2011-12 Detroit Tigers Off-Season
 

Tigers have solid foundation on which to build | tigers.com: News

Tigers have a pretty good base to work with this off-season which is avery nice change. They don't need to make aas many changes as they have in the past.

The boys that I see as definitely gone are: Bad Penny, Old-Man Ordonez and Old-Bones Guillen.

Santiago, though he is a FA this year, will be resigned because he is a fantastic utility infielder and Valverde's team option will be taken up because, well 52 for 52.

The areas I think Detroit needs to fill are 3rd, 2nd, lead-off (Jackson just isn't cutting it) and middle relief.

It's almost official that Maggs and Guillen are gone (The Tigers are "most likely" not going to re-sign Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen. | tigers.com: News). They were great for the Tigers and will be missed.

Tigers' Justin Verlander unanimously wins American League Cy Young Award | tigers.com: News Pretty much a no brainer this year.

Hoping the MVP is next

Looks like the Tigers are bringing back Gerald Laird.

I just read that too. I'm happy about that.

Yeah, I think he will be a decent backup.

Congrats on bringing home the Cy Young and MVP award. Well done Verlander.

I don't know. A good defensive catcher is valuable but at what point is that swamped by offensive ineptness?

Career OPS+ of 73. The last season with Detroit, he was hovering around 40 until he picked it up and put in a 53 for the seaon (only 89 games).

If all else fails, I wonder if Santiago will be given the chance to be the regular second baseman. I'd rather keep him on the bench but I wonder if he might rise to the occation as a leadoff 2B. Maybe that's just crazy, he'd need to be more patient but who knows.

Maybe it isn't too crazy, with just under 300 plate appearances last year, he had 17 walks and 38 Ks. Could some serious work and intention reverse those? Maybe. That would put his OBP up around .350. At 32, I don't know if he can work his way into being a lead off guy. He probably just is what he is at this point, a good utility infielder.

Just thinking out loud and blathering - don't mind me.

What you got from him last year compare favorably to his career averages. His isolated power last year was a little bit better than his career marks. It would seem like a very unusual event if he was able to improve his 6.6% career walk percentage much at this point. Fine utility guy though and he hits some of the better pitchers in the league very well.

From what I've gathered the feeling in Detroit is that Santiago can't physically hold up to the riggers of being a day in day out guy. He can handle the utility role, but not the starting role. That's the main reason he doesn't start.

Tigers reportedly inquire about Aramis Ramirez, Mark Buehrle | tigers.com: News

Imagine Mark Buehrle playing for the Tigers. That'd almost be like Magglio Ord.... oh wait.

Buehrle playing for the Tiggers would make me vomit... :bored:

Tigers agree to terms on two-year deal with infielder Ramon Santiago | tigers.com: News

I'm glad Detroit re-signed Santiago. I really like him... as a backup utility player. I don't see him as a starter though. We'll see if Detroit can find a real starter for 2nd so we don't have to use a Santiago/Raburn platoon.

UGH! Saw a little blurb in the Detroit News yesterday that hinted at the Tigers going with Raburn and Santiago at second base next year. Raburn never starts hitting until mid August and is horrid in the field.

The Tigers acquired Collin Balester from the Nationals in exchange for Ryan Perry. | tigers.com: News

Goodbye Ryan Perry. Hello Collin Balester (whoever you are). I will not miss Perry. I liked the kid and wanted him to do well but he never really did.

Being reported that Victor Martinez tore his ACL while working out last week. Most likely out for the season. He will be reevaluated next week, but things don't look good. This sucks beyond words. UGH!

Yeah, this could be big. He was the best protection for Miggy they had, let alone being simply awesome.