The Detroit Tigers created a lot of FAAB opportunities in the last week with their job decisions, starting with eating the contract of Gary Sheffield. They named a new closer in Fernando Rodney, traded for possible stolen base source Josh Anderson and promoted rookie Rick Porcello to the starting rotation. These are among the biggest names being subject to free agent bidding wars this week, but I'm preaching caution and patience with the these guys.

Josh Anderson - An e-mail exchange with a customer about Anderson prompted this blog post in the first place. Here are my comments on him:

"I'm pretty lukewarm on Anderson; in an AL-only format such as yours, he certainly has value because of how much he can provide as a SB guy. But ... he's not as good as his trial with the Braves last year suggests. He's not going to hit for any appreciable power, and I think that and his mediocre plate discipline will catch up to him. That, and right now he has to wait for an injury to play - he's not going to displace any of the starting OF's for the Tigers, and they already have Thames/Larish to DH. Granderson might need a platoon partner but ... Anderson also hits lefty. Unless you really desperately need the stolen bases, I'd bid no more than (5-10|PERCENT|) on him with your budget."

A quick postscript here: Anderson will start on Opening Day, with Carlos Guillen shifting from left field to DH. Still, I think this is an isolated event, keeping Guillen's knees off of Toronto's turf as much as possible.

Marcus Thames - He fetched the highest bid in my individual NFBC league this week, going for over 10|PERCENT| of his new owner's budget. Much like Anderson is a SB specialist, Thames is a power specialist - a poor man's Jack Cust, if you will - low-average power, but without the walks. His lack of defensive value will creep in to hurt his playing time occasionally, as it will on Opening Day. There are weeks where he'll carry you, and weeks where he'll bury you. I bid $50 (5|PERCENT|) of my budget, fully aware that wouldn't probably get him. Consider it a price-enforcing bid (or, if you use Vickrey, a way to ensure the winning bidder at least pays a reasonable rate).

Rick Porcello - The low ERA this spring is nice, and he's going to be great someday. But I'm not entirely convinced he'll be successful out of the gate. His strikeout rate, which was low at High-A last year, remained low this spring (eight strikeouts in 15.2 major league spring training innings). It's one thing to get away with a low strikeout rate in spring training and the Florida State League, but an entirely different one in the majors - especially with Porcello having no Double-or-Triple-A experience. If you get him cheap in the draft, great. Just don't go spending a hefty portion of your FAAB budget on him.

Fernando Rodney - I expressed some reservations about him already on my other entry this evening, but probably not strongly enough. Scott was right with his post in the comments; Rodney has had and lost the closer's job before. He struggles with his command at times. And he can't stay healthy. Meanwhile, last year's first-round pick, Ryan Perry, looms quietly on the major league roster.