From the FSN Daily Wire

Subject: Re: From the FSN Daily Wire Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:30 pm

Hey, gang. Hope everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving!.....

--1B/3B Jeff Larish might be blocked from a starting spot on Detroit's roster, but a solid Arizona Fall League capped a year in which he showed he's just about ready to leave the minors behind. Larish, 26, tied for second in the AFL with 29 RBIs, hit six home runs, batted .331 and had an on-base-plus-slugging pecentage of .958 in 30 games. He hit just .260 in 42 games with Detroit, but his average with runners in scoring position was .375, which he duplicated in his AFL season. Larish is blocked at first base by Miguel Cabrera and at third by Brandon Inge, but because he hits left-handed, he could challenge for a reserve position.

--SS Edgar Renteria, already jettisoned by Detroit at a cost of a $3 million buyout, was not offered arbitration by the Tigers. Renteria batted .270 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 138 games with the Tigers, but his diminished range and a prolonged midseason slump induced the club to cut him loose.

--RHP Casey Fien bolstered his confidence for spring training with Detroit by having a solid Arizona Fall League season. Fien, 25, pitched at the Class AA level last summer. He has a good fastball and has been an effective relief pitcher in the minors. He had a 2-0 record, two saves and a 1.84 ERA for the Mesa Solar Sox of the AFL this fall, and he did not walk a batter in his 12 appearances. He struck out 15 in 14 2/3 innings. The Tigers will revamp their bullpen this offseason, and Fien, while considered a longshot, has a legitimate chance coming in the spring.

--RHP Rudy Darrow, 24, improved his standing in the organization with a strong Arizona Fall League showing. Darrow, who turns 25 before spring training, has a deceptive delivery but throws harder than most side-arm pitchers. He pitched 12 1/3 innings of relief for Mesa but struck out 18 and walked five. He was 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA. Darrow is unlikely to make the Tigers out of the spring, but how he fares against major league players could put him line for an in-season look.

--OF Casper Wells, 24, is one of the stronger players in a Detroit system weak on positional prospects. Wells, who just turned 24, put himself strongly on the Tigers' radar screen this year with solid performances in low Class A, Class AA and most recently the Arizona Fall League. Wells' chief drawback is that he's a right-handed hitter in an organization looking for left-handed power help. Wells hit eight home runs, drove in 23 runs and hit .321 for Mesa of the AFL and was added to Detroit's 40-man roster. Overall he hit 35 home runs and drove in 102 runs in 148 games for the three teams while batting .277.

"He's had a tremendous year," GM Dave Dombrowski said. "We like him a lot. He's really jumped up to the prospect level. He's taken significant leaps -- and he's going to continue to improve because he plays hard and has a lot of ability."

Ryne Sandberg, Mesa's hitting coach, described Wells as a five-tool player who has "one of the better arms I've seen in the whole league. When he makes contact, good things happen."

--C Dane Sardinha, who elected free agency after being waived by Detroit, changed his mind and signed a minor league contract with the Tigers. Sardinha hit just .179 in 17 games with Detroit over two terms but showed solid defensive skills. He gives the organization insurance at the position but also could be in play for a roster spot if the club is unable to obtain help for rookie C Dusty Ryan.

--RHP Junichi Tazawa will not get an offer from the Detroit Tigers, who cited a respect for tradition in deciding not to get involved with the 22-year-old amateur. Tigers assistant GM Al Avila said Detroit wants to avoid alienating Japanese pro teams as it anticipates becoming more of a presence in the Asian talent market over the next few years. Tazawa seeks to bypass Japan's pro leagues in going directly to pro ball in the United States. The major leagues and Japan's pro leagues have traditionally and unofficially agreed to avoid raiding the other country's amateur talent.

"We have invested much time and resources the last two years building our staff and rebuilding our good relationships in Japan and in other Asian countries in order to be players in those markets for years to come," Avila said in an e-mail to the Detroit Free Press.

BY THE NUMBERS: 28 -- Saves blown by Detroit's relievers last season. Detroit converted only 55 percent of its save opportunities, but just 39 percent without the 18-for-21 success rate of retired RHP Todd Jones. Only two American League clubs had fewer saves than Detroit's 34.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "There are no magical formulas outside of premium closers. But we have good arms in the system and a lot of possibilities there." -- GM Dave Dombrowski of Detroit, talking about his team's bullpen situation.
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: From the FSN Daily Wire Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:27 pm

--C Gerald Laird was acquired from Texas in exchange for pitching prospects Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo.

--SS Adam Everett was signed to a one-year, $1 million contract that includes incentive clauses.

--RHP Justin Verlander could wind up being a tough sign for the Tigers. Verlander, 25, was 11-17 with a 4.84 ERA for the worst season of his three full years with Detroit. He was paid $1.13 million last year and the Tigers might have sought to sign him to a long-term contract had he approached his first two seasons, when he was a combined 20 games over .500. Detroit must offer him a contract by Dec. 12. After that the Tigers will try to work out a deal before Verlander is eligible to file for arbitration in the Jan. 5-15 period.

--RHP Freddy Garcia, a free agent, might put off signing with a team until he's shown his right shoulder is healthy. Garcia, 33, came out of his second start in the Venezuelan Winter League after two innings with discomfort in the shoulder that was operated on in 2007. He pitched seven innings and had a 5.14 ERA in his first two starts following a lengthy delay in beginning winter ball. His agent, Peter Greenberg, said Garcia planned on pitching every fifth day the rest of the Venezuelan season. He pitched well for Detroit in September but left his final start with neck soreness.

--SS Edgar Renteria was not offered arbitration by Detroit, and thus the Tigers will get no draft choice compensation for his signing a two-year contract with San Francisco. Detroit had seven free agents but only Renteria would have brought compensation. The Tigers declined to offer arbitration because it felt he might accept, forcing the club to pay more than it wanted to. "The dollar amount we would have been exposed to we'd rather spend elsewhere," Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said.

--OF Brent Clevlen, 25, finally has time on his side in his efforts to reach the majors. Clevlen is out of options and must make Detroit or be put through waivers before he gets returned to the minor leagues. He is a strong defender with a good arm who can play all the outfield positions. His chief drawback for Detroit is that he hits right-handed and the Tigers need left-handed hitting help. He's a player the Tigers could wind up putting in a deal for help at another position.

--LHP Kenny Rogers has sent Detroit no word on whether he wants to pitch again this season. "I've not heard a word from him," GM Dave Dombrowski said after Thanksgiving. Rogers, 44, formally filed to become a free agent but said before 2008 ended he'd only consider pitching for the Tigers if he decided to return at all.

--OF Marcus Thames has proven power numbers and could be a player Detroit will look to trade this offseason. Thames, 31, hit 25 home runs in 316 at-bats last season with a penchant for hitting them when they meant something. His defense leaves something to be desired but he's proven an excellent part-time player the last three years with the Tigers. Working against him could be his salary level. Detroit paid him $2.75 million last year and he'll earn at least that much in 2009. Thames is not yet eligible to become a free agent. The Tigers may decide they can't afford to pay a bench player that much next summer.

BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- In-house closer candidates Detroit drafted last June -- RHPs Ryan Perry, Cody Saterwhite, Scott Green and Brett Jacobson were the Tigers' top four draftees and the organization is hopeful at least one of the four progresses to the point in 2009 where he can help at the major league level.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We'll come in at the same neighborhood in real dollars as last year. We have three spots of need and we will look at all of them with any combination of trades and free agency. We'll look at what we have to give up and how the players fit for us." -- GM Dave Dombrowski in mid-November on Detroit's payroll expectations for 2009.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: From the FSN Daily Wire Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:46 pm

I know this is old news, but this was what was in the Wire today...

Tigers acquire Jackson from RaysUpdated: December 11, 2008, 12:10 AM EST

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Tigers acquired right-hander Edwin Jackson from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday for outfielder Matt Joyce, Detroit's second trade in three days at the winter meetings.

Jackson is set to join a rotation alongside Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga and Jeremy Bonderman, who had surgery in late June to correct a condition that caused a blood clot in his pitching arm.

Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski has filled two of the Tigers' biggest offseason needs after trading for catcher Gerald Laird on Monday. Laird was acquired from the Rangers in a swap that sent right-handed pitching prospects Guillermo Moscoso and Carlos Melo to Texas.

The 25-year-old Jackson went 14-11 with a 4.42 ERA in 31 starts and 32 appearances for the AL champion Rays this season, pitching a career-best 183 1-3 innings. He spent three seasons with Tampa Bay following three for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Everybody in baseball has known his ability and potential for years," Dombrowski said. "He took a step forward last year and hopefully he'll take a step forward for us. ... We're in a spot where we get a pitcher we think will help us. He pitched on a World Series club last year. He's got great stuff."

While Dombrowski didn't necessarily want to give up Joyce, the outfield is his club's deepest position - with reliable regulars Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez as the anchors.

A Tampa native, the 24-year-old Joyce batted .252 with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs in 92 games for the Tigers in 2008 as a rookie. He ranked third among AL rookies with a .492 slugging percentage after beginning the season with Triple-A Toledo. Joyce made his major league debut in May.

Rays general manager Andrew Friedman will keep looking to upgrade the offense with a designated hitter/right fielder but called Joyce "an above-average defensive right fielder."

"It gives us a little more comfort if we can't acquire that bat," Friedman said. "Having roster flexibility and depth is something that's extremely important to us."

The Tigers also were working to complete a one-year contract worth about $1 million for shortstop Adam Everett after he worked out for the team last week.

Everett batted just .213 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 48 games for the Minnesota Twins last season, limited by a shoulder injury. He appeared in only 66 games the previous year for Houston, but the Tigers believe Everett will be a reliable option at shortstop.

The addition of the 31-year-old Everett would help settle some instability manager Jim Leyland faced in the infield this season. With Everett, Brandon Inge can return full-time to his natural spot at third base after catching 60 games in 2008, playing 51 at third and 15 in the outfield, including 13 in center.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: From the FSN Daily Wire Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:53 pm

December 12, 2008

--RHP Edwin Jackson was obtained from Tampa Bay in exchange for OF Matt Joyce. Jackson was a 14-game winner, but he didn't make a start in the postseason despite being a season-long member of the Rays rotation. He also has the potential to become a right-handed version of Dontrelle Willis -- a pitcher who can't throw strikes. Jackson, 25, walked 77 batters in 183 1/3 innings to go with 108 strikeouts. He was 14-11 with a 4.42 ERA.

"Edwin pitched on a World Series club and has great stuff," Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski said. "Everyone in baseball's known about his ability. He took a step forward this year. Hopefully, he'll take another step for us. It's unusual to pick up a guy who won 14 games."
"I'm excited to join a new team, a great offensive team," Jackson said. "I can play for the Detroit Tigers any day. I've seen their work ethic. I've seen Jim Leyland from the other dugout. He's a hardnosed manager who's gonna have your back."

--C Gerald Laird was acquired from Texas for a pair of minor league pitchers. Laird, 29, was largely a backup for the first five of his six seasons with the Rangers, for whom he hit .276 with six home runs and 41 RBIs in 95 games this year. He has a career average of .255 with 25 home runs and 134 RBIs. Laird hit .299 away from home last season. "He is going to be a perfect fit for our ballpark," manager Jim Leyland said. "We are not a club that has a lot of speed, and we think we have added a guy that can help us in that area, too. And he can catch. We've seen him for the last few years and have been very high on him."

"When they said 'the Tigers,' I was thrilled," Laird said. "Comerica is a great hitting park. I'm a fan of big ballparks. But it's the whole organization. There's a lot of history."

--SS Adam Everett, 31, passed a Detroit physical after agreeing to a $1 million, one-year contract with the Tigers earlier in the week. The Tigers delayed formal filing and announcement of the deal to give them flexibility to make a roster move after the non-tender date Dec. 12 without having to cut a player. Everett worked out for the Tigers at Lakeland, Fla., the first week of December, and once Detroit saw he had regained his arm strength, he was offered a contract. Everett played sparingly for Minnesota last season because of a shoulder injury. "We liked what we saw. He threw the ball well. The reports on him were very good," GM Dave Dombrowski said.

--LHP Kyle Bloom was selected by Detroit from the Pittsburgh organization in the Rule 5 draft. Bloom, 25, dominated much younger and more inexperienced hitters in Hawaii Winter Baseball, and the way he threw caught the eye of veteran Tigers scout Dick Egan. He also began showing more life on his fastball late in the season after smoothing out his delivery. The former fifth-round draft pick out of Illinois State will likely be tried as a long reliever for Detroit after being primarily a starter over his five-year career in Pittsburgh's farm system. Bloom went 5-8 with a 4.19 ERA at Class AA Altoona last season, allowing 103 hits over 109 2/3 innings with 55 walks and 93 strikeouts.

"If he throws the way he threw for Egan, I think he'll be interesting and have a chance to make our ballclub," GM Dave Dombrowski said.

Bloom has a solid curve to go with a decent fastball and changeup. In 30 Hawaii innings, Bloom allowed just 15 hits with 11 walks and 32 strikeouts.

--C James Skelton was selected by Arizona in the Rule 5 draft. The Diamondbacks must keep Skelton on their roster all season or offer him back to the Tigers at half the draft selection price. Skelton is regarded as undersized for catching but has proven himself all the way through the minors to the Class AA level. Detroit elected to keep two spots open on its 40-man roster rather than add Skelton. "We just don't think he's ready to play in the big leagues," GM Dave Dombrowski said.

--RHP Joel Zumaya, who suffered through his second consecutive injury-shortened season, could get a go-ahead to begin throwing before Christmas as he continues to come back from right shoulder surgery more than a year ago. Zumaya had come back to some small degree of success -- his velocity was back but not his control -- before getting shut down in late August when scar tissue and a stress fracture ended his season. "He's progressing well, he's feeling good," GM Dave Dombrowski said of Zumaya, 24, who could get cleared this week to begin light tossing from 60 feet. "It gives him ample time to be ready for the season."

BY THE NUMBERS: 28.9 -- Percentage of base-stealing attempts turned into outs by new Tigers C Gerald Laird last season. This compares to the 29.7 percentage of C Brandon Inge, who took over behind the plate when Detroit traded C Ivan Rodriguez to the New York Yankees at the end of July.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think that we need to get that confident but professional swagger back, and I think we lost that last year. I think, for one thing, we were asking some people to do things that they weren't capable of doing, and I think that's very unfair. I think some of our veteran players were probably disappointed." -- Manager Jim Leyland on one of his goals for spring training in 2009.
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: From the FSN Daily Wire Tue Dec 16, 2008 12:22 pm

December 16, 2008

Tigers finalize 1-year, $1M deal with Everett.

DETROIT (AP) - Shortstop Adam Everett and the Detroit Tigers finalized a one-year contract Monday worth about $1 million.

"We've talked about improving our defense, and we think Adam obviously does that," Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said during a telephone conference call. "He also can help us offensively — he can get the big hit."

Everett batted just .213 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 48 games for the Minnesota Twins last season, when he was hampered by a shoulder injury. He appeared in 66 games the previous year for Houston, but the Tigers believe Everett will be a solid option at shortstop.

"I feel like I've always been able to handle the bat and help my team win," Everett said. "I've been hurt the last couple years — there's no secret there — and I haven't been able to show everything I can do offensively."

Everett is expected to replace Edgar Renteria, who became a free agent after the Tigers declined his 2009 option.

"I knew the Tigers were looking to improve their defense at shortstop, so it seemed like a great fit," Everett said. "Once I got an offer from them, I didn't really talk to anyone else."

With the Tigers also planning on moving Brandon Inge to third base after obtaining catcher Gerald Laird from Texas, Everett is excited about the possibilities.

"Brandon is a great defensive third baseman," he said. "He's going to make any shortstop better, just because of his great range."

Dombrowski hopes that the Inge-Everett combination will fix up one of Detroit's most glaring weaknesses from a year ago — infield defense.

"We've really been focused on improving our defense during this offseason, and that starts with putting Brandon back at third, where he is one of the best in the league," he said. "When you add Adam, that already gives us one of the best left-side infields in the game."
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971