USA TODAY: Tigers plan on getting down to Series businessJanuary 27, 2008
By MEL ANTONEN
USA TODAY
The Detroit Tigers figure the time is now. This winter they dipped into their farm system so they can go into 2008 with a souped-up offense and a stronger, healthier rotation.
After watching the postseason on TV, the Tigers, who finished second to the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central, are taking aim at returning to the World Series.
"We were in a position where we traded a lot of young talent," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski says. "But, in this situation, it is where we are. It made sense. We got young players that will be with us for an extended period of time."
The Tigers, who were in the World Series in 2006, added third baseman Miguel Cabrera, 24, a four-time All-Star, and shortstop Edgar Renteria, who hit .332 last season for the Atlanta Braves. They added left-handed batter Jacque Jones to the outfield in a trade with the Chicago Cubs and lefty Dontrelle Willis, 26, to their rotation in the blockbuster with the Florida Marlins that also brought them Cabrera.
"We aren't thinking about the World Series, but we know we have a good team that's going to be fun to watch," Tigers manager Jim Leyland says. "We are going to be competitive in a tough division."
As spring training approaches, the Tigers roster is virtually set. The lineup, with Cabrera, Gary Sheffield and American League batting champion Magglio Ordonez, looks to be explosive. The defense is strong, and the rotation appears to be healthy.
The only questions are in the bullpen and what the Tigers are going to do about third basemen Brandon Inge, who is without a position with the acquisition of Cabrera. The Tigers say they are happy with their relievers, even though on their winter tour, fans constantly asked about the state of the bullpen.
"When we look at who else is out there at this point and who has really been available within a realistic situation, we don't look at a situation where we really see anybody out there that's a significant upgrade for us," Dombrowski told a group of Tigers fans in Ypsilanti, Mich. "Will we look at it? Sure. But we feel comfortable going into spring training with what we have."
The closer is Todd Jones, 39, who relies on guile over velocity to get hitters out. The eighth-inning setup pitcher is Fernando Rodney, who struggled with shoulder and forearm problems, and the lefty constants are Bobby Seay and Tim Byrdak, but other than that, there's competition in the pen.
Right-hander Joel Zumaya is out until at least midseason because of shoulder surgery. The Tigers hope righties Zach Miner and Jason Grilli can show improvement. And they like right-handed prospects Francisco Cruceta and Yorman Bazardo.
Inge, 30, who had been the Tigers' full-time third baseman for three seasons, wants to be traded. He has told the Tigers he'd be interested in returning to catching, where he played for them from 2001 to 2004, if it meant he could go to another team and play full time."We are exploring the possibilities," Tigers assistant GM AL Avila says.
If Inge, who hit .253 and .236 the last two seasons, isn't traded, Avila said the Tigers could use him as a super-utility player who could play third, catcher and left and center field.
If he is still with the Tigers, he will report early to Lakeland, Fla., with the pitchers and catchers. With his defensive skill as a catcher, combined with his hitting, the Tigers say, he could be an All-Star catcher.
"He could even play shortstop because he's a good athlete," Avila says.Jacque Jones, who played for the Minnesota Twins in the 2002 American League Championship Series, will be a boost "because he's a left-handed batter and he can play all three outfield positions," Leyland says.
The core of young pitchers in the rotation is going to be around awhile. Verlander, 24, who was 18-6 and had 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings last season, doesn't become free agent-eligible until after 2011. Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson and Willis are signed through 2010. The team is interested in signing Willis to a long-term contract as well.
Willis was 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA, but, Avila said, even though Willis' velocity was down, "We feel he's 100% and that he will bounce back with a good defense behind him."
Bonderman, 25, made 28 starts, his fewest in his five seasons with the Tigers, and finished with a 5.01 ERA. He had a 3.48 ERA before the All-Star break, 7.38 after. Avila says Bonderman pitched with elbow soreness that he shouldn't have tried to work through.
"We hope he's learned from that, and we think he's going to be healthy," Avila says.
Elbow problems and a blood clot in his shoulder limited Rogers, who won 17 games in 2006, to 11 starts last season. And even though he's 43, the Tigers think he'll be fine after a full spring training.
Leyland is looking forward to getting started. He has been thinking about lineups but isn't sure where Cabrera will hit.
"It will be third, fourth or fifth," Leyland says. "He's such a good hitter, I don't think I can go wrong no matter where I put him."
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Subject: USA TODAY: Tigers plan on getting down to Series business 
Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:00 pm
