Magglio Ordonez had a terrible first half, hitting just .260/.330/.343 with four homers in 71 games, at which point there was speculation about whether the Tigers would keep him on the bench enough in the second half to guarantee that his playing time-based option for 2010 wouldn’t be triggered.
While he’s been far from an everyday player since then, Ordonez has played in 39 of 50 games since the All-Star break while hitting .336 and the Tigers have pulled away from the pack in the AL Central to all but wrap up the division title after finishing in last place a year ago. Ordonez now needs just 23 more plate appearances to trigger next season’s $18 million option.
As general manager Dave Dombrowski put it yesterday: “It all speaks for itself, what’s taking place at this point.” In other words, the Tigers obviously have no interest in paying $18 million for a 36-year-old corner outfielder with a .750 OPS, but Ordonez’s second-half turnaround and the team’s success made it tough to do anything about it. Not benching him has helped the Tigers go 27-23 in the second half while extending their division lead to 6.5 games.
On the other hand, given how awful the rest of the AL Central is this season the Tigers almost certainly could have won the division without Ordonez’s strong second half and shedding his $18 million salary for next year would have been awfully nice. It would’ve been interesting to see how the whole situation played out had Ordonez hit, say, .286 in the second half rather than .336.
Stanton, Donaldson, Kahnle activated by Yankees ahead of Dodgers series
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.
Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.
Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.
Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.
Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.
New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.
Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.