Carlos Guillen is unhappy that Tigers manager Jim Leyland is moving him from shortstop to first base. He didn’t expect to move this early in a contract that runs through 2011. The Tigers probably wouldn’t make Guillen available to the White Sox, who should make shortstop a priority, but would the Brewers consider trading Bill Hall? The guy who hit .270 with 35 homers as Milwaukee’s regular shortstop a year ago seems expendable because of J.J. Hardy and Corey Hart, and the Brewers will look for pitching in the off-season. … Trading Hall could make it easier for the Brewers to re-sign closer Francisco Cordero, which is general manager Doug Melvin’s top priority. … The Braves might look to deal shortstop Edgar Renteria to allow Yunel Escobar to play his natural position. … Shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who led Cuban players with 20 homers this year, is establishing residence in the Dominican Republic with the hope of playing in the big leagues next season. He should get his chance, especially if he’s really only 26, as agent Jaime Torres claims.
Terry Francona made the right move by shuffling his rotation to get ready for the playoffs, even if it did contribute to the shrinking lead against the Yankees. He’s also right to keep pitching Eric Gagne, in the hope that something clicks and he can use him in October. If this was helping the Yankees make the playoffs, that would be different. But Seattle’s 9-18 record since Aug. 24 took off all the pressure. … Tampa Bay shut down its top starter, 12-game winner James Shields, even though he was due to face the Angels and Yankees in his last two starts. Manager Joe Maddon thought 215 innings were enough for a 25-year-old in his first full big-league season, and he is right. … Agent Scott Boras and the Rays’ management are doing an interesting dance regarding first baseman Carlos Pena, who passed through Boston, Texas, Oakland and Detroit before landing in Tampa Bay, where Boras has proclaimed him “the greatest player ever to put on a Devil Rays uniform.” He’s under the Devil Rays’ control through 2009, but the sides are talking about a long-term contract. … Because Garrett Atkins is entrenched at third base, the Rockies will move Ian Stewart from third to second in the Instructional League. If he can handle it, he could bring an All-Star-caliber bat to his new position.
