"Right-hander J.J. Putz (Michigan) was such a dominant closer a few years ago that AL manager Jim Leyland put him on the mound to guard the lead in the ninth inning of the 2007 All-Star Game.

This past season, Trenton native had his first Mets season interrupted by surgery to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow. He didn't pitch after early June.

Due at least in part to that elbow injury, Putz won't be coming home to Michigan to close games for Tigers manager Leyland next season. He signed a one-year, $3-million deal today with the rival White Sox. Putz will serve as one of the setup men for closer Bobby Jenks.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, whose team doesn't have a veteran closer for next season, was asked how much interest the Tigers had in signing Putz.

"We had some interest," Dombrowski said after the White Sox announced the signing. "We still had some obstacles to get over at this point."

Dombrowski chose not to detail those obstacles. But it appears likely that one of them involved Putz's elbow. The Tigers seemingly were reluctant to entrust the closer's job with someone coming off surgery to his pitching arm.

Health would appear to have been more the issue than money for the Tigers."