Tigers Pick up Jacque Jones
By Blake VandeBunte • Nov 12th, 2007 • Category: Jacque Jones, Marcus Thames, Omar InfanteThe Tigers are close to completing a deal that would get them Jacque Jones from the Cubs in exchange for Omar Infante. Infante showed some skill with the bat in 2004 when 
he hit 16 homeruns. However, he hasn’t been anywhere near that level the past fewe years and hit .271 with 2HR last year in only 166 at bats with the Tigers. Infante is still quite young at 25 and gives the Cubs some options for their infield.
The Tigers are picking up the more skilled, higher paid, older player in Jones. Jones is a lefty outfielder and will probably start most games in left for the Tigers in 2008. Jones hit only 5 home runs last year after hitting 27, 23, 24 the previous 3 seasons. The Tigers will hope that he can regain his stroke a bit at Comerica Park. Jones is a career .280 hitter and his line drive style should suit him well in the spacious Comerica Park.
Jones is due $5 million dollars next year and is in the last year of a three year deal he signed with the Cubs before 2006. Theoretically, Jones should keep left field warm and ready for Cameron Maybin who will hopefully be ready to play there full time in 2009. The deal has not been completed yet and it remains to be seen whether the Tigers will be responsible for all of Jones’ contract or if the Cubs will pick up part of the bill.
Possible 2008 Lineup
- Granderson CF
- Polanco 2B
- Sheffield DH
- Ordonez RF
- Guillen 1B
- Renteria SS
- Jones/Thames LF
- Pudge C
- Inge 3B
Share
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
Email this author | All posts by Blake VandeBunte
After the All Star Break, Jones hit .332.
A lot of commentators on espn are against this deal for both sides. You?
I like the trade. Do you know why people are against it? I can see an argument being made that the Tigers should have held onto Infante because he’s still quite young. I feel like Infante is a bit like Darko was with the Pistons, he just never really fit in anywhere. Infante was given many chances to really fit in somewhere and he didn’t.
Jones had a higher on base percentage last year than Thames by quite a bit, so even though he doesn’t hit for as much power, he does get on base a lot more. I like the deal.
Infante was going down hill because of inactivity and Jones will be as good as timo Perez will be this year.
Jones is much better than Timo Perez, if he’s not this was an awful trade.
I like getting Jones for Infante - and feel like we’re getting the better end of the deal. It leaves the Cubs relying on Felix Pie (lamest name ever) or some Japanese players (if they get any) to fill the void. What I like about Jones is that he was heavily criticized the first half of the year, and as Blake said, hitting .332 after the All-Star Break, he responded quite well. We need people like that in Detroit.
I think this is good logic by the Tigers. With Rayburn and Maybin developing they need someone that can produce now and then they have someone that is expendable. NOt to menitno if Jones picks up his game he could be a grat piece of trade fotter that the Tigers could spend on something else. Infante wasn’t produced and Jones can be an “instant impacter” in the outfield.
If he isn’t, well, then the trade sucks but I don’t think that will happen.