"Never did the Tigers expect four days of Winter Meetings dialogue to tweak a roster that still requires work.

But with an agreement — all but finalized — to sign right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel for a bullpen that needed a trusty soul, Dave Dombrowski and his front-office corps at least could leave Dallas following Thursday's meetings wrap-up and feel as if their finishing touches are manageable.

"I think we've made progress," said Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager, following Thursday morning's Rule 5 Draft, which is annually the final act from baseball's winter convention.

"We haven't been looking at making a big splash. But I think a lot is coming this wintertime.

"There's a lot of the winter to go. If we could add a reliever, we'd probably be content to go into the season."

Except the Tigers and Dombrowski aren't about to accept their existing roster as complete.

There are still serious matters to be addressed — more than Dombrowski was willing to acknowledge Thursday.

Dombrowski, as is his policy, would say nothing until medical reports stamped Dotel as ready to go for 2012. The 38-year-old Dotel had a sterling 2011 season pitching for both the Blue Jays and Cardinals and is being counted on to settle a seventh-inning situation that last season too often was a roulette wheel.

Dotel, however, had agreed to a one-year contract believed to be in the vicinity of $3 million, with a club option for 2013.

As for their batting order, the Tigers have a to-do list there, as well. Detroit is waiting for Cuban defector and star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to be declared a free agent and will bid in a high-priced auction to sign the 26-year-old speedster whose power and overall skills have made him the Tigers' top position priority.

They also will address their starting rotation.

"We're still looking for a fifth starter," said Dombrowski who repeated that he wants "protection" from the possibility one of his young pitchers won't be ready for promotion by the end of spring camp."