Who are the Tigers looking at for signing in 2009

11/10/08 12:00 AM EST
Rebuilding Tigers talk temporary fixes
Promising prospects have team looking for short-term signees

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- As five-year plans go, the Tigers could've done a lot worse. This offseason, more than any recently, is about the next five years.

Five years ago, Detroit entered the offseason looking for help at specific positions, but really seeking respectability after their 119-loss 2003 season. Ivan Rodriguez hit the market, and the Tigers pounced, shocking the baseball world. The Mariners put Carlos Guillen on the trade market, and the Tigers didn't hesitate. A year later, they scooped up Magglio Ordonez. Together, they became the face of a franchise revival that combined with a young core to send Detroit all the way to the World Series.

Fast-forward to this winter, and the Tigers are again coming off a last-place finish with needs to fill -- a catcher again, a shortstop and any pitching help they can get. But unlike those earlier days, their star power is already set. This offseason isn't about making a huge splash to transform a franchise into a contender. It's about making the ripples that can help get a team back there.

It's also about filling the gaps before the next young core is ready to emerge.

"I would be surprised if we're real big participants in free agency," team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said recently. "We have a solid core of players."

Financially, the Tigers are pretty much where they're going to be. Detroit isn't looking to add to a payroll that ranked among the top three teams in baseball at around $138 million this past season. Yet with around $102 million already committed to 10 players on the 40-man roster and a handful of others eligible for arbitration, the Tigers are not heading for a huge drop, either.

That adds up to around the same payroll for this coming season. To Dombrowski, it's enough to get what the Tigers need.

"We've got plenty of finances that are attributed to our ballclub," Dombrowski said. "Now we just have to make them work better for us."

Barring a sea of change in the market, that won't include a run at the top tier of free agents. It isn't simply a matter of dollars, but also years.

With Justin Verlander a crucial part of the Tigers' plans for seasons to come, Rick Porcello not far away and others under contract for two more years, Detroit isn't expected to invest long-term contracts to bring in starting pitching. The organization invested heavily in pitching in the First-Year Player Draft, hoping to build a future bullpen with help from the likes of Ryan Perry, Cody Satterwhite and Scott Greenand avoid some of the risky relief contracts that have become prevalent in the open market.

At shortstop, Dombrowski believes he could have an everyday player emerge from the farm system by 2010, whether it's Cale Iorg, Danny Worth or someone else.

In all of those areas, the Tigers appear more inclined to search for short-term help for now until their prospects are ready. With short-term contracts and flexibility a precious commodity nowadays, the Tigers are looking to maintain what maneuverability they have.

Detroit has shown some interest along with other clubs in Padres shortstop Khalil Greene, who could be dealt with one year left on his contract. Previous interest could be revived in Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, whose contract is also guaranteed through 2009. Julio Lugo's situation in Boston with the emergence of Jed Lowrie could conceivably prompt a swap of contracts with one of Detroit's extra starting pitchers.

Although the top level of free-agent shortstops appears headed out of Detroit's sights with Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera seeking longer-term contracts, the next tier on the market includes defensive options such as Omar Vizquel, Cesar Izturis, Nick Punto and Adam Everett, whose gloves could lead a general upgrade in infield defense.

Unlikely as it seems, the Tigers could yet go back to Edgar Renteria, whose 2008 season in Detroit was disappointing, but who could be a fallback option under a short-term deal with the defensively adept Brandon Inge adding range at third.

The catching market is trickier, thanks to supply and demand. Rodriguez and Boston's Jason Varitek are the top free agents, and both are expected to seek long-term contracts as they head towards their late 30's under the guidance of agent Scott Boras. The next tier includes mostly platoon catchers, such as Gregg Zaun, Michael Barrett and Henry Blanco.

The trade market for catchers centers around Texas, where the Rangers have more young backstops than they can play and a need for young pitching. The problem the Tigers face with their reported interest in Gerald Laird is that they're not as deep in pitching prospects as other clubs in the mix. If the Tigers fall short on that front, they could end up with a platoon situation, signing a veteran to work alongside and mentor catching prospect Dusty Ryan.

The same problem comes up with the Tigers' pursuit of relievers, specifically options at closer. Though stoppers such as Florida's Kevin Gregg and Oakland's Huston Street, along with potentially Seattle's J.J. Putz, are expected to draw trade interest -- all of them are eligible for free agency after next season or 2010 -- the asking price of pitching prospects is expected to again provide a challenge.

That could send the Tigers onto the market for the next tier of relievers, crafting a late-inning corps out of multiple signings. They have already shown interest in former Nationals closer Chad Cordero, who had surgery for a torn labrum in July, but could be back as soon as next spring.

It'll be a tricky market for the Tigers to navigate as they to set up a rebound season. More than 2003 or '04, Detroit's approach more resembles '05, when the Tigers passed up on the top tier of starters and closer to target shorter-term contracts and more flexibility. As it turned out, Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones were major pieces in Detroit's run to the World Series the next fall.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

TIGERS NOTEBOOK
Agent: Tigers looking at Darren Oliver

BY JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • November 13, 2008

The Tigers are one of four teams interested in signing free-agent reliever Darren Oliver, the left-hander's agent confirmed to the Free Press on Wednesday.

Mike McCann said Detroit and the Los Angeles Angels, for whom Oliver has pitched since 2007, are among the clubs that plan to pursue Oliver this off-season. Oliver, 38, went 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 54 appearances this year. He held left-handed batters to a .229 average.

Upgrading the bullpen is one of the Tigers' chief priorities this winter. They already have contacted representatives for right-handers Trevor Hoffman, Brandon Lyon and David Weathers, as well as left-hander Arthur Rhodes, and have expressed an interest in Florida right-hander Kevin Gregg.

Sign of the times: One day after Kenny Rogers filed for free agency, club president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said the left-hander has yet to tell the team whether he plans to pitch in 2009. Even players who intend to retire file for free agency when their major-league contracts expire. Rogers went 9-13 record with a 5.70 ERA in 30 starts this year. ... Left-hander Macay McBride has agreed to terms with the club on a 2009 contract that will pay him the league minimum in the majors ($400,000) or $113,300 in the minors. McBride, 26, missed most of the 2008 season because of surgery on his throwing elbow.

Contact JON PAUL MOROSI at 313-223-4097 or jmorosi@freepress.com.

11/14/08 12:01 AM EST
As open period begins, Tigers watching
Free agents now able to discuss terms with any interested team

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The free-agent portion of baseball's Hot Stove market hit full speed Friday morning, but it's not expected to affect the Tigers' pace on their offseason shopping.

With the exclusive negotiating period having expired at midnight ET, free agents are now free to talk contract terms with any team they wish, not just their 2008 club. But as team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski pointed out, it's usually the marquee free agents who first set the tone for a market, establishing values for the next tier of players.

With the Tigers not eyeing the top tier of free agents this winter and not in a position to overwhelm a player with a contract offer, they're likely in for a waiting game for the next group. As it stands, they aren't on the verge of any moves as the open period begins.

"We're not going to be after the real big guys out there," Dombrowski said Thursday, "since we have so many guys that we've spent on in the past. Usually those are the guys that sign first, but you never know."

Even when the Tigers have moved big on the free-agent front in recent years, those deals have never taken place early. Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez were among the last signings of the offseason before the 2004 and 2005 seasons, respectively. Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones signed around the Winter Meetings three years ago.

The Tigers' top priority on the market remains relief pitching, specifically at closer, along with finding a shortstop and catcher. A potential closing target disappeared Thursday, when the Cubs acquired Kevin Gregg from the Marlins, but it could open another option with the man whose loss Gregg could fill in Chicago. Kerry Wood is now on the market, free to talk with other clubs. With Wood relatively young and holding the potential for a long-term contract, however, he presents an unlikely fit for the Tigers, who are looking for a short-term contract to hold down the spot until their young relief arms begin to emerge from the farm system.

The Tigers have been in touch with the agents for former Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon, ex-Nationals stopper Chad Cordero and Angels left-hander Darren Oliver, among others. They've also been in touch with the Beverly Hills Sports Council, whose agents represent Padres closer Trevor Hoffman, former Reds closer David Weathers and veteran lefty Arthur Rhodes. That group is expected to expand now that monetary terms can be exchanged.

At this point, Friday could provide more interest among the Tigers' own crop of free agents. The Tigers have not had negotiations regarding shortstop Edgar Renteria, reliever Kyle Farnsworth or starting pitcher Freddy Garcia. All three are now free to talk with other clubs, as are Kenny Rogers, Casey Fossum and Vance Wilson.

Friday seemingly means little for Rogers, who has yet to inform the Tigers whether he wants to pitch next year. If he does, he said near season's end, he wants to pitch for Detroit, the same sentiment that led him to part ways with agent Scott Boras and re-sign with the Tigers last fall. Detroit, in turn, has not closed the door on another season for the 44-year-old left-hander.

Garcia plans to use winter ball in the Venezuelan League to show his health to scouts after shoulder surgery knocked him out for more than a year until he made a few starts for the Tigers down the stretch. He's reportedly on track to make his winter ball debut Saturday, but he has already drawn some interest from other clubs.
Renteria, too, has attracted some interest, but he could be a later signing. As a Type-A free agent, a team would have to give up a first- or second-round pick in next year's First-Year Player Draft to sign him before the December deadline for the Tigers to offer him arbitration. Dombrowski has left open some possibility of bringing back Renteria, but it's a fallback option for now.

Wilson has expressed interest in returning to the Tigers, which could happen on a Minor League contract.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Friday, November 14, 2008
Tom Gage
Tigers go from big spenders to coupon clippers

DETROIT -- Let the shopping begin.

The doors to baseball's free-agent store swung open at midnight. Those players eligible to file have filed. Teams have had time to pinpoint their needs, and while the annual scene isn't as cutthroat as Best Buy opening for business the morning after Thanksgiving, the rush to load the cart gets pretty frantic.

"Hello, Scott Boras, it's that time of year again."

"A three-year contract? We can offer a two."

"Keep in touch."

It's the same for every team whether you're the Dodgers with lots of money to spend -- most of it on Manny Ramirez, they hope. Or the Tigers, who've had money to spend in the past, but not anymore.

The extent to which the Tigers will subtract from their $138 million payroll isn't known. It's only known they're not in a position to add to it.

But they're a team with needs, so what do they do? They proceed carefully, that's what they do.

The Tigers aren't a money-bags team this winter. That's not to say they won't ever be again. That's not to say owner Mike Ilitch has padlocked his wallet forever. They're maxed out, that's all.

They can't keep adding, especially after a year as bad as the one they just went through.

Keep in mind what manager Jim Leyland said near the end of the season about fixing things.

"We're not going to go out and say, 'Well, it didn't work out, go get another one and spend whatever you want,' " Leyland said. "That's not going to happen and it shouldn't happen."

In other words, the Tigers can't go running to Ilitch for a bailout.

They can't ask him to commit a lot of money for a starting shortstop or a high-priced closer when they already have $102 million committed to a nucleus of 10 players for 2009.

They'll either have to depend on the resourcefulness of Dave Dombrowski as a general manager to fill the holes through trades or they'll wait for the first tier of free agents to sign elsewhere and see who sifts down to what the Tigers can afford.

Either way, there's no reason not to believe Dombrowski when, as he recently said, "I would be surprised if we're real big participants in free agency."

Even so, it's fun to thumb through the catalog -- even if it amounts to nothing more than window shopping.

Where to start

The Tigers need a catcher, now that they've committed to Brandon Inge as a third baseman. There are 16 free-agent catchers.

They also need a shortstop, after not picking up the option on Edgar Renteria's contract. Renteria disappointed the Tigers, especially his range, and while they left the door open at the time to considering Renteria for 2009 if he'd take less, second marriages not only seldom work, but seldom take place.

As with catchers, though, there are 16 free-agent shortstops to choose from. Finding one who'll contribute more than Renteria did while making substantially less won't be easy.

Others will spend, though

Starting with the Dodgers' pursuit of Ramirez and the Yankees trying to land CC Sabathia, though, free-agent season should be an entertaining one. The back-and-forth already has started, with the Dodgers apparently ready to step up their offer to three years.

It's expected, however, that uber-agent Boras will spend all of 10 seconds more considering a three-year proposal than he would have a two. Boras almost always plays his cards correctly this time of year, and there's no reason to think he won't land a mutually-acceptable contract for Ramirez, whether in L.A. or elsewhere.

The Tigers will be on the outside looking in at such proceedings. They might sign a relief pitcher or two. They could even sign a catcher and a shortstop.

But the big national headlines the Tigers have frequently made in the past -- whether with the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera, a trade for Gary Sheffield or the signing of Magglio Ordonez as a free agent -- are exactly that ...

In the past.

You can reach Tom Gage at tom.gage@detnews.com

JON PAUL MOROSI'S BLOG
Trevor Hoffman's agent expects to hear from Tigers soon

By JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • November 14, 2008

Today, teams can begin discussing financial terms with every free agent on baseball’s off-season marketplace.

Now that the negotiating period is underway, the agent for closer Trevor Hoffman expects to hear from the Tigers soon.

“They are a team I would expect will have a lot of interest,” Rick Thurman said in a text message to the Free Press late Thursday night.

Hoffman, 41, is baseball’s all-time leader with 554 saves, all but two of which have come with San Diego. But negotiations between Thurman and the Padres broke down recently, and Hoffman apparently will switch teams for the first time since the 1993 trade that sent him from Florida to San Diego.

The Tigers are in search of a closer, because of Todd Jones’ retirement, Fernando Rodney’s inconsistency and Joel Zumaya’s inability to stay healthy. Thurman said he has not discussed the Tigers with Hoffman in any detail, other than to inform him that they are a potential suitor.

“We have not keyed on specific teams yet,” Thurman said.

Detroit officials expressed mild interest in closers Huston Street and Kevin Gregg before they were traded earlier this week. Street went from Oakland to Colorado, Gregg from Florida to the Chicago Cubs.

Several closers may still become available via trade. Seattle could deal away Michigan native J.J. Putz as part of its rebuilding effort. Baltimore’s George Sherrill and Pittsburgh’s Matt Capps may be moved, as well, but the prices would be steep because neither is close to free agency.

Tigers club president/general manager Dave Dombrowski has said he believes the team’s farm system will produce a closer for the 2010 season. So, he is unlikely to pursue free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, who are expected to receive multiyear deals at more than $10 million per annum.

Now that they have acquired Gregg, the Cubs are not expected to retain popular veteran Kerry Wood, a free agent who saved 34 games for them this year. In a teleconference with reporters on Thursday afternoon, Cubs GM Jim Hendry said he believes Wood deserves a three- or four-year deal.

If Hendry’s assessment proves accurate, Wood will probably be out of the Tigers’ price range – as Rodriguez and Fuentes already appear to be.

For Detroit, the optimal closer would arrive on a one-year contract. That is a chief reason why Hoffman, presumably nearing the end of a brilliant career, is so appealing to the Tigers.

Thurman, however, has not ruled out the possibility of Hoffman signing a multiyear contract.

“I believe there will be a few teams that will be offering multiyear deals,” Thurman said. “This ultimately will be up to Trevor. As you know, this will be the first time he will be going to a new city (since 1993). The city and the team will be keys to Trevor’s decision to go one year or two.”

Hoffman lives in the San Diego suburb of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. When asked about the role of geography in Hoffman’s decision, Thurman said, “I don’t know that matters as much as a team and a city he likes, and players and coaching staff he respects and wants to play with.”

11/14/08 8:59 PM EST
Wood likely out of Tigers' relief hunt
Hoffman, other more short-term options more likely targets

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The Tigers' search for a closer took a new step Friday, with teams able to talk financial terms and offer contract to other teams' free agents. At least one closer now on the open market, however, appears out of reach.

On the day team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski met with reporters to announce a plan that will keep prices on most tickets unchanged from this year to next, he also gave an indication of where the team stood in its attempts at on-field changes this winter. While their search for help at closer continued, that search appears unlikely to include Kerry Wood.
Wood's tenure with the Cubs, the only team in his 10-year Major League career, appears over after Chicago traded for Marlins closer Kevin Gregg earlier this week. The somewhat surprising move effectively added a reliever whom many teams expected to stay put on the market.

Dombrowski reiterated Friday that the Tigers do not expect to get involved with the top tier of free-agent closers. When asked if he considered Wood a top-tier closer, Dombrowski indicated that he did.

That meshes with the expectations Wood and the Tigers take into the market. The 31-year-old Wood is believed to seeking at least a three-year contract; Detroit wants any deal for a closer to be short-term, leaving room for one of the team's prospects to take over in 2010.

That leaves the Tigers looking for short-term deals with the next tier of closers on the market. They've had discussions regarding former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman, who is expected to draw a strong amount of interest around baseball for a one- or two-year contract.

Hoffman's agent, Rick Thurman, began more detailed discussions with clubs on Friday, having essentially eliminated the Padres as an option. Thurman's agency, the Beverly Hills Sports Council, also represents former closers David Weathers and Jason Isringhausen, two other potential Tigers options.

Hoffman saved 30 games this past season for a Padres team that won just 63. The 39-year-old Weathers spent the year as the Reds' setup man for Francisco Cordero after saving 33 games in 2007. Isringhausen battled injuries, limiting him to 42 appearances and 12 saves for the Cardinals after averaging about 38 saves over the previous four seasons.

"There are a lot of free-agent relief pitchers out there," Dombrowski said, "and that is one of our areas of need."

There were no indications that the Tigers will move quickly on them. Dombrowski said they made no contract offers on Friday, and he seemed to make the argument for moving deliberately in a market that he said has "a lot of free agents out there."

"You normally want to be aggressive in free agency," Dombrowski said, "but I don't know if aggressiveness is going to pay off in this situation."

Likewise, the Tigers weren't aggressive with their own free agents during the exclusive negotiating period that ended Thursday, but Dombrowski cautioned that they haven't closed the door on bringing some of them back. They will watch starting pitcher Freddy Garcia closely once he starts pitching winter ball in Venezuela, which he'll reportedly begin Saturday.

"He's a guy we will continue to watch," Dombrowski said.

As for shortstop Edgar Renteria, Dombrowski gave his strongest indication yet that the Tigers aren't expecting him to return. The Tigers want to explore the shortstop free-agent market and trade front before deciding whether to revisit talks with Renteria's agent, Barry Meister, but interest in Renteria appears to be moving steadily.

"I think in Edgar's case, we continue to be open," Dombrowski said. "But my instincts, from what I'm hearing, is that there will be other clubs [with interest]."

Meister has said that Renteria plans to moves in a different direction. The complicating factor in that regard is that as a Type-A free agent, any team that signs him will owe Detroit a Draft pick unless the Tigers decline to offer him arbitration by the Dec. 1 deadline.

Dombrowski tried to put a stop to rumors that the Tigers were looking to trade outfielder Magglio Ordonez. Though he said that they will listen to interest in any player, they are not calling teams on potential deals for Ordonez.

"This kind of became a runaway train to me," Dombrowski said. "We're not looking to trade Magglio."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I don't know why, but I really see the Rangers going after Wood.

Hoffman or Weathers may be ok, but Isringhausen does not thrill me!

11/18/08 8:40 PM EST
Tigers interested in lefty Beimel
Dombrowski would like to have two southpaws in bullpen

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT --Add Joe Beimel to the list of left-handed relievers the Tigers have explored. The club has been in touch with his agent and shown interest, according to the Detroit Free Press.

While the Tigers have placed priority on adding a shortstop, catcher and closer, they've also started to at least explore the option of upgrading the left side of their bullpen. Detroit also has shown interest in fellow free agents Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes. Several other options exist on the trade market.

Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski has said he would like to have two left-handers available in the bullpen. That setup worked well for them during the run to the postseason in 2006, when Jamie Walker and Bobby Seay formed an effective duo in the seventh and eighth innings. Seay and Tim Byrdak did much the same in 2007.

That depth never seemed to form this past season. While Seay allowed a .303 batting average to left-handed hitters, Detroit struggled to find another option after releasing Byrdak in Spring Training. Clay Rapada held lefties to a .237 average, but he walked seven in 47 plate appearances. Lefties batted .243 against Casey Fossum, but he struggled in longer outings against right-handed batters.

Dombrowski is hoping to have Macay McBride as an internal candidate alongside Rapada. However, McBride is coming back from elbow surgery that limited him to one inning at Triple-A Toledo this year.

The 31-year-old Beimel went 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA this past season for the Dodgers, tossing 49 innings over 71 appearances. Left-handed hitters batted .278 against him in 2008, compared to a .263 average against right-hander batters. His previous two seasons in Los Angeles, however, saw lefty hitters bat .188 against him in '07 and .234 in '06.

One free-agent left-hander whom the Tigers are not currently pursuing is Will Ohman, who appears to be emerging as one of the more desirable setup relievers on the market. While as many as 10 teams have had discussions regarding Ohman, the Tigers have not been in touch, agent Page Odle told MLB.com on Tuesday.

Ohman has a contract offer from the Braves which is believed to be for two years and $8 million.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

11/19/08 6:22 PM EST
Zumaya's rehab affects Tigers' moves
Club looking for relief help with righty's status for '09 uncertain

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Joel Zumaya gave the Tigers a triple-digit fastball route to respectability when he went from the Minor Leagues to the back end of Detroit's bullpen at age 21. Now, as Zumaya makes steady progress back from injury, the Tigers are hoping for the best and preparing for worse.

Their hopes could even include another shutdown reliever from the farm.

Two seasons have passed since Zumaya became a setup force for the Tigers, helping fuel their run to the World Series. The past two years have been a flustering series of injuries for him, from the tendon he ruptured in his right middle finger warming up in Kansas City to the surgery he needed to reconstruct the shoulder joint damaged in an offseason accident.

Zumaya made it back this summer and pitched for about two months before soreness in the surgically repaired shoulder forced him back to the disabled list. What was hoped to be the tearing of scar tissue turned out to be a stress fracture, sidelining him for the final six weeks of the season.

Whether it sidelines Zumaya for the start of next season is a question the Tigers can't yet answer with any certainty. With that, the Tigers have to plan as if he might not be available.

Zumaya pitched in 62 games as a rookie in 2006. He has made 49 appearances in the two years since then.

"It's been huge for us to not have him," manager Jim Leyland said. "It's been a disaster for us to not have him, to be honest with you. The players had so much confidence in him, and fans feed off of him. You're talking about a real impact guy. It obviously hasn't been easy, but you go on and do the best you can."

The news started to become encouraging for Zumaya again this month, when he was cleared to begin exercises to rehab the shoulder. Head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said Monday that Zumaya is pain-free and has full range of motion in the shoulder.

That puts Zumaya on a path towards throwing again soon. However, Rand said, they want to make sure that he works out his shoulder back to full strength before he tries it.

It isn't much yet, but it's a good sign for the Tigers at this point, enough that they're hoping to have him pitching this coming spring.

"That's what we're hoping for," team vice president and assistant general manager Al Avila said. "It's basically a week-to-week, month-to-month situation. So far, the progress has been good. You couldn't make a conclusion today, but we're pleased with the progress."

Nonetheless, the injury history provides plenty of reason for caution. It also provides plenty of reason for the Tigers to prepare in case he isn't ready.

While the Tigers face positional needs at shortstop and catcher, their bullpen is going to be the trickiest to maneuver. Beyond the obvious need for a closer and a recent search for left-handed relief help, the Tigers have the seventh and eighth innings to fill, too. Zumaya's sugery last year and Fernando Rodney's lingering pain left the Tigers short-handed there to open in 2008, and they never recovered.

Adding a closer, where the options include Trevor Hoffman, pushes Rodney back from his late-season closing role to setup. That would fill part of the role, but likely not all.

That compounds the task for the Tigers, whose interest has ranged from closers such as Hoffman and Brandon Lyon to several left-handers -- some specialists, others middle relievers. They have an internal option with Zach Miner, though he looms larger as a starter while the Tigers wait for Kenny Rogers to decide whether he'll pitch in 2009 and Freddy Garcia to make some starts in winter ball.

"If we're able to help ourselves by getting a quality reliever, it's obvious you help the depth of your bullpen," Avila said. "It doesn't really matter where you lot Rodney and Zumaya at the end of the day."

Then there's the dream scenario, for history to repeat itself and the Tigers to find another reliever from the farm system. The problem is that it doesn't happen often, and the Tigers don't have clear-cut candidates, at least at the start of the season. Casey Fien's performance in the Arizona Fall League -- including a 1.84 ERA, no walks and 15 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings -- certainly gives him momentum heading toward Spring Training.

The wild card could be one of the hard-throwing pitchers the Tigers selected in the early rounds of June's First-Year Player Draft. It's not likely enough for the Tigers to curtail their offseason shopping, at least at this stage. But it's enough of a presence that nobody is ruling out the likes of first-round pick Ryan Perry, Cody Satterwhite or Scott Green at least making the club.

"I'll take talent," Leyland said. "You just have to make sure that they can handle it mentally and emotionally. It's a pretty big grind in the Major Leagues day after day."

Leyland saw the confidence in Zumaya and Justin Verlander in 2006 once he had enough time to observe them in camp. He saw the stuff of Perry and Satterwhite in instructional ball, but he has yet to see the makeup.

"Verander's a tough guy," Leyland said. "Zumaya's a real macho guy. That's why I was ready to take them in 2006. I knew they weren't going to get nervous facing big league hitters. Their confidence was too good. I don't know that yet [about these guys]. We'll see how they throw, how they react, how they react when they get knocked around, because they will get knocked around. It's going to be very interesting."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

11/19/08 9:40 PM EST
Tigers among Oliver's suitors
Interest continues for versatile, veteran lefty reliever

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The Tigers continue to show interest in Darren Oliver, and they're now among a handful of clubs in an active mix for the free-agent left-handed reliever. However, Oliver's agent, Mike McCann, said on Wednesday that he doesn't expect a deal with any club to be struck soon.

Detroit has had multiple conversations with McCann, whose client became one of the more valued lefties on the market by holding left-handed batters to a .229 average on his way to a 7-1 record and a 2.88 ERA in 72 innings for the Angels this past season. Those talks with the Tigers haven't advanced past the formative stages, but there appears to be the foundation to do so.

"I think there's a mutual interest on both sides," McCann said.

Oliver has had interest from 10 teams to varying degrees, McCann said, a group that has grown in recent days since clubs were able to talk contract terms with other teams' free agents. The Angels also have an interest in re-signing Oliver, and they can require a first- or second-round Draft pick from another club if they offer arbitration to the Type A free agent. Because the Angels don't have to decide that until Dec. 1, no deal is expected until after that.
"It's early [for teams], and it's early for us, too," McCann said. "We're still trying to gather some facts at this point."

Nonetheless, talks seem to be progressing with clubs, much the way they have with other lefty relievers on the free-agent market. Recent deals for Damaso Marte with the Yankees and Jeremy Affeldt with the Giants likely ensure that the 38-year-old Oliver will get a multiyear deal. He earned a one-year contract plus a vesting option from the Angels when he last hit the market, two years ago.

Oliver potentially fills two needs for the Tigers, who are looking for a second lefty reliever alongside Bobby Seay while also seeking someone who can handle an inning or two at a time in middle-inning and setup situations. A former Major League starter who converted to relief full-time with the Mets in 2006, Oliver has averaged 72 innings and 53 games per season over the past three years, while also finishing off 39 games in that stretch.

Detroit has also shown interest in left-handers Joe Beimel and Arthur Rhodes.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

We should go after him, we need pen help.

SEE
Hot Stove roundup: Infielders fill market

11/21/08 5:24 PM EST
Tigers remain in holding pattern at short
Possibility of Lugo deal remains, but no progress made for now

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The possibility of the Tigers acquiring Julio Lugo from the Red Sox appears far from dead, but it hasn't advanced toward a deal, either. At this point, it's one of Detroit's options as its search for a shortstop likely continues towards Thanksgiving and beyond.

No deal is close for the Tigers on anyone on the shortstop front, baseball sources have said in recent days, but nobody has ruled out a Lugo deal. One source characterized it as possible, but cautioned that things might move slowly until teams and free agents get close to next month's Winter Meetings.

Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said this week that the Tigers have had talks with two clubs -- believed to be the Red Sox for Lugo and the Padres for Khalil Greene -- while also looking at free agents, and that they're getting a better idea about their options. Detroit has stayed away from pursuing top free agents such as Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera out of reluctance to pursue a long-term deal, one factor that could lead the Tigers towards Lugo.

The deal would essentially result in a contract swap, which would make financial sense for a Tigers club trying to hold payroll steady for next year. Though various reports raised starting pitchers Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis as possibilities, more buzz has circulated around Willis, whose 2008 season as a Tiger began with control woes, stalled with a hyperextended right knee and included a summer stint in the Minor Leagues before Willis rejoined the big league club in September.

Lugo, Willis and Robertson all have two more guaranteed seasons on their respective contracts -- Willis at $22 million over the next two years, Robertson at $17 million and Lugo at $18 million. Lugo has a $9 million option for 2011 that could automatically vest based on plate appearances, but he's unlikely to reach that after missing the second half of this season with a severely torn left quadriceps.

The problem for the Tigers, and certainly for the Red Sox, was that Lugo struggled before the injury. He made 16 errors in just 81 games, close to his 2007 total of 19 errors in 145 games and near the lead at his position at the time. Lugo batted .268 with 13 doubles, one home run and 22 RBIs in 261 at-bats.

It remains to be seen how Boston's trade of Coco Crisp and his $5.75 million salary for 2009 to Kansas City on Wednesday would affect any deal, notably the Red Sox's ability pick up part of Lugo's contract.An agreement on that aspect would allow the Tigers to save money while still addressing one of their offseason priorities.

A short-term solution at shortstop is key for the Tigers, who want to have the job ready for prospects Cale Iorg and/or Danny Worth in 2010.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

AROUND THE HORN
Tigers still looking at shortstop Jack Wilson

BY JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • November 23, 2008

Nearly 16 months after the Tigers came close to acquiring him at the 2007 trade deadline, the team is interested in obtaining shortstop Jack Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, an industry official confirmed to the Free Press on Friday.

Wilson is due $7.25 million in 2009 and $8.4 million (or a $600,000 buyout) in 2010.

In that respect, he fits an important criterion in the Tigers' search for a shortstop: Wilson's contract is short enough that prospect Cale Iorg could inherit the everyday job at some point in 2010.

At the general managers' meetings this month, Pirates GM Neal Huntington said, "If we get the right return, then we'd move Jack.

In a perfect world, you trade Jack for a young shortstop, but there may not be that scenario out there. We have to accumulate talent right now."

Wilson, who turns 31 next month, was limited to a career-low 87 games in 2008 because of a torn calf muscle and fractured finger.

He batted .272 with one home run and 22 RBIs.

Foxsports.com reported Saturday that the Pirates are attempting to acquire catcher Matt Treanor from the Florida Marlins and then package Wilson and Treanor in a trade with Detroit.

The Tigers are looking for at least one catcher this off-season.

Catching prospect Dusty Ryan, one candidate to make the Opening Day roster, is batting .111 with Ponce of the Puerto Rican Winter League.

LOS ANGELES: Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley had surgery on Saturday after fracturing his leg in a fall at his Reading, Pa., home. Team spokesman Josh Rawitch said that the 24-year-old slipped on ice outside his house. He had surgery to put a plate in and will be in a cast for two weeks. Rawitch said Billingsley should be ready to throw by spring training.

NEW YORK: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday that Hideki Matsui, who underwent surgery on his left knee at the end of the 2008 season, will skip the 2009 World Baseball Classic that begins March 9.

Free Press news services contributed.

Tigers eye bullpen blueprint of Phillies, Rays
by Steve Kornacki
Sunday November 23, 2008, 1:00 AM

DETROIT -- Nothing is as demoralizing for a baseball team as watching leads disappear in the late innings. Players trudge off the field after such losses, and they are hard to shake.

The Detroit Tigers blew 28 saves in 2008, with the vast majority coming after dependable closer Todd Jones' shoulder gave out in late July. Neither Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya nor Kyle Farnsworth proved a worthy successor to Jones, who retired as the club's all-time saves leader.

They twice blew two save opportunities in one game. And the setup men were responsible for game giveaways as well.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland will use Rodney in some late-inning role and left-hander Bobby Seay will be in the bullpen. But other than that the relief pitching is up in the air.

How can Detroit hope to compete if it isn't in the running for the prime free agent closers, Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes and Kerry Wood? What hope does it have?

More than you might think.

Both the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays had major bullpen problems at this time last year, and both finished second in their leagues with 47 and 52 saves, respectively. And they did it with makeovers involving castoff relievers or pitchers who blossomed after dismal seasons.

The Phillies had only eighth-inning specialist Ryan Madson to count on, but added closer Brad Lidge, whose dependability had taken a significant hit in Houston, and sometimes-starter free agent Chad Durbin from Detroit. They picked up discarded southpaw J.C. Romero at midseason in 2007.

Those transactions were the key to Phillies general manager Pat Gillick building a World Series champion. Lidge's 3.36 ERA and 19 saves in 2007 improved to 1.95 with 41 saves in as many opportunities in 2008. Then he went 7-for-7 in the postseason, falling to his knees after saving the Series clincher.

"There are a lot of different ways to replicate what Philadelphia did," said Tigers general manager Dombrowski, "and that's what we are trying to do."

One National League source said Detroit is "turning over every stone" in search of the right relief combination.

Dombrowski is highly unlikely to enter the bidding on Rodriguez, Fuentes or Wood.

Trevor Hoffman, with his declining effectiveness at age 41, doesn't seem like a good investment at the price he will command. So, a David Weathers, Chad Cordero (though, he's coming off shoulder surgery) or Brandon Lyon makes more sense for Detroit.

Competition will be keen because Cleveland, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Texas and the New York Mets also are coveting closers.

Free agents who could spruce up the bullpen while providing much-needed leadership include veterans Arthur Rhodes, ex-Tiger Doug Brocail and Darren Oliver.

None of them made more than Brocail's $2.5 million last year, and remain effective despite advancing years. Detroit also has spoken with the agent for Los Angeles Dodgers setup man Joe Beimel, 31, who was 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA.

Jeremy Affeldt became the first of 171 free agents to sign last week, and the ex-Cincinnati reliever got $8 million for two years from San Francisco despite registering not so much as one save last year. But he was solid, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA and striking out 80 in 78 1/3 innings.

That signing provided an early gauge for the cost of signing setup relievers, but Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila said Thursday that discussions slowed as the week came to a close.

Seattle's J.J. Putz, a Trenton native who pitched at the University of Michigan, and Colorado's Huston Street are intriguing trade options and proven closers.

Putz had 40 saves as an All-Star in 2007 before getting only 15 in an injury-plagued 2008. Street, who had 37 saves in 2006, was traded this month by Oakland after losing his closer job to Brad Ziegler. But he was still 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 18 saves, while striking out 69 in 70 innings last season. And the Rockies are known to be including him in trade talks.

Houston also appears to be shopping talented Jose Valverde, 29, who had 44 saves and struck out 83 in 72 innings. Valverde made $4.7 million in 2008 and won't come or stay cheaply.

Nailing down games with late-inning leads is crucial to the Tigers' turnaround hopes.

Detroit converted only 55 percent of its save opportunities last year, and that drops to a truly alarming 39 percent if you subtract Jones, who was 18-for-21 in saves. Only two American League clubs had fewer saves than Detroit's 34.

"There are no magical formulas outside of premium closers," Dombrowski said. "But we have good arms in the system and a lot of possibilities there."

Dombrowski has in-house options if trades and free agents don't answer his needs. The Tigers used their first four picks in the June 2008 draft on hard-throwing college closers. Don't be surprised if one of that foursome -- Ryan Perry, Cody Saterwhite, Scott Green or Brett Jacobson -- shows enough to make the club at some point in 2009.

They could end up making the splash Zumaya, now a question mark with shoulder problems, did in helping Detroit reach the 2006 World Series.

And there are pitchers who have pitched well in the minors and Arizona Fall League such as Rudy Darrow, Casey Fien, Luis Marte and Zach Simons (recently added to the 40-man roster) to be considered.

Nate Robertson and Zach Miner could make a difference in the bullpen, but are more likely to start.

"Nate is working very hard this offseason with Pilates," Dombrowski said. "He's getting in great shape and his flexibility is improving. He's got to earn a spot in the starting rotation, but will get that opportunity in the spring.

"Zach can pitch very well in both capacities, but today he would be a starter."

Dombrowski expects Jeremy Bonderman (June surgery resulting from a blood clot in his right arm) to be fully recovered by the start of the season, and he will join Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga and likely Miner in the rotation. The fifth spot likely will go to Robertson, but Freddy Garcia could get it if signed after becoming a free agent. And Dontrelle Willis remains an outside possibility.

Getting the bullpen into save mode is key, and all but Galarraga and Miner have plenty to prove after injuries or disappointing seasons.

Returning to the World Series is not easy. Detroit is just one of six teams which played in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Fall Classics and have yet to return to that stage.

Reaching to the Series is all about pitching, and Dombrowski will be judged by how that comes together. Another season of late-inning implosions would constitute a trend, and put the franchise in dire straits.

The Tigers need saves to be saved.

Tigers Interested In Jack Wilson

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [November 22, 2008 at 11:10am CST]

Ken Rosethal just updated his column to include the latest on Jack Wilson.

According to Rosenthal's source, the Tigers are one of several teams interested in trading for Wilson. The 30-year-old shortstop will earn just over $7MM next year and he has a club option for 2010.

Rosenthal adds that the Pirates would like to acquire Marlins catcher Matt Treanor and then trade him to Detroit along with Wilson.

Wilson could start at short for the Tigers, and Treanor could become their back-up catcher.

Tigers continue hunt for shortstop
Padres' Greene reportedly off the market; several options remain

It appears one name can be taken off the list of candidates for the Tigers' vacant shortstop job.

The Padres had been actively shopping Khalil Greene this winter, but San Diego general manager Kevin Towers told SI.com that is no longer the case, given the shortstop saturation in the market.

"I don't anticipate anything happening with Khalil anytime soon," Towers told SI.com.

The Tigers, then, are likely placing their focus elsewhere. They have reportedly discussed Julio Lugo of the Red Sox and Jack Wilson of the Pirates in trade talks, and they have reportedly shown an interest in free agent Orlando Cabrera, late of the White Sox.

Wilson makes sense for the Tigers, from a contractual standpoint, because he could be a short-term solution until the Tigers are ready to hand the shortstop reins over to a prospect class headed by Cale Iorg. Wilson is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $7.25 million in '09 with an $8.4 million club option for 2010 or a $600,000 buyout.

Lugo is due to make $9 million in 2009, $9 million in 2010 and has a vesting option worth $9 million for 2011. But he is unlikely to reach the vesting option, which is based on plate appearances, because of the time he missed with a torn left quadriceps this year. For the Tigers to make room for Lugo, it has been reported that they would send either Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson to Boston. Willis will make $22 million over the next two years, and Robertson will make $17 million.

As far as free agency is concerned, the Tigers have not been linked to Rafael Furcal, the top shortstop on the market, because of the likely contract length and dollars he'll command.
Hot Stove

It's difficult to discern how serious their interest is in Cabrera, because he, too, is looking for a lucrative, multi-year deal. The 34-year-old Cabrera hit .281 with eight homers, 33 doubles, 57 RBIs and 19 stolen bases as the White Sox leadoff man in '08.

While the Tigers don't have interest in bringing Edgar Renteria back, they are undoubtedly monitoring his situation. Renteria is a Type A free agent, meaning the Tigers would receive two early picks in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft if he signs with another club by Monday.

The Tigers can still lay claim to those Draft picks by offering Renteria arbitration by Monday. The team might go that route if it believes Renteria is intent on signing elsewhere. The Giants have been the team most closely linked to Renteria, but his agent denied a report earlier this week that a two-year deal had been signed with San Francisco.

Quote :

Padres' Greene reportedly off the market

Tigers discuss free-agent shortstop Alex Cora

The Tigers have considered pursuing free agent Alex Cora as a low-cost solution at shortstop, according to two people familiar with the team’s plans.

Cora, 33, batted .270 with no home runs and nine RBIs for the Boston Red Sox this season. He played in 75 games, including 69 at shortstop.

Cora has been a utility infielder for the Red Sox since arriving in a trade with the Cleveland Indians midway through 2005. He became a free agent after completing a two-year, $4-million contract.

Like current Tigers infielder Ramon Santiago, Cora is considered by many to be a part-time player. But it’s conceivable that the Tigers could sign Cora and retain Santiago to serve as a tandem at the position.

That arrangement would enable manager Jim Leyland to keep an additional left-handed bat in the lineup on a regular basis. Cora bats left-handed; Santiago is a switch-hitter.

Neither player is known for his offensive ability. Cora is a .245 lifetime batter, Santiago .238. Both are considered sound defensively.

The Tigers also have had interest in a number of trade candidates, including Pittsburgh’s Jack Wilson.

Quote :

Tigers discuss free-agent shortstop Alex Cora

11/30/08 10:00 AM EST
Renteria unlikely to get arbitration offer
Free-agent shortstop would be tempted to accept, stay in Detroit

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The Tigers seemingly had an early present last week when a report suggested that free-agent shortstop Edgar Renteria was about to sign with the Giants. Instead, they head into the holiday shopping season with a key decision to make.

Before Detroit chooses what to do for its next shortstop, it has to figure out how to move with the old job-holder. Whether the Tigers offer arbitration to Renteria by Monday's midnight deadline will affect their future beyond that particular position.

It's more than a simple either-or situation. If the Tigers offer Renteria arbitration, they would receive two compensation picks in next summer's First-Year Player Draft if and when he signs elsewhere -- one of them a sandwich pick after the first round, the other selection in either the first or second round, depending on the team that signs him.

Considering the interest that Renteria has drawn on the open market, it would seem simple. The Tigers place particular emphasis on the Draft each year, considering it the one avenue for acquiring players in which they can compete on equal footing with bigger-market teams such as the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and others. They've spent big on the Draft in some years on players such as Justin Verlander, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and Rick Porcello, and they drafted shrewdly last year to bring in potential bullpen help that could arrive in a hurry with Ryan Perry, Cody Satterwhite and Scott Green.

The risk, however, is that Renteria could accept an offer of arbitration -- free agents have until Dec. 7 to do so -- and return to Detroit under a one-year deal at a salary determined by an arbitrator.

Though the Tigers hadn't formally closed the door on re-signing Renteria, they have shown virtually no interest in bringing him back, focusing instead on the alternatives on the trade and free-agent markets. By contrast, Renteria has said more than once that he would like to return to Detroit and play up to his capability after a disappointing 2008 season. Even so, he has drawn an impressive amount of interest from teams in the National League, where he has had virtually all of his success in his big league career. A multi-year contract from another club, such as San Francisco, would trump any arbitration offer from Detroit.

The expectation around the industry is that the Tigers will not offer arbitration to Renteria, preferring to part ways and take their chances on finding a potential upgrade -- at least on the defensive end. Team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said recently that the club has not made a final decision.

Renteria is the only Tigers free agent to fall into the compensation category under the list of Type A and B free agents ranked by the Elias Sports Bureau. Kenny Rogers, Kyle Farnsworth, Freddy Garcia, Casey Fossum and Vance Wilson did not qualify under the rankings, and are thus not expected to be offered arbitration.

Still, arbitration offers from other clubs to their own free agents could affect the Tigers' pursuits. Darren Oliver, the lefty reliever in whom Detroit has shown strong interest, is also a Type A free agent. The Angels have shown interest in bringing him back and could offer arbitration to scare off other clubs.

Since the Tigers finished in the bottom half of the Major League standings, they would only have to give up their second-round pick rather than their first-rounder to sign a Type A free agent. Yet given the aforementioned priority Detroit place on its Draft picks, especially in the early rounds, that second-rounder still has plenty of value.

Former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman also is a Type A free agent. Since San Diego announced last month that it would not try to bring him back, however, the Padres aren't expected to offer arbitration.

Joe Beimel, another free-agent lefty in whom the Tigers have shown interest, is a Type B free agent who would not require a pick from any team that signs him. So, too, is former Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon.

While talks have progressed slowly on the free-agent front for many relievers, they're widely expected to pick up once Monday's deadline passes, even for those free agents unaffected. That's partly by design. Major League Baseball moved up the arbitration deadline a couple years ago to allow teams to move without hindrance during the Winter Meetings. This year's Meetings start a week from Monday in Las Vegas.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

12/02/08 10:00 AM EST
Tigers in search of a shortstop in Vegas
Club's main priority is to fill hole left by free agent Renteria

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- After a slow start to the offseason, the Tigers are now ready for business to pick up, right in one of America's vacation destinations.

The Tigers approached the first couple weeks of offseason shopping expecting that their dealings wouldn't pick up until they neared baseball's Winter Meetings from Dec. 8-11 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. With the Thanksgiving holiday now behind them and the meetings looming, Detroit is set to turn its many possibilities into some moves.

It's a different approach than past offseasons, when the Tigers became known for moving quickly on trades for Edgar Renteria last fall and Gary Sheffield two years ago. Yet, depending on how other teams proceed and which need the Tigers can fill first, this could still end up being an eventful holiday shopping season in which what happens in Vegas defines Detroit going forward.

"It'll probably move at a faster pace getting into the Winter Meetings," assistant general manager Al Avila said last month.

They certainly don't lack for possibilities.

Before Tigers officials headed home for the holiday, they had cast a wide net in their search for a wide-ranging shortstop to replace Renteria. With officials from around baseball wandering the halls of the Bellagio on the Las Vegas strip, the Tigers are expected to go from surveying their options to whittling them down and trying to find a match for their need for a short-term shortstop until they can fill the spot from the farm system as soon as 2010.

Those potential options include Detroit's on-again, off-again discussions with the Pirates for Jack Wilson, a rumored Tigers target ever since the summer of 2007. They could also revisit their earlier interest in Padres shortstop Khalil Greene should San Diego decide to move on dealing him, something the Padres had cooled on earlier.

Then there's the long-rumored but still possible contract swap with the Red Sox, who could send out Julio Lugo in return for one of Detroit's back-end starting pitchers, reportedly Dontrelle Willis. That appears to be a fallback option for now.

If it becomes apparent that the trade front won't give them what they want, the Tigers could change directions quickly to the free-agent market, where their interest has been limited but where they have potential fits. The Tigers will likely stay out of the top tier, where speedy Rafael Furcal has dominated the market, but they could try to pick off one of the shortstops below him with a short-term deal. While reliable gloves such as Adam Everett and Nick Punto remain available, they could reportedly also look at Orlando Cabrera if he doesn't get a long-term deal, though Chicago's decision to offer arbitration to Cabrera could cool off any rumored interest.

How the Tigers fill their shortstop void, and how soon they can do it, will likely affect Detroit's other needs, both in the bullpen and behind the plate. Between a slew of free agents and a few arms potentially on the trading block, closers are in ample supply for teams such as Detroit and its division rival, Cleveland. The Tigers, however, have only so many parts they can deal without narrowing their prospect rankings, and so much they can spend and still hold payroll steady as planned.

While the Tigers will pass on top free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, they have checked out the next level of free agents, a group that includes Trevor Hoffman, Brandon Lyon and David Weathers. Potential trade options with other clubs include the Rockies, who recently acquired Huston Street. Like at shortstop, however, the Tigers have the future to consider -- notably, a number of relief prospects that includes Ryan Perry, their first-round selection from last summer's First-Year Player Draft who could compete for a big league role as soon as next spring.

With Rodriguez likely to remain unsigned through the meetings, the rest of the market could still be in limbo, as could the Tigers on that front when they leave Las Vegas. However, Detroit has a better chance at resolution in their search for a lefty reliever, an area of need in past offseasons but one that the Tigers have been aggressive to pursue this winter. They've shown varying levels of interest in free agents Joe Beimel, Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes, all of whom will induce plenty of conversation amongst clubs next week.

While Detroit's relief options are numerous, the search for a catcher remains murky, and there's no guarantee that the Winter Meetings will clear it up. At some point, the Tigers will have to decide whether a trade for a catcher is realistic. The Rangers have the most young catching talent to offer clubs, but they're also in a position to demand plenty in return, especially in terms of young pitching that's close to Major League ready. With September callup Dusty Ryan capable of some kind of role, the Tigers could end up acquiring or signing a veteran backstop to serve as both a mentor and a platoon mate.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

12/04/08 4:59 PM EST
Tigers, Reds showing interest in Laird
Texas on lookout for pitching in return for veteran backstop

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- The Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers appear to have shown the most interest in Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, according to Major League sources.

General manager Jon Daniels said Thursday he is having conversations with a number of clubs about the Rangers' catching depth. He declined to discuss specifics, but it appears the Rangers are moving closer to getting something done and it likely involves Laird.

Teams have also expressed interest in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez. But the Rangers appear to be more interested in trading Laird, who is eligible for arbitration. He could make around $3 million next year and can also be a free agent after the 2010 season.

"We've touched base with everybody, and have had more extensive dialogue with some clubs," Daniels said. "We have a good handle on our options. We have a sense of the type of deals we can move on. We've had second and third conversations and followup conversations with clubs. There's a potential for something to happen."

The Rangers have also had discussions with the Red Sox, but they appear more interested in Saltalamacchia or Teagarden. They have also no interest in trading Clay Buchholz. The Rangers have interest in some of their other young pitchers, including Michael Bowden and Justin Masterson.

The Houston Astros are looking for catching help, but don't have much in the way of young pitching to offer. The Rangers are looking for pitching in return for any deal involving their catchers.

"Pitching is our priority this offseason," Daniels said.

The Reds' most appealing young pitcher is reliever Joshua Roenicke, a hard-throwing right-hander who was 6-2 with a 2.82 ERA, 13 saves and 71 strikeouts in 61 innings between Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Louisville this past season. He appeared in five games for the Reds in September, and he is high on the Rangers' list.

Other Reds pitchers of interest are right-handed starters Daryl Thompson and Homer Bailey, and relievers Carlos Fisher, Pedro Viola and Robert Manuel. Viola is a left-hander who was converted to a starter at the end of this past season, and, in seven starts, was 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in Double-A. In 33 innings, he gave up 27 hits, nine walks and struck out 30.

The Tigers' two best young pitchers that are Major League ready are right-handers Zach Miner and Chris Lambert. Miner was 8-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 45 games -- including 13 starts -- in 2008, while Lambert, a former first-round pick for the Cardinals, was 1-2 with a 5.66 ERA. He was 12-8 with a 3.50 ERA in Triple-A Toledo.

But it was the Tigers' overall lack of good young pitching that made them take a chance on former Rangers pitcher Armando Galarraga last April, and he became one of their most reliable starters.

Other young arms in the Tigers system that are raw but could enter into the discussion are right-handers Luis Marte, Guillermo Moscoso and Alfredo Figaro. But none of them have pitched in the Major Leagues or are deemed close to being ready for the big league level.

Laird hit .276 with six home runs and 41 RBIs in 95 games and 344 at-bats in 2008. Over the past three years, he has the fourth-best percentage (36.3) of throwing out basestealers among Major League catchers.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

12/05/08 4:09 PM EST
Tigers eye veteran shortstop Everett
Club will pick up talks with free agent during Winter Meetings

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- As the Tigers' search for a shortstop rolls on, team officials are scheduled to meet with representatives for free agent Adam Everett during the Winter Meetings next week in Las Vegas.

Detroit and the Everett camp have had discussions this week, even before rumors of a Jack Wilson trade started flying Thursday, but those talks have been characterized as preliminary. They're expected to pick up at the Meetings, where talks could move in a hurry if top free-agent shortstops Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera sign, and teams left out start moving toward their alternatives. Many of the clubs that have been linked in the shortstop market this offseason have at least kicked the tires on the sure-handed Everett.

The Tigers aren't in the mix on the top free agents, but they've scoured almost every other corner of the market looking to fill the void created when Detroit passed on another year of Edgar Renteria, whom the Tigers acquired the day after the 2007 World Series. Renteria officially signed Thursday with San Francisco.

The Tigers have been linked in plenty of trade talks for shortstops this offseason -- most recently with the Pirates for Wilson, but also with the Red Sox for Julio Lugo last month, and briefly with the Padres for the since-dealt Khalil Greene. Their free-agent pursuits have been more limited, partly out of payroll limitations, but also out of a slow-moving market. One agent characterized it as a bunch of moving parts. Renteria is the only shortstop to have signed so far.

Everett, who will turn 32 years old in February, hit .213 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in just 48 games of an injury-plagued 2008 season for the Twins. His .967 fielding percentage was his lowest mark since he became a full-time shortstop for Houston in 2003. Part of his struggles stemmed from an injured throwing shoulder, which has now completely healed. Everett is working out at home in Atlanta and feeling fine, agent Keith Grunewald said Friday.

One factor in the Tigers' pursuit of Everett is the presence of coach Gene Lamont, who was on manager Jimy Williams' staff with the Astros when Everett came up to the big leagues. That parallels a similar history with Wilson, who spent the first five seasons of his Major League career playing for then-Pirates manager and current Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Tigers target Putz, Wood for closer vacancy

By JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • December 8, 2008

LAS VEGAS — Now that the Tigers have acquired catcher Gerald Laird from Texas, they will be able to focus attention on perhaps their biggest off-season need: a closer.

The team has shown interest in free agent Kerry Wood in recent days and had preliminary trade discussions with the Seattle Mariners about J.J. Putz.

Both right-handers have been targeted by the New York Mets, so Detroit officials may need to move quickly in order to have their pick.

Putz, 31, would certainly make for a compelling storyline if he were to become the Tigers’ closer: He grew up in Trenton and pitched at the University of Michigan.

More importantly, he’s also shown the ability to be dominant in the late innings.

Putz might have been the best closer in all of baseball in 2007. This year, though, both he and the last-place Mariners had forgettable seasons.

Putz spent 49 games on the disabled list, first because of inflammation on his right side (at a point where cartilage attaches to a rib) and later due to a hyperextended throwing elbow.

He returned from the elbow injury in late July. From that point until the end of the season, he converted 8 of 13 save opportunities, maintained a 2.96 ERA and held opponents to a .240 batting average, according to STATS LLC.

He’s scheduled to earn $5.5 million in 2009, followed by a team option worth $9.1 million (or a $1 million buyout) in 2010.

Tigers, Mariners discussing Putz trade

LAS VEGAS – This morning, the Tigers and Seattle Mariners have discussed a trade that would bring closer J.J. Putz back to his home state.

It’s not clear if the clubs are close to a deal, but the talks appear to be ongoing. Putz, 31, is one of Detroit’s top targets on the closer market, along with free agent Kerry Wood.

The Cleveland Indians are in the midst of serious talks with the right-hander, and the sides might be nearing a deal. If Wood were to sign with the Indians, a division rival, the Tigers’ interest in Putz surely would intensify.

Seattle officials believe they will be able to obtain a three-player package for Putz. The Mariners might ask the Tigers to include infielder Jeff Larish and outfielder Matt Joyce in the deal.

The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals are among the clubs that have contacted the Mariners regarding Putz. It’s possible that the New York Mets would have interest, despite reportedly reaching an agreement with free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Brewers, though, might have an advantage over all the suitors -- including Detroit.

First, they have a very strong farm system. Next, and most importantly, Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik came to the Mariners from Milwaukee. He would have intimate knowledge of all the prospects discussed.

Putz is scheduled to make $5.5 million next year, followed by a team option worth $9.1 million (or a $1 million buyout) in 2010.

A Trenton native and former University of Michigan right-hander, Putz was arguably the best closer in baseball during the 2007 season. But he spent 49 games on the disabled list this year, first because of inflammation on his right side (at a point where cartilage attaches to a rib) and later because of a hyperextended throwing elbow.

He returned from the elbow injury in late July. From that point until the end of the season, he converted 8 of 13 save opportunities, maintained a 2.96 ERA and held opponents to a .240 batting average, according to STATS LLC.[url]

12/09/08 5:35 PM EST
Looking for a lefty, Tigers eye Beimel
Rectifying closer situation remains club's top relief priority

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAS VEGAS -- While the Tigers continue to try to zero in on a closer, they also took time at the Winter Meetings to resume discussions regarding free-agent left-hander Joe Beimel.

Beimel's agent, Joe Sroba, met with Tigers officials here at the Bellagio Hotel. They have not neared a deal, according to a baseball source, and it appears that Detroit will at least try to progress on adding a closer first before focusing on its other relief needs.

The Tigers are believed to have retained strong interest in Beimel, having had multiple conversations with Sroba leading into the Winter Meetings. Though Detroit's need for a lefty specialist isn't as pressing as their closer vacancy, with Bobby Seay among their returning southpaws, Beimel's success over the past few years in terms of left-handed hitters have made him an intriguing option.

Detroit's left-handed relief options have dwindled a bit. They had discussions with the agent for Darren Oliver last month, but the Angels' decision to offer Oliver arbitration seemingly cooled Detroit's interest given its preference not to lose a Draft pick as compensation. Fellow lefty Arthur Rhodes, meanwhile, was reportedly close to a deal with the Reds, who have also had interest in Beimel. Will Ohman remains on the market, but the Tigers do not appear to be interested.

The 31-year-old Beimel went 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA this past season for the Dodgers, making 71 appearances over just 49 innings. Left-handed hitters batted .278 against him in 2008, compared to a .263 average against right-handed ones. His previous two seasons in Los Angeles, however, saw lefty hitters bat .188 against him in 2007 and .234 in 2006.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

12/09/08 10:30 PM EST
Tigers focus on Putz at Meetings
Closer action in Vegas could lead to trade with Mariners

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAS VEGAS -- The closer market began to move Tuesday at baseball's Winter Meetings, and it left the Tigers and Mariners talking. Michigan native J.J. Putz is the potential matchmaker.

While the Tigers are going back over the possibilities in a buyer-friendly closer market, a trade for Putz remains their primary option. The two sides had discussions Tuesday, but have yet to find a match.

While free agent Francisco Rodriguez reached an agreement with the Mets, and Kerry Wood did the same with the Indians, the Tigers remain without a closer. Given president/general manager Dave Dombrowski's description of the day, it was not for a lack of effort.

"Busy," Dombrowski said, without specifically mentioning the Mariners. "We had a lot of conversations with a lot of clubs and agents."

Their conversations with Seattle, however, were the highlight of the day as the Tigers tried to continue filling items on their Winter Meetings to-do list at a brisk pace.

A native of Trenton, Mich., downriver from Detroit, Putz could be the short-term answer for the Tigers at closer while giving the onetime 40-save stopper the chance at a rebound season. Putz converted 15 saves in 23 chances over an injury-plagued 2008 season that saw him limited to 47 games, his lowest appearance total since he broke into the big leagues full-time in 2004.

Putz is under contract for next year at a salary of $5.5 million, with either a $9.1 million club option for 2010 or a $1 million buyout.

With the Mariners in search of left-handed power hitting to make up for the expected loss of free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez, the crux of the dealings is believed to involve young Tigers sluggers Jeff Larish and Matt Joyce. Both left-handed hitters saw time with Detroit this past season, and both have a strong chance to play a role on the big club next year, though neither would likely be in starting lineup every day.

Larish is the more versatile player in the field, having spent extensive time at third base in the Arizona Fall League in addition to his role this past season at first. He could also potentially play the corner-outfield spots, though the Tigers haven't tried him there.

"Yeah, absolutely," manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday when asked if he felt Larish could be an outfielder. "That's one thing I like about him is his versatility."

That may be key for the Mariners, who need a first baseman but could also pursue deals involving their other position players. Seattle has been rumored in trade talks that would send Adrian Beltre somewhere else, such as Minnesota, but it's far from certain whether Larish could be an everyday third baseman. But then, Joyce could slot the left-field void left by Ibanez's departure.

In other words, the Mariners could use both Larish and Joyce.

"There have been a few that have been very intriguing," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told reporters in regards to player names that have come up in trade discussions so far.

The Tigers could deal one and still have one left on the bench as a left-handed power bat amid a predominantly right-handed lineup. Take away both Larish and Joyce, and the Tigers don't have a replacement left-handed bat in the system ready to step in.

"We've been minus left-handed hitters," Leyland said. "I think what we're talking about is to just get some sense of a little more balance than what we had."

For now, that leaves trade talks out of balance.

"It goes to the overall picture of if you think you can improve your ballclub, short-term and long-term," Zduriencik said. "But there have been some points of the discussions that haven't allowed them to go forward, beyond just the fact that we've had discussions."

As for Larish and Joyce, Leyland said, "We're very high on those guys. Exactly how that will play out, I don't know. I think they've both got a loud sound to their bat. We're very high on them, extremely high. You would have to certainly say that they're in the mix, for sure."

They would prefer them to be in their mix. But as Dombrowski pointed out about trading and holding onto young players, "Right now, we're trying to win. That's just where we are."

"There's some guys in our organization that I really prefer to not trade, and I don't think we're going to trade," Dombrowski said. "We've traded a lot of guys, but you also have to weigh who you're getting in return, how much you're really giving up, what kind of depth you have in your system, all those different things."

This particular move is a weighty one, since the Tigers don't have that depth. And while the signings of Rodriguez and Wood take two names off the market, they also removed two clubs from discussions with the Mariners. At this point, the market for Putz appears to center on the Tigers, with the Brewers and Cardinals also having inquired.

The Brewers, who need a closer, are an intriguing option, since it is where Zduriencik served in various roles in player development. He knows their system inside and out. Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin, however, reportedly told local media that he didn't see a fit with Seattle in any trade talks.

Detroit, meanwhile, has kept in touch with the free-agent closer market. The Tigers' interest this offseason is known to have included career saves leader Trevor Hoffman, Brandon Lyon and David Weathers, but Dombrowski cautioned, "All the names are not out there that we've expressed interest in."

That seemed to be an indication that the Tigers have at least some interest in former Rockies closer Brian Fuentes, which Foxsports.com reported later Tuesday night.

"We could do a lot of different things," Dombrowski said. "We're exploring a lot of different options. My list is long in my pocket, and we'll keep pursuing it."

Dombrowski confirmed that the Tigers "did inquire a little bit" about Wood.

For now, the relief market is dominating the talk for the Tigers, who pretty much wrapped up their other big concerns when they traded for catcher Gerald Laird and agreed to terms on a deal with shortstop Adam Everett. Their only other point of discussion Tuesday, Dombrowski said, was at backup catcher.

When Dombrowski was asked whether he felt a deal was close, he said he didn't know. When asked if he anticipated getting a closer before leaving the Winter Meetings on Thursday, he said no.

"Could it happen? Maybe," Dombrowski said.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Tigers interested in John Smoltz

LAS VEGAS -- The Tigers are engaged in trade talks with the Seattle Mariners aimed at bringing Trenton native J.J. Putz to Detroit. But he is not the only Michigan-raised right-hander who could be in the team’s 2009 plans.

The Tigers are among the clubs that have requested medical information on free agent John Smoltz, a gesture certain to stir emotion among fans across the state who remember ruefully the native son’s departure in a 1987 trade with the Atlanta Braves.

Smoltz, 41, appeared in only six games with the Braves this year before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. But he has resolved to pitch again next year and threw “very well” in a workout Friday, according to his agent, Keith Grunewald.

“He was ecstatic,” he said. “He felt great.”

The Braves, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets are among the interested teams, but sentimentality and practicality could bring Smoltz to Detroit.

Smoltz would prefer to pitch as a starter in 2009, and the Tigers’ rotation remains unsettled after Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga and the rehabilitating Jeremy Bonderman.

Smoltz was born in Warren, became a multi-sport star at Lansing Waverly High and maintains close ties to the area. He returned to Michigan recently to watch Michigan State’s basketball team play North Carolina at Ford Field.

Smoltz’s grandfather, the late John Frank Smoltz, worked on the grounds crew at Tiger Stadium. Nicknamed “Father John,” he was so recognizable at the old ballpark that Ernie Harwell was the first person to arrive at his funeral wake.

John Adam Smoltz, the pitcher’s father, played his accordion behind the bar at the venerable Lindell A.C. while Tigers players celebrated their 1968 American League pennant. He helped on the grounds crew and was an usher at the ’84 World Series.

Smoltz was drafted by the Tigers in 1985 and traded to Atlanta two years later in a deal that brought Doyle Alexander to Detroit and helped the Tigers win the AL East.

Smoltz has won 210 games and saved 154 others in a storied career with the Braves. More than two decades later, he has a chance to return to the place where it all began.