Tagged: Cody Ross

Tigers look at familiar face

Could the Tigers’ solution to its offensive woes in a pennant come from a hitter who, once upon a time, provided a brief boost to the Tigers at their lowest point? If that hitter is Cody Ross, it’s possible, though not necessarily likely.

Yahoo Sports’ Gordon Edes reports that the Tigers have shown interest in Ross, currently manning center field for the Florida Marlins after finally getting a chance to be an everyday player last year. Now 28, he’s an experienced, right-handed bat with power and run production for a Florida club that has had an outfield in flux, including an up-and-down season for former Tigers top prospect Cameron Maybin. If the Marlins reverse course and decide to be sellers at Friday’s trade deadline, Ross is one player they could shop.

The Tigers have always had high regard personally for Ross, who broke into the Majors with the 2003 Tigers after coming up through Detroit’s farm system as a draft pick. He hit his first big league home run, a grand slam, in the same game in which he blew out his knee running out a sacrifice bunt. While Jair Jurrjens has become well-known as the Tigers prospect who got away in a bad deal, trading Ross to the Dodgers for lefty reliever Steve Colyer in Spring Training 2004 was a move the Tigers came to regret, though it took Ross two more organizations before he emerged.

While the Tigers might think a lot of Ross, so do several other teams that have faced him, making Ross a popular trading chip if the Marlins decided to move him. But if anything, the Marlins are looking to upgrade right now, since they’re within striking distance of the NL East lead and NL Wild Card.

— Jason Beck

Marlins not sellers yet

Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest told The Miami Herald on Tuesday that there is now “an openness” to trade for another bat. 
One problem, though, is the fact that the Marlins — strapped with the lowest payroll in baseball — don’t have many realistic options, The Herald wrote. The publication called the potential acquisition of Athletics outfielder Matt Holliday, who’s making $13.5 million this season, too pricey.
If it decides before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline that the playoffs are an unrealistic goal, Florida could then dump try to dump salary. Some options would be Dan Uggla (making $5.35 million this season), Jorge Cantu ($3.5 million), Jeremy Hermida ($2.25 million) and Cody Ross ($2.225 million). But, at this point, the Marlins — coming off a three-game sweep of the Padres — aren’t there yet, according to The Herald. 
— Alden Gonzalez