At What Price Granderson?

Over the last week or so, one thing has become abundantly clear, namely that Paul Sullivan is a ******* petty, vindictive little ******* Jim Hendry really, really covets Curtis Granderson, and Sullivan is so busy taking banal cheap shots at Mark Prior that he’s getting scooped on the Granderson story by Phil Rogers. Getting scooped by Phil Rogers is like getting beat in a footrace by Ron Santo, but I digress. Rogers has been all over the Granderson rumors, and here’s his latest missive: Along with the Yankees and the Angels, sources say the Cubs plan an aggressive push to land Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson. A source close to the Cubs said Friday that general manager Jim Hendry “absolutely” is interested in offering a prospect-heavy package of players if Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski decides to trade the 28-year-old Illinois-Chicago product. That sounds all fine and good, depending on which prospects are offered. Phil’s got a bit more on that, too: A Cubs offer could be built around 19-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who is emerging as one of the top prospects in the minors. Third baseman Josh Vitters, 19-year-old Korean shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and minor league pitching from a group including Andrew Cashner, Jay Jackson and Chris Carpenter also could be part of deal. A Cubs source suggests a Granderson offer also could include low-priced veterans whom the Tigers either could keep or move elsewhere. Those players include Jake Fox, Micah Hoffpauir, Tom Gorzelanny, Aaron Heilman, Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles. I have to think Castro is pretty much untouchable. And honestly, a player of his potential might be too high a price for a player like Granderson. Granderson is certainly not the 7.1 WAR player he was a couple years back. He’s probably closer to the 3 WAR player he’s been the past two years, and that’s fine. He’s a solid ballplayer who will get a slight offensive bump by moving to the senior circuit, but you don’t give up 19 YO SS prospects of Castro’s ilk for solid ballplayers. You give them and their years of team control up for stars, for the Halladays and Teixerias of the world, not for the Grandersons. I probably also wouldn’t give up Jackson. Outside of those two, though, I’d move anyone in the system for Granderson. But Hendry needs to stand firm here when it comes to just what prospects will be included in the deal. Dombrowski has to cut payroll, so the leverage is on Jim’s side. He doesn’t need to go all-in with Castro and Jackson on a player like Granderson, espcially not when the DET GM is in a real financial bind. So have the extra cruller, Jim, and let Dombrowski stew.