Tigers Agree to terms withh Gambler

Just saw it on MLB.com that the Tigers have agreed to a 1-year contract with Kenny Rogers and a right-handed reliever named Francisco Cruceta.
Terms were not announced, but this is some GOOD news!!

YAY!!! I Am happy now!!!

Yey, Kenny!
...
Chibata... why does that sound familiar?

Here's the article. Other breaking news, Chris Shelton and Timo Perez have been DFA to make room for Rogers and Cruceta...


11/30/2007 11:22 AM ET
Tigers agree to terms on one-year deals with Kenny Rogers and Francisco Cruceta

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Kenny Rogers and right-handed pitcher Francisco Cruceta.

Rogers posted a 3-4 record and 4.43 ERA (63.0IP/31ER) in 2007 as he was limited to 11 starts with the Tigers due to two stints on the disabled list. He finished 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA (204.0IP/87ER) in 34 games (33 starts) during his first season with Detroit in 2006.

"We are pleased to have Kenny back in a Tigers uniform for the 2008 season," Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. "Kenny is a veteran presence that stabilizes our starting rotation."

Rogers won all three of his starts during the postseason in 2006, tossing 23.0 scoreless innings as the Tigers captured the American League Championship. A four-time all-star selection, Rogers has compiled a 210-143 record and 4.19 ERA (3129.0IP/1458ER) in 732 appearances during his 19 seasons at the Major League level.

Cruceta, 26, spent the 2007 season with Triple-A Oklahoma in the Texas Rangers organization. In 25 outings (five starts), he compiled a 3-0 record, 3.02 ERA (65.2IP/22ER) and 70 strikeouts. Cruceta has appeared in 13 games with Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, posting a 1-1 record, 1.08 ERA (16.2IP/2ER) and 25 strikeouts. He is fourth in the league with 25 strikeouts.

"Cruceta has pitched very well this winter in the Dominican Republic," Dombrowski said. "He is a quality prospect and we expect him to compete for a spot in our bullpen in 2008."

Cruceta has compiled a 63-49 record and 3.77 ERA (943.2IP/395ER) in 214 appearances (145 starts) during his career at the Minor League level. He briefly saw action at the Major League level with the Cleveland Indians in 2004 and Seattle Mariners in 2006.

Additionally, the Tigers today designated the contracts of first baseman Chris Shelton and outfielder Timo Perez for assignment. Shelton spent the entire 2007 season with Triple-A Toledo, hitting .269 (134x498) with 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 139 games. Perez saw action in 29 games with the Tigers in 2007, batting .389 (35x90) with nine doubles and 13 RBI.

Thanks for posting the article, bobrob.

TigerLily wrote:

Yey, Kenny!
...
Chibata... why does that sound familiar?

Because, being the DORK that I am, I posted the WRONG name!!
I went back and edited it and let me tell you how HAPPY I am to see you here, TigerLily!!
This site is TROLL FREE and blows away the other one!!

tigersaint wrote:

TigerLily wrote:

Yey, Kenny!
...
Chibata... why does that sound familiar?

Because, being the DORK that I am, I posted the WRONG name!!
I went back and edited it and let me tell you how HAPPY I am to see you here, TigerLily!!
This site is TROLL FREE and blows away the other one!!

I know, I can't imagine how much you all must have missed me! :lol:

( It's good to see you again too, saint! )

You're always a welcome site here and you have been missed terribly!!
So glad you finally found us and hope you enjoy it enough to stick around.

I am still on Dialysis 3 days a week but alive is the result and that is always a good thing.

And you, my dear?

tigersaint wrote:

You're always a welcome site here and you have been missed terribly!!
So glad you finally found us and hope you enjoy it enough to stick around.

I am still on Dialysis 3 days a week but alive is the result and that is always a good thing.

And you, my dear?

Well I've been busy, busy, busy with school. College is such a pain in the arse... but today I had to stay home. I feel like someone's run a wire brush down my throat.

(And I'm sorry to hear about the dialysis... I'll keep you in my prayers!)

On Friday, the Tigers announced they had re-signed left-handed starter Kenny Rogers to a one-year deal. They also announced they have come to terms with right-handed reliever Francisco Cruceta. To open up room, the Tigers designated first baseman Chris Shelton and outfielder Timo Perez for assignment.

The Tigers were in need of a starting pitcher still, and Kenny Rogers was the ideal fit, after finishing up his second season with the Tigers.

A deal between the two parties seemeed imminent after Rogers fired agent Scott Boras. Rogers had stated earlier on that if he returned to pitch in 2008, it would be as a Tiger. Boras consequently appeared to try leveraging other teams into making an offer, a tactic Rogers didn't appreciate.

After establishing himself as the team's ace in 2006, Rogers battled injuries for much of 2007, including missing the first half of the season with a blood clot. For the year, he was a 3-4 with a 4.43 ERA. He had 36 strikeouts and 25 walks in 63 innings pitched.

The signing of Rogers means the Tigers have four members of their rotation set. The fifth spot will be competed for amongst a number of younger pitchers, including Andrew Miller, Virgil Vasquez, and Yorman Bazardo.

The Tigers have also signed Francisco Cruceta to a major league contract for the 2008 season. Originally signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 1999, Cruceta took off once moving to the Indians farm system in the 2002 trade that sent Paul Shuey to the Dodgers.

After a solid campaign at Triple-A in the Texas organization in 2007 (3-0, 3.02 ERA in 25 games), Cruceta has been dominating the Dominican Winter League. In 13 relief appearances for Gigantes del Cibao, Cruceta has posted a miniscule 1.08 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 16-2/3 innings.

The 26-year old Cruceta has a live arm with a sinking fastball that sits routinely in the 92-95 range, and an above-average hard biting slider.

Though those are his two primary weapons, he has also toyed with both a circle change and splitter in the past, with modest success. His sinker-slider combo generates plenty of swings and misses, while also inducing groundballs at a fair rate.

Control has been an issue with Cruceta, but even modest improvements like he has shown in the Dominican this winter can lead to dominating results. Given his winter success, he will likely have an opportunity to earn a job in the Detroit bullpen out of spring training, with the fall back of heading to Toledo to wait for a chance with the Tigers.

I guess I was WAY OFF with my December 7th prediction!!

Sorry to see Shelton go.....

tigersaint wrote:

I guess I was WAY OFF with my December 7th prediction!!

Just a week!

tigersaint wrote:

Sorry to see Shelton go.....

I'm not...

Yahoo for KENNY!!!

Friday, November 30, 2007

Tigers sign Rogers to one-year deal

Team also signs pitcher and designates Shelton, Perez for assignment

Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Kenny Rogers is still a Tiger. The Tigers announced Friday they've signed the 43-year-old left-hander to a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed, but the contract is believed to be in the range of the $8 million Rogers made in each of the last two years.

With the winter meetings next week in Nashville, the Tigers needed to know what Rogers intended to do. He had fired his agent Scott Boras, and was negotiating on his own behalf, but had Rogers not signed, the Tigers would have stepped up their efforts to sign another experienced free-agent starter.

Rogers is coming off a troubled season in which he went 3-4 in 11 starts after going 17-8 in his first year as a Tiger. He underwent shoulder surgery last spring and encountered more arm problems after returning in July.

But he maintained all along that he wanted to stay with the Tigers -- and he has.

"We are pleased to have Kenny back in a Tigers uniform for the 2008 season," Tigers president and general manager David Dombrowski said. "Kenny is a veteran presence that stabilizes our starting rotation."

The Tigers also announced the signing of righthanded relief pitcher Francisco Cruceta. Cruceta, 26, spent the 2007 season with Triple A Oklahoma in the Texas Rangers organization. In 25 appearances, he was 3-0, with a 3.02 ERA and 70 strikeouts. Cruceta has appeared in 13 games with Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, posting a 1-1 record and 1.08 ERA..

"Cruceta has pitched very well this winter in the Dominican Republic," Dombrowski said. "He is a quality prospect and we expect him to compete for a spot in our bullpen in 2008."

To make room for Rogers and Cruceta the Tigers designated first baseman Chris Shelton and outfielder Timo Perez for assignment, probably ending their time in the Detroit organization.

They DID sign a guy under 30 years old......

tigersaint wrote:

You're always a welcome site here and you have been missed terribly!!
So glad you finally found us and hope you enjoy it enough to stick around.

I am still on Dialysis 3 days a week but alive is the result and that is always a good thing.

And you, my dear?

I didn't know that !!!
I hate hearing stuff like that about people, makes me !!!!
You always seem so upbeat too, good attitude!!! I'm praying for you too!!!

YAY KENNY!!!!!!!!!

YAY NEW GUY!!!!

HOORAY! KENNY! KENNY! KENNY!

THE GAMBLER IS BACK!

iluvpudge7 wrote:

tigersaint wrote:

You're always a welcome site here and you have been missed terribly!!
So glad you finally found us and hope you enjoy it enough to stick around.

I am still on Dialysis 3 days a week but alive is the result and that is always a good thing.

And you, my dear?

I didn't know that !!!
I hate hearing stuff like that about people, makes me !!!!
You always seem so upbeat too, good attitude!!! I'm praying for you too!!!

Sucks Ass but whatcha gonna do??
I sure appreciate the prayers though..... :mwah:

GO KENNY GO!

TIGERS GONNA BE GREAT IN 2008

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..............................!!