Dombrowski discusses Pudge and Others

DETROIT -- Ivan Rodriguez's future, and whether or not it includes the Tigers, took a step toward clarity when team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski met with owner Mike Ilitch.

The meeting, which Dombrowski said took place on Wednesday, was a normal end-of-season discussion for them over lunch.

"We talked about every player," Dombrowski said.

Rodriguez was a major signing for the Tigers following their 119-loss season in 2003. Ilitch played an important role in that with more than just the financial backing; he met with Rodriguez personally and convinced him that he was determined to build a winner in Detroit.

Now, the Tigers have their winner, but the team has to decide whether the Rodriguez will be a part of it in 2008. The club must choose whether to exercise their $13 million option on him for next season or opt instead for the $3 million buyout, which would make him a free agent. That choice must be finalized within 10 days following the end of the World Series.

Following the season opener for the NHL's Detroit Red Wings Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena, Ilitch sounded an upbeat tone on Rodriguez while talking with The Associated Press.

"Pudge did a big thing for us, putting a face on the franchise," Ilitch told The AP. "He's made a lot of contributions. I don't think it'll be a tough call, but we'll see."

Dombrowski declined to go into details on the meeting or whether they're any closer to a decision on the option.

Whether or not Ilitch's comments mean the Tigers will pick up the option remains to be seen. However, with that much money at stake and Rodriguez's relationship with Ilitch, the owner will have a big say in whatever course the Tigers take in tandem with Dombrowski, whose front-office group must find a new catcher if they don't pick up the option or sign Rodriguez to a new deal.

Rodriguez turns 36 years old next month and is coming off what Dombrowski called, on balance, a "solid" season. He batted .281 with 31 doubles, 11 home runs and 63 RBIs this season, but his nine walks drawn marked the second-lowest total for a player with at least 500 plate appearances in a season since 1949, resulting in a .294 on-base percentage. Defensively, he threw out 21 of 68 would-be basestealers, a low percentage for him thanks in part to Tigers pitchers' struggles holding on runners.

Even if the Tigers decide not to pick up the option, they could try to renegotiate his contract before the deadline on the option. That has not happened so far; Rodriguez said over the weekend that he had not talked with the Tigers about his contract, and agent Scott Boras told the Detroit Free Press earlier this week that he has not talked with the Tigers on the matter recently.

Option picked up.....