So the Young deal went through giving a 5-year $80M and this will be a big factor in the negotiatons with Guillen. It will be key for the Tigers in the coming years to not overspend on Guillen. With Ordonez under contract through 2009 paying out $12M this year, $15 in ‘08 and $18 in ‘09, Detroit needs to remain flexible. Not to mention that, regardless of the Young deal, it is not representative of how much this type of player is worth.

Keith Law’s blog today (Young’s new deal is puzzling) goes over why this deal is bad for Texas and many of the reasons are directly relevant to the Tigers situation with Guillen. At this point we will likely be left with the future at shortstop in question through much of the ‘07 season as I doubt Guillen and the Tigers are all too close in their negotiations. I would love to be proven wrong though, but not in a way that cripples the team in the future. With some veterans contracts coming due in Rogers, Rodriguez, Jones, Detroit has some spots to either re-sign or fill. With young talent throughout the team coming nearer and nearer free agency, Detroit has to save some room in the payroll to keep the top talent here in Detroit has they have recently done with Bonderman.

If done wrong, this deal could be a maker or breaker for Detroit for years to come.