Mailbag: What holes will Renteria fill?

I think if Renteria can hit close to what he put up last year, the imbalance isn't going to be as big of an issue on a night-in, night-out basis. The problem is that it would make a job easy for opposing managers slotting their relievers for the late innings, essentially saving lefties for spot duty against Curtis Granderson and maybe Guillen, and then letting righties handle the rest.

The Tigers are still going to look on the market for a left-handed hitter to at least platoon in left field next year. If that doesn't work out, they would probably keep Timo Perez as a left-handed bat off the bench and in part-time duty.

Jim Leyland hasn't given out any ideas on that yet, but he indicated last week that he has options. True, Renteria has mainly hit second the last few years, but he hit lower in the order earlier in his career. Tony La Russa batted him just about everywhere during his stay in St. Louis, mostly in the sixth spot. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him batting sixth or seventh in Detroit on many nights.

Good question, since the trade kind of curtailed their plans for Jurrjens and Miller to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation. I'd still look for a competition there, but at this point, the door is open for Miller to take advantage if he can show improvements from the adjustments that coaches made with his delivery during instructional ball. The Tigers would like him to take that job and go with it, but they have to be ready in case he doesn't.

Unless the Tigers sign a full-time left fielder, Raburn is expected to be given a chance to compete for playing time there next spring with Marcus Thames, Perez and/or whoever else they bring in. Even if he doesn't, he has a good chance to get at-bats next year as the primary backup at several different spots.

Once Raburn emerged as an option at second base and center field and hit well in the process, plus Cameron Maybin became a backup in center, there wasn't much of a need for Infante to fill once he rejoined the big league club in September. Unfortunately, he basically became an extra body on the bench for the season's final month. His slump at the plate from mid-June into mid-August, when he was sent down, seemed to get him in a hole and he couldn't get a chance to work his way out of it.

The Tigers have a decision to make with Infante this winter. If Raburn is back, it's difficult to envision a lot of playing time for Infante here, since Ramon Santiago is viewed as the better backup at shortstop. Since Infante is eligible for arbitration again, it's tough to keep him without a set role.

Given that Schilling has a veteran presence and won't likely be seeking a long-term deal, he could fit the mold of an alternative for the Tigers if Rogers retires. It has already been well-reported how he included Detroit on his list of teams he would consider, since he published it on his blog. However, that list includes a dozen other teams, and there's a belief that he would like to return to Philadelphia -- where his career took off in the early '90s.

As of Monday night, however, the Boston Herald reported the Red Sox and Schilling are close to a deal to bring him back, which would make this all a moot point. For what it's worth, the Tigers hadn't contacted Schilling's agent, Ed Hayes, which could say something about where the Tigers stand with Rogers.

Barring injuries, probably not. The only additions there, if Rogers returns, might be Minor League deals.