Renteria Trade Final Piece for Tigers?
Not long after the World Series had ended, the Tigers made their first big move of the off-season. Coming off a disappointing season in which they barely missed their second straight playoff appearance, the Tigers filled a big hole by trading for All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria.
Now at first glance, one might not think that the Tigers actually need a shortstop. Carlos Guillen, their shortstop from last year, was an All-Star too. But Guillen, while an excellent hitter, committed 24 errors at the shortstop position last season. Far too many for a contending team to swallow. And Guillen can still play first base, an easier position to field, for the team next season.
On the other hand, Edgar Renteria has won two Gold Gloves at the shortstop position and only committed eleven errors last year. He should shore up any defensive problems that the team might have had last year. In addition, he adds a bigger bat to the lineup than former first-basemen Sean Casey ever did. Renteria batted .332 last season with twelve home-runs and fifty-seven RBIs. He should flourish in the Detroit line-up.
All in all this was an excellent trade for the Tigers. Their already potent line-up just got better and they should be better defensively as well. But is Edgar the final piece? Probably not. The team still has major pitching issues, especially in the bullpen, and will need to spend more money to become a contender again.
