Tigers Should Make Sure Monroe Goes Nowhere For Years To Come

If I was Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, which I clearly am not, unless I have been living the much less traveled road of a double-life that I'm not aware of, I would take outfielder Craig Monroe and wrap him up so tight in a Tigers contract that he couldn't even wiggle.

I'd make sure that kid was signed, sealed, and delivered for manager Jim Leyland -- and any of his succesors -- for years to come. No more of this one-year, let's-avoid-arbitration nonsense.

There are a few young Tigers to get excited about -- Chris Shelton, Curtis Granderson, Nook Logan, plus some arms -- and the fact that there are is a testament to the scouting staff that Dombrowski has built from the ruins of the Randy Smith administration.


Monroe is suddenly a Tigers elder statesman,
despite his age


But Monroe is different from the rest because he has a tad more big league experience under his belt. He's produced. But yet he's still not proven, which puts him in that "youngster" category, despite his age (he'll turn 29 on Monday). This is because Monroe didn't see any decent amount of playing time until 2003, when he was 26 -- a little long in the tooth for big league rookies nowadays. Today's baseball executives have a fetish of getting their draft choices and young acquisitions in major league uniforms before they turn 22 or 23 -- or younger.

In the last three seasons, Monroe has averaged a nifty 20 HR and 77 RBI, while batting a respectable .271 over that time. He's played a decent outfield -- and all three positions. He's been, for the most part, the forgotten man in a Tigers outfield that is now less claustrophobic with the departure of Rondell White to the Twins and the retirement of Bobby Higginson. Suddenly, you could even call Monroe a Tigers elder statesman, another paradox. He patrols left field now, with Magglio Ordonez in right and either Granderson and Logan, most likely, in center.

Last season, Monroe flirted with 100 RBI before fading. He played in 157 games, which led the team. He banged out 30 doubles and slugged a respectable .446. Yet he is still unproven, because three seasons of solid but unspectacular production is not enough to shake that tag.

In 2006, Craig Monroe figures to once again be a full-time player. He should be, barring anything unforeseeen, the Tigers' everyday leftfielder. But contract-wise, he's locked up for this year only. The Tigers plucked him off waivers from the Texas Rangers in February 2002, and now have, in my eyes, a gem on their hands. Monroe has the ability to be a solid number five or six hitter in the lineup. He can even handle the cleanup spot on occasion. His power and strength are impressive. He's even cutting down a tad on the strikeouts, which never hurts.

So DD better stop fiddling around and keep Monroe in a Tigers uniform for years to come. He has the strength to muscle the ball over Comerica Park's distant walls in left and left-center field. He doesn't drop the ball with his glove, and can throw it with some accuracy and zip. He is also another rarity among Tigers players of late: he is not baseball stupid.

For the first time ever, Craig Monroe reports to spring training not having to worry about whether he will a) have a full-time job, or b) be on the 25-man roster at all. He is still young, but he's close to becoming a Tigers fixture. He is not totally proven or established, but he is still someone the Tigers can count on with confidence. He is not going to dazzle you, but he will get the job done.

And he can be a free agent after this season, potentially.

Come on, DD -- get loose with the purse strings.