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Detroit Tigers News

Report: Tigers nearly traded Curtis Granderson to Red Sox in 2009
February 3
Detroit Free Press
 
"Last season, Curtis Granderson peppered baseballs into the right-field seats of Yankee Stadium with ease. But if not for the Boston Red Sox balking at the Tigers asking price in 2009, Granderson very well could have been peppering balls off the left-field Green Monster at Fenway Park. The Wall Street Journal's Daniel Barbarisi reports that before the three-team deal that sent Granderson to the New York Yankees that offseason, the Red Sox were very much interested in Granderson's services."
Tigers GM: Prince Fielder deal mirrored Miguel Cabrera trade
February 2
Detroit Free Press
 
"Signing Prince Fielder continues to remind Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski of trading for Miguel Cabrera. In December 2007, the Tigers traded five players -- including star prospects Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller -- to the Florida Marlins for Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. And the deal, Dombrowski said, materialized with owner Mike Ilitch much like Fielder's signing. "I had brought to his attention that he was a good player out there, a key guy that could be available," Dombrowski told CJCL-AM (590) in Toronto on Tuesday. "But not really with the intent that I thought we'd even trade for him. Because at that point the dollars were very large to extend him ... we had thought.""
Tigers nearly set for spring camp
February 2
Detroit News
 
"About their pitching, about their bench — frankly, about everything. The questions that remain about the Tigers, following a glamorous $214 million interlude last week, suddenly seem more pertinent. Because it's no longer January. The best part of transitioning from one winter month to another — even when it's warmer in Michigan than usual — is that when the calendar turns to February, two words other than "Super Bowl" come to mind."
Sources: Playoff expansion has issues
February 1
ESPN.com
 
"Baseball commissioner Bud Selig continues to talk confidently about expanding the baseball playoff field in 2012. But sources tell ESPN.com efforts to make that happen remain bogged down, all because of one thorny little complication: the details. Wednesday was supposed to be the day the commissioner's office finished a proposed schedule for the 2012 postseason and shipped it to the players' association for consideration. But sources told ESPN.com that deadline wasn't going to be met -- not because talks have broken down, but because fitting two extra wild-card pieces into the postseason puzzle has proven to be more involved than the commissioner has been willing to acknowledge. The new"
Tigers could plug as many as 10 players into DH spot
February 1
Detroit News
 
"Despite the signing of slugger Prince Fielder, there's a spot in the Tigers lineup that remains open. Designated hitter, of course. It won't be open in 2013 when Victor Martinez returns from the two surgeries he's facing to repair his damaged left knee. But for this season, it is. As matters stand, it'll be DH by committee — a big committee — for the Tigers. That wouldn't be the case if the Tigers had moved Miguel Cabrera from first base to DH instead of third after last week's signing of Fielder."
Denny McLain should learn from Brandon Inge instead of ridiculing him
February 1
Detroit News
 columnist Tom Gage
"Cheap shot or joke? I say cheap shot. If you read Terry Foster's column on Monday, you know former Tigers pitcher Denny McLain got some laughs over the weekend when he showed a photograph of the Tigers' Brandon Inge to a Madonna University fundraiser crowd of several hundred and said, "This was Brandon Inge's last photo before he began whining about his playing time." Then McLain tossed the photo to the ground and said when it landed, "it's the first time he's hit something in two years." Terry wrote the crowd chuckled both times."
Six teams eye Cespedes
February 1
CSN Philly
 
"Yoenis Cespedes will finally be able to sign with an MLB team and there is considerable interest in the Cuban slugger. At least six are bidding on Cespedes, tweeted Jim Bowden of ESPN (Yahoo! Sports has the story). The former Cuban citizen (current citizen of the Dominican Republic), has plans to visit the United States to meet with clubs. Only five of the six "seriously negotiating" with Cespedes are known: The Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers."
Yoenis Cespedes signing before spring training
January 31
Yahoo! Sports
 
"Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes is now free to sign with any team he would like and his agent, Adam Katz, told Fox Sports Monday that his client is expected to do just that before spring training camps open in a few weeks. "We are aware of the (spring-training) dates," Katz told Fox. "We expect him to be in camp with one of the clubs." Of course, Katz may have a lot of sifting to do before then. The word has been that pretty much everybody who has seen Cespedes pick up a bat has some interest in signing the 26-year-old. Katz termed the market for Cespedes as "meaningful and aggressive" to Fox."
Tigers' moves put Brandon Inge on bench, where he belongs
January 31
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Jamie Samuelson
"Can you explain/understand the sympathy expressed by Tigers fans for Brandon Inge, who's once again the odd-man out? I'm just surprised nobody cares what Don Kelly thinks about the Prince Fielder signing. Shouldn't he have a say, too? Shouldn't we all worry what the move means to Kelly? After all, he was penciled in as a platoon third baseman alongside Inge for the 2012 season. So if Fielder is entrenched at first base and Miguel Cabrera slides over to third, doesn't that mean Kelly is also a man without a job?"
Prince Fielder signing stokes buzz for Tigers tickets
January 31
Detroit News
 
"Prince Fielder hits baseballs into the seats. He also puts seats in the seats. As quickly as reports floated last week that a spectacular left-handed slugger was coming to Detroit, phone lines at Comerica Park heated like an oven broiler. Ticket staffers worked as late as 9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday, as fans bent on at least asking about season tickets raided the Comerica Park switchboard. "Interest has been high," Duane McLean, senior vice president for business operations for the Tigers, said Monday. "The call volumes were heavy. We were averaging about 4,000 calls into our ticket department those days when we would typically have a couple of hundred at this"
Victor Martinez has first surgery on knee
January 31
Detroit News
 
"One surgery down, one to go. Or to put it another way: Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez suffered much more than a torn left ACL two weeks ago when he slipped during a conditioning drill. He suffered so much damage, in fact, the repairs have to be done in two stages. To get a head start in recovering from the other injuries his left knee sustained, Martinez's ACL won't be repaired for another 6-8 weeks. So if you're a calendar watcher, his recovery won't start in full until mid-to-late March, which in turn leaves no doubt Martinez has been lost for the 2012 season."
Tigers' Victor Martinez undergoes knee surgery
January 30
Detroit News
 
"Victor Martinez's left knee was so damaged, so torn up in his conditioning mishap earlier this month, it is requiring multiple surgeries to repair it. Martinez, the Tigers designated hitter/catcher, underwent microfracture surgery, as well as repairs to both the medial and lateral meniscus in his left knee on Friday, the Tigers announced. But the procedure to repair his torn left ACL might not take place for another eight weeks. In other words, the long road back for the Tigers' designated hitter hasn't gotten any shorter."
Nick Castellanos remains in Tigers' plans
January 30
Detroit News
 
"Tigers fans are always looking ahead, even when a non-issue becomes — for some — an issue Nick Castellanos, for example. Now that Tigers bosses have dusted off their hands and pronounced Miguel Cabrera the new full-time third baseman, people have asked what the team plans to do with its top position prospect, Castellanos, who is a confirmed third baseman, and who will probably be delivered to Comerica Park by Opening Day 2014. "We're not looking to trade him," Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager, said of Castellanos at last week's Prince Fielder unveiling at Comerica Park. "He'll fit in great, eventually, with this lineup.""
Denny McLain's message to Brandon Inge: Get over it
January 30
Detroit News
 
"Denny McLain held up an autographed photo of Brandon Inge and showed it to his audience. "This was Brandon Inge's last photo before he began whining about his playing time," McLain announced. The former Tigers pitcher drew laughter from 300 guests who attended the Madonna University baseball team's fundraiser Saturday. Inge lost his shot to start last week when the Tigers signed Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract; he will play first base and Miguel Cabrera will move to third."
Nolan Ryan: With Prince Fielder, Tigers a 'force to be dealt with'
January 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"We expect power hitters to be big men. According to Baseball-Reference.com, of the 25 players who have hit at least 500 home runs, only four stood less than 6 feet in height: Willie Mays (5-feet-10), Mickey Mantle (5-11), Mel Ott (5-9) and former Tiger Gary Sheffield (5-11). Prince Fielder, who already has 230 homers, is 5-11. "The thing I find interesting is that your impression is that he's taller than he is," Nolan Ryan said on the phone from Texas. "So his strike zone is smaller. Anytime you have to pitch to a smaller strike zone, the challenges increase." Fielder is the only player who has had at least 30 homers and 100 walks in each of the past three seasons. "One of the biggest"
New Tiger Prince Fielder doesn't let emotions get best of him anymore
January 29
Detroit Free Press
 
"Detroit, this is your new Prince. He's a hard-swinging, hard-playing slugger hardwired to hardly miss games. He knows about hard feelings, too. He still holds them for his father. He's quick to laughter but also has flashes of unhinged anger. He's emotional but approachable. He's heavy, but surprisingly athletic. He's a great teammate. A leader. A family man and a doting father. This is Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder. According to people who knew him well and interacted with him daily in Milwaukee, Fielder is all of the above and more. Tony Gwynn Jr. met him in 2003 in Beloit, Wis. Minutes after they met, Fielder asked Gwynn to be his roommate. Both follow in their famous fathers'"
Miguel Cabrera good enough to make risky move work
January 29
Detroit News
 columnist Bob Wojnowski
"The great debate has commenced, and will continue every single moment of every single day through spring training, then every single Tigers game thereafter. Can he or can't he? Will he or won't he? Should he or shouldn't he? My quick answer (since you asked): Miguel Cabrera can play adequate third base to make room for Prince Fielder, but Plans B, C, and D should be in place. Cabrera won't be a great fielder, duh, but no team would turn down the chance to land a great Fielder. The best thing that came out of the Tigers' stunning signing this week is confirmation they're serious about playing big-boy baseball, literally, figuratively, financially and calorically. Owner Mike Ilitch plans to"
Tigers' Prince Fielder is Mr. Reliable
January 28
Detroit Free Press
 
"On top of everything else, Prince Fielder is durable. Fielder leads all major leaguers in games played in the past three seasons with 485. In those three seasons, he has missed one game. Not only has he played in 485 games the past three years -- he has started 485. In all six full seasons of his career, Fielder has started at least 150 games. Three years ago, he started to become the most durable player in baseball. In 2009, he started all 162 games for Milwaukee at first base. In 2010, he started 160 games at first and served as the DH in one interleague game. And he sat out one game due to flu-like symptoms -- his only missed game in the past three years. In 2011, Fielder again started"
New Tiger Prince Fielder on fast track to join select company of sluggers
January 28
Detroit Free Press
 columnist John Lowe
"Even now, decades after each took his final mighty left-handed cut, their names cause a shudder. If you were their fan or their teammate, it's a shudder of excitement, of admiration. If you were a pitcher who had to get them out, it might be a shudder of dread. Their names are Willie Stargell and Willie McCovey. They're two of the top left-handed sluggers of all time. Their names came up this week when longtime major league pitcher Jim Kaat was asked whom Prince Fielder reminds him of. "He is a rare combination of talent," said Kaat, now an analyst for MLB Network. "For left-handed-hitting first basemen with that combination of power and average, you have to go back to McCovey and Stargell"
Jim Leyland, Miguel Cabrera fully embracing switch to third base
January 28
Detroit News
 
"So, which one is it? Has Miguel Cabrera merely agreed to play third base now that the Tigers have signed Prince Fielder to play first? Or does he genuinely want to play third base? When all the happy talk of a news conference subsides, there's a big difference. If Cabrera has merely agreed, he's taking one for the team. Whenever something goes wrong, in that case, he could resent the switch. Or begin to resent it. But if Cabrera really wantsto move back to his former position, he'll fight through any obstacles. On Friday, after a rough drive to his home outside Pittsburgh, manager Jim Leyland left no doubt about Cabrera's willingness to switch. "I think he wants to show the world he can"
Selig expects two one-game playoffs for this fall
January 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Baseball appears ready for an extra round of wild-card playoffs by this fall, according to commissioner Bud Selig. "I really believe we'll have the (extra) wild card for this year," Selig said Friday at SoxFest. "Clubs really want it. I don't think I've ever seen an issue that the clubs want more than to have the extra wild card." The extra round would be one-game elimination in both the National and American Leagues to the teams who would have missed the playoffs as they are set up now. Some have argued for a best-of-three, but that appears impossible with the scheduled all but set for 2012."
Dodgers made late push to sign Prince Fielder
January 27
Los Angeles Times
 
"Prince Fielder's landing in Detroit was a big surprise, but it turns out the Tigers were not the most unexpected entrant in the sweepstakes. The Dodgers were secretly in at the end too, losing out only when the Tigers upped the ante after learning last week that Victor Martinez had severely injured a knee and probably will sit out the upcoming season. Needing a middle-of-the-lineup bat to protect Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers ponied up a nine-year, $214-million contract and on Thursday introduced Fielder as their newest member."
New Tiger Prince Fielder talks childhood memories, but not dad Cecil
January 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"When he was introduced as the Tigers' new slugging first baseman Thursday, Prince Fielder had trouble recalling every detail about the seven years of his childhood spent in Detroit. He couldn't remember which of the Grosse Pointes he lived in from 1990 to '96, when his dad, Cecil, was the Tigers' slugging first baseman. It was Grosse Pointe Farms. And the school he attended? Someone helped jog his memory. Giving Tree Montessori on Detroit's east side."
Prince Fielder to Tigers: How a shot-in-the-dark offer became epic deal
January 27
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Anthony Fenech
"It started with Max Scherzer, a joke and a punch line. Agent Scott Boras phoned Tigers vice president John Westhoff last week to talk about working out a contract extension for the Tigers right-hander. During that conversation, Westhoff had a question: Would Prince Fielder be interested in a one-year deal? "He would," Boras said. "For nine years.""
Jim Leyland: Tigers' Brandon Inge 'not the happiest camper'
January 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"On Jan. 19, as the Tigers kicked off their winter caravan at Comerica Park, Brandon Inge talked happily about his intentions to earn a full-time job at third base this season. "I've played baseball my whole life. I've started my whole life," he told the Free Press. "I'm a baseball player. I don't want to platoon." That was before the Tigers said Thursday that Miguel Cabrera would switch from first base to third base after the signing of free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder. "He's not the happiest camper," manager Jim Leyland said of Inge, a lifetime Tiger. "He certainly understands, and we try to deal with these issues as we're supposed to because it's part of our responsibility.""
Calvin Johnson, Justin Verlander make list of most powerful athletes
January 27
Detroit Free Press
 
"So who's the king of Detroit sports? Bloomberg Businessweek, the Horrow Sports Ventures and CSE, a marketing agency, have combined to compile and interesting list. They've come up with the 100 most powerful athletes in sports. Now, what does powerful mean? The panel took into account not just the prowess on the field of play, but an athlete's ability appeal, influence and popularity. So, with that in mind, the highest-ranking local athlete is Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson at No. 10. He's just ahead of golfers Luke Donald (11) and some guy named Tiger Woods (12). A further down the list is Tigers first, er, third baseman Miguel Cabrera at 38th. Lions QB Matthew Stafford is at No. 43."
It took plenty of pepperoni for Detroit to land its new Prince
January 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"Consider it a jumbo with extra dough... Take a good look at Prince Fielder, now under contract with the Detroit Tigers for the next nine years. Nine years is 3,285 dinners, counting post-game buffets. Try to remember this is what he looked like before joining a team owned by a pizza magnate. It's possible, I guess, that his Milwaukee years will be known as his salad days. The Pentagon tank budget aside, no one has ever invested so much money ($214 million) in a body this size. The Tigers are heavy favorites to win the AL Central with Fielder and Miguel Cabrera hitting in the middle of the lineup. And he is only 27. But when Victor Martinez comes back in 2013, they'll have three designated"
Doubters abound on Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera's move to third base
January 26
Detroit Free Press
 
"Miguel Cabrera said he was moving back to third base to make room on the Tigers' infield for free-agent signee Prince Fielder at first base. In order to play third effectively, Cabrera must lose weight, former major league infielder Harold Reynolds said Wednesday. "He's got a lot of work to do if you ask me, starting with his weight," said Reynolds, an analyst with MLB Network. "The size he's at right now at first base, he's going to have to lose a lot of weight to be a little more nimble."
Baseball prodigy Prince Fielder showed his talent early in Detroit
January 26
Detroit News
 
"In the early 1990s, impromptu wrestling matches were commonplace inside the Tiger Stadium clubhouse, and they had nothing to do with testy player exchanges from another loss by the home team. Tony Phillips, considered the team's super-utility man, would square off against a husky tyke named Prince Fielder for some in-house entertainment. "I'm Hulk Hogan, and I'm going to body slam you!" Phillips recalled yelling to Fielder, son of Phillips' teammate, Cecil Fielder. "Those were the days. Prince was just that good ol' chubby kid who loved to play and smile.""
With addition of Prince Fielder, pressure is on Tigers to win World Series
January 26
Detroit News
 columnist John Niyo
"The only sure thing in baseball is that there really isn't one. And surely the Tigers, who remained the talk of Major League Baseball on Wednesday after the stunning, free-agent signing of slugger Prince Fielder, don't need to be reminded of that. Just last week, in fact, Justin Verlander, the American League's reigning MVP, was reminding us — not the other way around — about the pitfalls of overconfidence. "I look back to 2008 when everybody said we were going to be the best team on the planet," the Tigers ace said, "and it didn't pan out that way.""
Prince Fielder's signing causes domino effect for Tigers
January 26
Detroit News
 
"The Tigers love their poorly kept secrets. For the second day in a row, with fans buzzing about the signing of Prince Fielder to a nine-year contract worth $214 million — the largest contract in team history and fourth-largest ever in baseball — mum was the word. The same statement applied Wednesday as on Tuesday: "The organization has no comment on the situation." In other words, they stopped short of making Fielder's signing official. They didn't even say there's an agreement in principle. Or that one is in the works pending the completion of a physical and whatever contract language still has to be finalized."
Cespedes is a free agent, and bidding can begin
January 25
CBSSports.com
 
"The bidding for Yoenis Cespedes can finally begin. The 26-year-old Cuban outfielder has established residency in the Dominican Republic, and Major League Baseball told teams on Wednesday that he is now officially a free agent. But where will he go, how much will he cost, and how fast could he make an impact? First, the where: Cespedes himself told reporters in the Dominican that the Cubs have shown the most interest in him, with the Marlins, Tigers, White Sox and Orioles also involved. The Nationals have also shown interest in Cespedes, and the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies scouted him, although it's believed that none of the three will be among the top bidders. The Marlins have made no"
With Prince Fielder on board, Tigers lineup options could be hard but unlimited
January 25
Detroit Free Press
 
"Jim Leyland needs to sharpen his pencil and get more notepaper. The Tigers manager likes to jot down potential lineups during the off-season. On Tuesday, Prince Fielder agreed to join Leyland's lineup at first base. Miguel Cabrera said he's moving to third. So Leyland can start afresh on formulating his various lineup combinations for this season. It appears the Tigers won't recruit a full-time designated hitter this year to replace the injured Victor Martinez."
Fielder deal reiterates Tigers' hunger for title
January 25
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Joe Christensen
"Mike Illitch has been called the George Steinbrenner of the American League Central, and Tuesday, the Tigers owner showed his spare-no-expense mentality again. No one expected Detroit to sign Prince Fielder. Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski dismissed the idea publicly last week after Victor Martinez suffered a potential season-ending knee injury. But Illitch, the founder of Little Caesars Pizza, is still looking for that first World Series title. He has hoisted the Stanley Cup four times as Red Wings owner, but the Tigers are trying to snap a title drought that stretches to 1984, eight years before he bought the team. While some mid-market teams such as the Twins tend to shy away"
A Prince of a deal
January 25
Detroit News
 
"This is as big as it gets, as stunning as it gets, as resounding as it gets. And the truth is, we probably shouldn't be shocked anymore. Tigers owner Mike Ilitch said he would do this, whatever it took, whoever was willing to listen. And here it came Tuesday, a blast that rocked the baseball world, as the Tigers landed free-agent star Prince Fielder with an expected nine-year, $214 million contract. Go big, go now, or go home. That's the philosophy for Ilitch's Tigers these days, with the owner openly wondering how long he can wait for a World Series championship. From the disaster of the Victor Martinez season-ending knee injury, the Tigers extracted an incredible boost. I dare say,"
Tigers' grab at Prince Fielder could be boom, then bust
January 25
Detroit News
 columnist Lynn Henning
"It was a stunner eight years ago when baseball's best catcher — Pudge Rodriguez — signed with baseball's worst team — the Tigers. A year later another Hollywood hitter, Magglio Ordonez, came aboard when the Tigers were still stuck in the muck a franchise had dumped on itself for two decades. And then there was Miguel Cabrera. He arrived four years ago via a bolt from the blue skies of Nashville's winter meetings, in a trade so outlandish the Tigers never imagined it could happen until a casual remark by Al Avila at The Opryland Hotel set in motion a nuclear blast of a deal that helped transform baseball in Detroit."
Former Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder 'shocked' by Prince Fielder's decision
January 25
Detroit News
 
"You can count Prince Fielder's father, former Tiger Cecil Fielder, among the folks surprised the slugger will be playing for Detroit. "That just shocked me," Cecil Fielder said today in an interview on SiriusXM's MLB Radio. "That's crazy. He's gonna come full circle, after he's been there in Detroit most of his young adult life. I think he's comfortable in that place." Cecil Fielder played from the Tigers from 1990-96, hitting 245 home runs — including an eye-popping 51 in 1990. Always by his side during his days in Detroit was young Prince. Detroit fans first started hearing about Prince as a 12-year-old, when reports started circulating he was regularly hitting home runs at Tiger Stadium"
MLB allows retired Tony La Russa to manage in All-Star game against Ron Washington
January 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"Tony La Russa will come out of retirement to manage the National League team for the July 10 All-Star Game at Kansas City. La Russa will go against Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington, who will handle the American League team for the second consecutive season. La Russa retired shortly after St. Louis defeated the Rangers in the seven-game World Series."
Fielder to sign with Tigers; Nats still set at first base
January 25
Washington Times
 
"The mystery team pulled off another coup. With the Prince Fielder negotiations coming to a head Tuesday, it was not the Washington Nationals or the Texas Rangers or any of the other rumored favorites who secured the slugger. Instead it was the Detroit Tigers, the American League Central champions, who jumped into the race at the last minute and walked away with Fielder for a reported nine years and $214 million. "Our pockets are deep, but they are not that deep," Nationals manager Davey Johnson told reporters at the Baseball Assistance Team dinner in New York shortly after the news of Fielder's signing broke."
Prince Fielder agrees to 9-year, $214M deal with Tigers
January 25
Detroit Free Press
 
"Slugging first baseman Prince Fielder has agreed to a nine-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, the Free Press learned today from an industry source familiar with the deal. The deal is expected to be worth around $214 million, an average of $23.8 million per year, according to the source. Fielder still must pass his physical for the deal to be complete. The Tigers, coming off an AL championship series loss to Texas, apparently have filled the void left by this month's ACL injury suffered by designated hitter Victor Martinez. Regular first baseman Miguel Cabrera said today that he will move to third base."
Cespedes gains residency in the DR
January 24
MLB.com
 
"The bidding is about to begin. Cuban outfield prospect Yoenis Cespedes has established residency in the Dominican Republic and is now waiting on approval from Major League Baseball to be declared a free agent, his representative Edgar Mercedes said. Cespedes, who just finished a stint with Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter League, recently said the Marlins, Cubs, White Sox, Orioles, Tigers, and Indians have expressed the most interest in signing him. He is expected to command a contract greater than the one received by Cuban left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who signed a six-year, $30.25 million deal with the Reds in January 2010."
Reports: Prince Fielder coming to Tigers
January 24
Detroit News
 
"The various complications can be worked out later. For now, this much is clear: In stunning fashion as the so-called "mystery" team in the negotiations the Tigers reportedly have come to terms with first baseman Prince Fielder on a nine-year contract worth $214 million. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the team hadn't yet confirmed the signing — but the Tigers usually wait until a physical is taken and passed before making announcements. It could also be there's some language in the contract still to be worked out. But the framework of a bold free-agent signing is in place."
Johnny Damon would join select company in second tour of duty with Tigers
January 24
Detroit Free Press
 
"If the Tigers sign Johnny Damon to take Victor Martinez's place, he would join a distinguished group of players who have had a second tour with the Tigers. Damon played with the Tigers in 2010, then joined Tampa Bay as a free agent last season. In chronological order, here are some prominent "two-time" Tigers from recent decades: • Kirk Gibson: He played the first nine years of his career with the Tigers, then left as a free agent after the 1987 season for the Dodgers, for whom he became the National League MVP the following season. The Tigers signed Gibson as a free agent for the '93 season. He played with them until he retired in August 1995. • Dan Petry: He went to the Angels for Gary"
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski deflects rumors
January 24
Detroit News
 
"One national bird dog last weekend had the Tigers ready to sign Johnny Damon and Juan Pierre as their replacement parts for knee-shelved designated hitter Victor Martinez. Another outlet reported Monday the Tigers had made a bid for Roy Oswalt, which included a recruiting call from Justin Verlander, all to no avail as Oswalt said no to Detroit. Dave Dombrowski's response to the Hot Stove rumor mill was succinct: "Read 'em all," Dombrowski said of the reports. "And none of 'em are credible.""
Free agent Roy Oswalt turns down Tigers
January 24
CSN Philly
 
"Roy Oswalt continues to wait. According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (via HardballTalk) Roy Oswalt "did not want to go to Detroit" to play for the Tigers. The Detroit Tigers were "very interested" in Oswalt, even going as far as to have ace Justin Verlander call Oswalt, said Knobler. Presumably, Oswalt is waiting for the call from the Boston Red Sox."
Tigers pursuing Johnny Damon, Roy Oswalt in free agency
January 23
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Tigers are pursuing Johnny Damon to fill the void left by Victor Martinez's knee injury, Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reported on Sunday. "And they should," he said. "He can hit in a number of lineup spots, which suits them well because Jim Leyland is still sorting through a number of lineup options." Damon, 38, is a career .286 hitter over 17 major league seasons and hit .271 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases in 145 games with the Tigers in 2010."
Tigers prospect Nick Castellanos lives up to billing with strong first season
January 23
Detroit News
 
"You first deal with April's 40-degree chill that isn't the easiest transition for a 19-year-old who has lived most of his life in south Florida. Next, there's the matter of a schedule that's 135 games rather than 30 or 40. Finally, there are baseball realities: Pitchers who throw 95 mph rather than 85. Breaking balls. And, of course, this issue of moving from shortstop to third base, which is a little like migrating from Smalltown, USA, to New York City."
Will Justin Verlander's postseason workload impact his delivery, philosophy in 2012?
January 22
Detroit Free Press
 
"In 2006, pitchers Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya each had a sensational rookie season and helped take the Tigers to the World Series. Five years later, their paths had diverged to this extent: Verlander threw a major league-high 4,306 pitches in 2011, and Zumaya didn't throw any. Strangely enough, those contrasting workloads might give each pitcher the same objective in spring training: Don't try to do too much too soon. Perhaps Zumaya tried to do too much too soon last spring in Tigers camp after he'd missed the final half of the previous season with a broken elbow. He looked awesome in early workouts. But he got hurt in his first exhibition game, and he hasn't pitched in an exhibition"
Tigers' Austin Jackson aims to carry defensive electricity into power hitting, even in leadoff spot
January 22
Detroit Free Press
 
"In the 1959 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh, Willie Mays drilled a drive to deep right-centerfield. The Tigers' Harvey Kuenn, playing center, gave chase but couldn't get it. Bob Stevens of the San Francisco Chronicle, who daily watched Mays make his case as the best all-around player in the game's history, sympathized with Kuenn. Stevens summed up the play this way: "The only centerfielder in baseball who could have caught it just happened to hit it." At his best moments in center, the Tigers' Austin Jackson evokes Mays. But in listening to Jackson now, it becomes clear he also has a desire to hit more like Mays -- who had lots of extra-base power -- and not so much like the stereotyped,"