Tigers can offer the Nationals what they'd want.
General manager Dave Dombrowski has said he won't trade the Tigers' best prospects, but the organization's pitching is so deep, he could trade one of them -- either of the Toledo right-handers Humberto Sanchez or Jordan Tata.
For Soriano to play left, there'd have be a vacancy, so the Tigers would include an outfielder in the deal. Craig Monroe's name is no stranger to trade rumors.
But the Nationals would need more than that.
They'd have to get at least another pitching prospect in the deal, possibly from Lakeland -- and as a throw-in, because the Nationals need center-field candidates, Nook Logan.
Would the Tigers make such a deal -- two pitching prospects and Monroe for a player like Soriano? With a chance to not only get to the postseason, but also deep into the postseason?
It would have to tempt them.
Yes, the focus has been on a left-handed hitter all along -- and Bobby Abreu is an appealing thought.
But a quality right-hander hitter, one with speed, might be more attainable.
In fact, it appears to be.