While it’s too early to tell if the tour has had any tangible effect on ticket sales, I’m ready to call the caravan a success in at least one regard – it’s where the Tigers rolled out their new first baseman, who looks a lot like their old first baseman, but not really.

As Miguel Cabrera answered questions about his drunken debacle last fall, and subsequent counseling and treatment for alcohol related issues, the faces of the writers surrounding him told the story. If you couldn’t see it in his face then you could certainly see it in theirs, he was different.

The young, gruff, sometimes overtly difficult manchild who spoke to the media only when necessary had given way to something new. He was humble. He was mature. He was softer around the edges. He was, for lack of a better term, sober to the realities surrounding his future, on and off the baseball diamond.

Michael Rosenberg of the Freep described the experience superbly in his article when he wrote:

This Cabrera smiled. He laughed. He looked comfortable in the middle of a media pack. He was so open, so honest about his flaws and so self-effacing that I really don’t know what else he could have done to convince people he has changed.

Convincing people he has in fact changed seems to be high on his priority list. Not just his teammates, his coaches and bosses – but his fans and detractors alike. As for his family, that has always been his business, and always will be, but I would venture to guess that everyone close to him can see the positive changes that have come about so far.

At a time when he must have known that every writer in the room would ask the same questions, hard questions, he was prepared to answer with more than a cookie cutter quote put together by his agents and public relations staff. He was real. He spoke from the heart. He talked about being a better player, yes, but also of being a better father and husband.

He hasn’t had a drink since that awful night in early October when he ended up in a police station with scratches on his face, and his reputation. Since then he’s undergone counseling, as often as 3-4 times per week, and has done it willingly, not begrudgingly. He has and will continue to work with his doctor on his sobriety. He admitted he had a problem and is dealing with it.

He has made peace with his teammates, at least it seems that way. If there is any lingering resentment out there amongst his peers it wasn’t evident Thursday. Now all that’s left is to walk the walk. Soon he’ll have the chance to do just that, to atone for his misgivings in the only tangible way most fans care about – on the field.

One would assume that the efforts Cabrera has undertaken to deal with his alcohol issues will lead to a healthier, better prepared ballplayer, although there is no guarantee. If there is in fact significant improvement on the field of play then the baseball world should be put on notice – for Miguel was already an elite talent. If his maturity is now on par with his physical gifts, well, let’s just say we could be in for one hell of a show. If he falters however, in his recovery or his swing, the naysayers will be waiting.

For the fact remains that all the counseling in the world won’t stave off the throngs of spectators, I won’t even call them fans, that will sit on the edge of their seats waiting for him to strike out so they can jump to their feet and heckle him. And they will. Some at home, more on the road, but the boo birds will still be out there.

He’ll have to deal with them. No way around it. From what I’ve seen of this new Miguel Cabrera so far I expect he’ll do just fine. I also expect that enough Tigers fans will recognize his repent as genuine to ease the burden a bit.

Ultimately Miguel alone will decide how it all plays out. While he can not silence every critic in one fell swoop, or even perhaps ever, he certainly has the chance do the lions share of the job by doing what he does best – playing baseball.

It’s why we watch, why we cheer, even why we boo. Let’s face it, if he were one of the factory workers the Tigers visited with Thursday none of us would know or care how much he drank, who he drank with and what he did when he got home to his wife. But he’s a ballplayer, a celebrity, so we feel entitled to be voyeurs. He’s rich, so we feel he owes us something. Our own jealousy and resentment can rear its’ ugly head in many ways. When it turns out one of the most well known athletes in a blue collar town is far from perfect, the demons come out, for him and for us.

It’s the way it is, and he knows it, now more than ever.

He knows he screwed up. He knows he opened the door to ridicule and embarrassment for the rest of his life. He knows he was very close to losing everything he holds dear. He knows he has a problem and he needs help to address it.

And he is addressing it. He is working on it. So cut him a little slack. Give the kid a break, a second chance. He’s earned it.

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The hot button word of the hot stove league saw more than 50 agreements reached yesterday on new contracts, among them Detroit Tigers Gerald Laird, Bobby Seay and Zach Miner. In those three cases the team and the player agreed to one year contracts, avoiding the prospect of sitting before the mediator. Laird will earn $3.95 Million, Seay will collect $2.475 Million and Zach Miner will receive 950K for his efforts.

I believe Bill Veeck said it best – “It isn’t the high price of stars that is expensive, it’s the high price of mediocrity.”

In terms of players far better than mediocre, Justin Verlander politely asked the Tigers for $9.5 million yesterday. His employer countered with an offer of $6.9 Million. Certainly seems there is a difference of financial opinion at play. For the record, I expect the two sides will settle prior to a hearing, and that JV will earn a minimum of $8 Million, likely around the middle point of $8.2 million, in 2010.

If you’re interested in all things arbitrational (patent pending) – check out Maury at The Biz of Baseball. Both his site and Twittering are chock full of news from around the MLB.

Kurt at Bless You Boys brought up an interesting point the other day regarding the now confirmed Jose Valverde signing – 41 players for 40 roster spots. My guess is that either Don Kelly or Jay Sborz will find themselves out of major league work before too much longer.

DesigNate Robertson profiles Jack Morris as part of his on-going series of his favorite Tigers of the last 25 years.

Our man Bob at Detroit4Lyfe wonders if Justin Verlander will be in motown beyond 2011. I wonder too frankly.

The Society for American Baseball Research, or SABR on Twitter, reminds us that pitchers and catchers report in 29 days. Got a little choked up just writing that.

Two things from the desk of Dave Dombrowski:

In a thought I found to make sense, DD tells John Lowe of the Freep that Phil Coke will have a chance to win the fifth starter job.

In a thought I found to be a bit ridiculous, Dombrowski told the media this in response to the Jose Valverde signing:

“He addresses to us what was our biggest need on our ballclub”.

Really? Seriously? I didn’t think Valverde would hit leadoff (and 2nd) and man two critical defensive positions otherwise occupied by rookies, but what do I know. I feel better getting that off my chest, I do.

Enjoy your hump day.

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Never reach for a closer.

Winning teams don’t do it, especially when there are other holes to fill, much more important holes. Closers are unstable, unreliable, difficult to predict and have a shelf life roughly equivalent to a mango. Every year incumbent closers, making big money, flame out and are replaced by young kids making near the league minimum who are ultimately as effective, if not more so.

So why then did the Detroit Tigers, starved for cash, retooling by collecting young talent, with a bullpen stocked with potential closers of tomorrow, surrender $14 – $23 Million over the next two to three seasons, plus the #19 overall pick in the upcoming amateur draft, for a 30 year old free agent closer?

I was hoping you could tell me.

In the most mind-boggling transaction of their bizarre off-season the Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with Jose Valverde on a two year deal with an option for a third season. Where do we begin to analyze….

Unless he is traded beforehand, Jose will collect a minimum of $14 million from the Tigers through 2011. Over that same span Curtis Granderson, whom the Tigers traded in an obvious cost cutting move, will earn $13.75 Million. Placido Polanco, the gold glove second basemen let go by the Tigers without even offering arbitration, will earn $10.25 Million. Edwin Jackson, who pitched in the All-Star game last season, is arbitration eligible and will likely earn $5 – $7 million per season over the next two campaigns.

I’m reminded of the kid who sells his collectible toys  for half price at a garage sale so he can earn enough money to overpay for plastic vomit.

Before I get too carried away I will admit the following:

A) Jose Valverde has been a very effective closer in recent memory, saving 116 games in the past three seasons. His ERA over that span is an impressive 2.83. He’s as big as a house, throws a well located fastball in the 95 mph range and very well could be among the top closers in the American League this coming season.

B) With the health issues of Joel Zumaya and the inexperience of the remaining in-house closer candidates it satisfies some rational thought to have a veteran closer in place.

Which could have been accomplished by re-signing Fernando Rodney for less than Valverde will get, and without surrendering a top 20 overall draft pick. In lieu of that option the Tigers could have used this money to shore up the offense and at least begin the season with a youngster in the ninth inning. If the team is then competitive and a veteran closer turned out to be the missing piece there certainly would be options available at the trade deadline in July.

With all due respect to Mr. Valverde, who let’s face it, is now a Tiger and deserves our steadfast support – his signing was an indulgence, a luxury, a surplus that his ballclub simply did not need, and a risk this team can’t afford to take.

There are too many young arms at the back end of the bullpen who could have manned the ninth inning for this team in 2010 and beyond. If Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry and Daniel Schlereth weren’t the answer than perhaps Matt Capps, Octavio Dotel and the litany of cheaper, veteran relievers on the market could have been, with money left over to address a real need.

If Valverde fails, or succumbs to injury as he has before, then this contract will be thrown atop the pile of rotting commitments Dave Dombrowski has signed off on. No official word yet on the third year option, but based on the Tigers history I’ll presume it’s player friendly in at least some capacity.

What do we make of the futures of Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry, Daniel Schlereth and the rest when Valverde represents a stop sign in their evolution for the next two to three seasons?

What do we make of the Tigers decision to add a high priced closer to a team that isn’t in line to have a ninth inning lead very often?

The 2009 Detroit Tigers were 10th in the American League in runs scored. The 2010 team will be without Granderson and Polanco, who were 2nd and 3rd on the team in that category, totaling 173 runs scored. Their replacements, as of now, have no MLB experience or track record. The Tigers could have pursued other proven options at both positions via free agency and trade, but didn’t, choosing instead to build for the future with rookies, to save money, to hoard prospects.

Then out of nowhere, as Bill so eloquently stated at the Detroit Tigers Weblog, the Tigers found enough in the cushions to lock up a free agent closer.

At the risk of falling prey to hyperbole, this move, considering all the circumstances, is perhaps the most perplexing of all for Dombrowski.

The Tigers will hold a press conference and tell the media and fans that Valverde makes them better, that he signed a fair deal for both sides, that this contract gives the team a bullpen among the strongest in the AL.

Maybe, but even if that’s true the fact remains that this team broke a cardinal rule of building a winner.

Never reach for a closer.

Especially when there are so many other holes to fill, and so many affordable options to fill them with.

For the money the Tigers just agreed to pay Jose Valverde (upt to $23 million) the team could have signed Scott Podsednik, Marlon Byrd and Adam Kennedy. Or Jermaine Dye, Orlando Hudson and Randy Winn, with enough left over to sign Matt Capps.

This ballclub needs offensive help more than it needs a big name free agent closer. Period. A true leadoff hitter, a true two hole hitter and a power bat seem to be the consensus. All of these needs could have been addressed, but as the saying goes – coulda, shoulda, woulda means you didn’t.

Instead the Tigers reached for a closer, a move not only inherently risky, but one that limits the teams ability to satisfy other requirements. Considering the tenor of this off-season though, I’m hardly surprised.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks are also mentioned as possible suitors for Jose. A return to Arizona seems a likely possibility based on the success he had for the team in his prior stint there. Valverde wore a DBacks uniform for five seasons, collecting 98 saves along the way, which is the franchise record.

If and when a team signs Valverde the Houston Astros will collect a draft pick as compensation for his Type A status. In the case of the Tigers it would translate to the 19th overall selection in this years draft.

The prospect of paying $12-$14 Million and a first round pick to snag Valverde leaves me wondering….

Why then didn’t the Tigers re-sign Fernando Rodney for that price and keep a valuable first round pick? Rodney saved 37 games last season compared to 25 for Valverde, although Jose posted a much lower ERA and pitched for a terrible team, which kept his save chances low. Rodney has been the healthier of the two, with Valverde hitting the disabled list due to arm issues more than once, including last season. Valverde will turn 31 in July, Rodney becomes 33 in March. Both are right-handed. Valverde wins the career experience battle with 167 to Rodney’s 70.

The dollar figures, contract offers and interest for that matter are all rumor and speculation at this point. The last comment from Dave Dombrowski on the subject of the 2010 closer was that the Tigers were “comfortable with their in-house options”. That could be a smoke screen to avoid looking desperate, it could be gospel truth, we’ll see.

On a side note, Jon Paul Morosi also reports the Tigers have signed Enrique Gonzalez to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training. In 115.1 innings of big league experience the 26 year old right hander holds a 4-7 record with a 5.93 ERA. In 10 seasons of minor league ball he boasts a 68-66 career mark with a 3.93 ERA. He’s cheap, young and low-risk with potential upside, which seems to fit the Tigers signings to a tee this off-season.

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Jason Beck relays that the Tigers were never really in on Scott Podsednik.

Over at Tigers Tracks John laments that the Tigers missed out on Eric Hinske, again.

Rogo at DesigNate Robertson parodies a conversation between Brian Cashman and Curtis Granderson. Classic. Bleeping Classic.

Mike Rogers, part of the new editorial crew over at Bless You Boys, breaks down UZR, or Ultimate Zone Rating – a defensive metric you may or may not be familiar with. It’s a good read about an interesting statistic.

If you haven’t updated your links to include the new home of Roar of the Tigers, you should do so now. Samara continues her top notch illustrations at her new home.

Our good friend Joe Dexter talks Jose Valverde over at Motor City Bengals.

Blake from The Spot Starters looks ahead to Ryan Raburn in 2010, interesting stuff.

Jen at Old English D begins the break down of the 22 Tigers games she attended personally in 2009, including 18 wins. Sounds like a lucky charm to me.

And finally Lee at Tiger Tales discusses the top 10 Tigers prospects, as chosen by Baseball America.

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With eight years of experience running the team, there is sufficient fact and evidence available to evaluate his performance. It is safe to say DD has outlasted any grace period that may have been in effect when taking over an awful organization. He has rebuilt the roster, several times over. In fact there is not a single Tiger on the current 40 man roster that was there at the time he took the reigns.

Upon his arrival, fresh off a nine year stint as GM of the Florida Marlins, his hiring was applauded and widely considered to be a brilliant move for the fledgling Motor City Kitties. Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn’t. Hindsight is a funny thing. Dombrowski came to town with an ethereal reputation as a man who could identify talent, a man who could build from within, a man who could transform a have not into a have, and do it the right way. Pundits gushed, ownership smiled proudly, media members spoke of a coming new era and in general all was well with the expectations for this ballclub, despite the performance on the field in the first few years of his tenure.

2002 was the first campaign played out under the leadership of mighty Dave. The Tigers finished last in their division. It was ok. These things take time. The roster was still littered with subpar talent and the farm system was barren. In 2003 the Tigers again finished last, losing 119 games. It was ok. These things take time. In 2004 and 2005 the Tigers finished fourth in the AL Central, winning 72 and 71 games respectively. Finally, some progress, now this is what we had in mind! Then came the magical year of 2006. Out of seemingly nowhere the Detroit Tigers snagged the AL wildcard spot and ran with it, all the way to the World Series.

All hail Dave Dombrowski! A mighty king is he.

Since that time however this ballclub has played a grand total of zero post-season games. In total over his eight year stint to date the Tigers have qualified for the post-season once. In his 13 years as GM of the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins this was the same, one playoff appearance. That turned out to be a world championship season for the Marlins in 1997.

In the 21 years that Dombrowski has been ultimately responsible for the talent of a major league franchise that talent has been good enough to play post-season baseball twice. To be fair the a number of key players on the 2003 Marlins team (which also won the World Series) were “Dombrowski Products”. So let’s give him three playoff appearances, just to be nice.  Whether that number is acceptable to you, or not, is entirely up to you.

Perhaps we should factor in that a GM, regardless of how well he performs his duties, can not single handedly place a squad into title contention. There are many other intangibles in play. A team needs good coaching, a strong manager, ownership that is committed to winning, good health of his players and a little luck. I would argue the Detroit Tigers have provided all of this and more to DD in his time here, particularly in the last four years.

Mike Ilitch has spent the money. Jim Leyland and his staff are experienced, respected, talented baseball men. The Tigers have seen injuries, sure, but ultimately no more than the major league average. As for luck, there has probably been a bit on both sides of that issue.

Maybe evaluating the performance of Dombrowski requires us going deeper than wins and losses, and playoff appearances. Ok. Let’s look at talent. After all this was the hallmark of his experience, a man who knows talent when he sees it, a man who makes good decisions for small market teams where the margin of error is minute.

In his time in Detroit Dave has pulled off some well above average trades and draft picks. Obtaining Placido Polanco for Ramon Martinez and a guy currently in a Venezuelan prison was a dandy move. Pulling Carlos Pena and Jeremy Bonderman out of the Jeff Weaver hat should be scored as a win as well (Cutting Pena loose just before he became a power hitting stud with a top notch glove, not so much). Brian Rogers for Sean Casey; Ramon Santiago and the other Juan Gonzalez for Carlos Guillen; Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson – all wins. Drafting (and signing) Justin Verlander, Curtis Granderson and Rick Porcello have all proved to be astute decisions.

But there is a dark side.

There was Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez for Edgar Renteria; Cody Ross for Steve Colyer; Kyle Farnsworth for Roman Colon and Zach Miner; Mauricio Robles and Lucas French for Jarrod Washburn; Brett Jacobsen for Aubrey Huff. There have been a litiny of big dollar contracts handed out that have yielded little to no reward – Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson (who DD drafted with the Marlins), Troy Percival, etc.

One could argue quite well that the contracts given to Carlos Guillen, Brandon Inge and Jeremy Bonderman were overtly player friendly and not in the best long-term interests of the ballclub. The eight year 152 million dollar deal given to Miguel Cabrera is up for debate as well among many fans. Magglio Ordonez will play for 18 million dollars in 2010 and could do the same in 2011 if he hits reasonable milestones. And that is simply his mark with the Tigers.

While Dombrowski gets significant credit for his early work with the Expos and Marlins, his miscues in those stops seem to get glossed over. Yes, he drafted and signed Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez. Yes, he acquired via trade a number of above average players on the cheap for his fiscally challenged employers. But, he also traded Randy Johnson (along with two other minor leaguers) for Mark Langston and a player to be named later. He traded Trevor Hoffman, although he did get Gary Sheffield for a short time in that deal. Dombrowski traded Carl Everett (when Carl Everett was good) for Quilvio Veras.

He traded Johan Santana and cash for Jared Camp. Let that last one sink in a bit.

During the infamous Marlins fire sale of 1997/98 Dombrowski traded away Moises Alou, Devon White, Robb Nen, Kevin Brown and Al Leiter. He had to. Ownership told him so. I get that. The Marlins acquired 14 players in return. Only A.J. Burnett and Derrek Lee of that group have proven to be quality MLB talent. He was told to trade Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson and Gary Sheffield, so he did, for Mike Piazza and Todd Zeile. Eight days later he traded Mike Piazza for Ed Yarnall, Preston Wilson and Geoff Goetz. Todd Zeile and Preston Wilson were nice players, but was that trade(s) really a success?

I don’t mean to drudge up past failures to smear the man, only to illuminate history, and to demonstrate there is a pattern at play here, one that the Detroit Tigers are feeling the effects of as we speak.

Dombrowski served as GM of the Marlines for nine seasons. He is about to enter his ninth season here. The Marlins made the playoffs once, the Tigers once. The Marlins were forced to relinquish their high quality talent due to financial pressures, and well, we’ve seen Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, Fernando Rodney and Placido Polanco leave town since the end of the 2009 season.  

Who knows, perhaps Dombrowski will be out as GM of the Tigers in a year or two, and the Tigers will win a World Championship two years later. Perhaps he will be out and the Tigers will be left with a minor league system ranked among the worst in baseball by numerous writers and scouts. Perhaps when all the “bad money” is off the books at the end of 2010 he’ll still be here, and with the blessing of ownership splurge on talent heading into 2011, and begin a reign of terror over the American League. Perhaps.

The simple truth today however is that after eight years at the helm this ballclub has finished fourth or worst in the AL Central five times, and is heading into 2010 undermanned. We can claim the economy as a cause for the Tigers inability to spend money now, we can also imagine how much money would be available to spend if so much of it hadn’t been squandered in the recent past.

It feels a lot like we’re watching a rerun. As if any moment Fonzie will get behind that speed boat and jump the shark, again. Maybe he already has and we just haven’t realized it.

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Felix

While his name is not an homage to the superlative pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, suffice it to say I would be ok with him developing a similar gift. To date there have been 17 players named Felix to reach the big leagues, five of whom have been all-stars, a role he already fills for Sheila and I.

The jersey covering him in the photo is mine, an Alan Trammell circa 1980’s road pullover that fit me at around age eight. I gladly pass it on, he’ll grow into it.

This game and this team have been a special part of my life for as long as I can remember, largely thanks to the influence of my father. I in turn will now do my best to raise a proper Tigers fan. If anyone knows where I can find a “Yankees Suck” onesy, please let me know.

Happy Holidays to you and yours from my family.

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I am surprised, and I’m not.

The fact that he will toil elsewhere henceforth falls in line with expectations. The face of this Tigers team is clearly changing, be it for reasons of financial means, the desire to remove the roadblocks between promising youngsters and their duly appointed destiny, or both. With the primary cogs of the latter innings from last season now on board with other organizations there will be much discussion as to the appropriate personnel to assume these duties. That conversation will take place another day. Today let’s examine the how and the why of Fernando Rodney ending up where he did.

When a pitcher notches 37 saves in a season just ahead of entering free agency, as Rodney did in 2009, the market would seem to open wide. Recent history tells us that such a pitcher would seem to be in line for a hefty raise, the security of a long term deal and the invitation to ply the same trade in his new destination.

In 2005 B.J. Ryan saved 36 games, then became a free agent. That winter he signed a five year, 47 million dollar pact with the Toronto Blue Jays, and became their closer.  In 2007 Francisco Cordero recorded 44 saves for the Milwaukee Brewers, then signed a four year, 46 million dollar deal in the off-season with the Cincinnati Reds to become their closer.

So then why did Fernando struggle in his attempt to parlay a similar season into a similar arrangement?

The market is a funny place. Closers are a funny commodity.

For Ryan and Cordero represent the yin and the yang of recent closer contracts on the heels of seasons such as that of Rodney. One (Ryan) was proven a miserable failure, culminating with his being cut by the Jays in 2009 with more than 15 Million dollars left on the deal. Cordero on the other hand has been successful, notching 73 saves in his first two seasons with the Reds.

In more recent memory Kerry Wood became a free agent after saving 34 games with the Cubs in 2008. He landed a two year deal, like Rodney, but Wood walked into the closers job with the Indians and garnered 20 million dollars over the length of the agreement.

Rodney’s teammate last season, Brandon Lyon, secured a three year deal with the Astros for 15 million dollars, only half a million less per year than Fernando. And Lyon was a closer for but a couple of weeks in 2009. With Jose Valverde available in free agency Lyon will fight with Matt Lindstrom for the right to work the ninth inning next year. Fernando on the other hand will set the table for Brian Fuentes and wait for failure to give him an opportunity at closing.

There is something fishy about the whole thing, even with the caveat of instability in free agent closers. Yes, Rodney has only one full year of closer experience. And yes, his 4.40 ERA last season is in line with his 4.28 career mark, poor by closers standards. But the fact remains he throws a fastball in the high 90’s and lays claim to a change-up among the best in the world. He demonstrated this past campaign that he was able to slam the door 37 out of 38 times called upon.

So why was he unable to make the leap to a lucrative, long-term pact to be the closer of the future for another team? More importantly, at least to Tigers fans, if his price was 5.5 million per season over two years, why did the Tigers let him walk?

Logic would suggest he would have remained the closer here in Detroit. That job carries a more high profile tag than set-up man for the Angels. His 2009 salary was 2.7 million dollars, so a 100% raise would have been in order to keep him in the old English D.  Even at that number Rodney would have been priced comparably to veteran options the Tigers would need to pursue if the idea is to replace him with a veteran closer.

Which leads this scribe to believe one of two things to be true – the Tigers were determined to get cheaper and younger in the ninth inning, or the team lacked confidence that Fernando could sustain his 2009 performance going forward and didn’t want to pay him to prove them wrong.

Validation of either theory will come as we learn who will handle the end game for this club next season. If Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry or another such youngster inherits the role then we are left to assume Dave Dombrowski and crew wanted such a young, cheap answer. If someone the likes of Jose Valverde, Octavio Dotel or George Sherrill is brought in – we must assume the Tigers were (are) willing to spend comparable cash, but not on Mr. Rodney.

My gut tells me option A is the favorite, and that Joel Zumaya will get first crack at the ninth inning, but again that’s a topic for another day.

Today I’m looking at Fernando Rodney leaving town for a fraction of what I thought it would take to sign him. The fact that he settled for thirty cents on the dollar, and took a demotion tells me the Detroit Tigers made no real effort to retain him. For surely the only big league team he’s ever known could have offered him a better job, a job he would have taken.

But it is what it is. Despite what club officials call this off-season re-shuffling this organization has been shedding payroll like a malamute in the summer sun. While we find it more palatable when those who depart sign enormous contracts that seemingly justify the Tigers for not overpaying – we’re left feeling strange when a player fresh off a career year takes a demotion and a third rate offer from another squad. At least I am. I’m left to believe one of two things is very much true.

Either Fernando really didn’t want to be here, or the Tigers really didn’t want him back. My guess is the latter option, although it’s just that. Rodney doesn’t say much to the press, and his representatives would never spill the straight dope. The organization likewise would never tell the baseball world they doubted his abilities, and are unlikely in plain English to state the true nature of their balance sheet. Suffice it to say the standard message about going in a new direction and trusting in-house talent will be the most likely explanation.

If I had to wager I would do so that Fernando Rodney wanted to come back, wanted to close for the Tigers, and was willing to do so for about the same money the Angels offered him, and the Tigers wouldn’t come up with the coin to make even that happen.

However you slice it, it comes up a bit short.

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Ryan appeared in 27 games with the Tigers over the ‘08 and ‘09 seasons, hitting .257 in that span. In 12 games last season Ryan struggled mightily before his demotion, hitting just .154 (4-26) in his limited role. At 6′4″ and 200 lbs he is an imposing figure behind the plate, but became expendable with the emergence of Alex Avila. Avila and Gerald Laird are expected to handle the Tigers catching duties in 2010.

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MLB Trade Rumors posted a list of interesting non-tenders, essentially free agents at this point. Among the names that may intrigue Tigers fans and management is Matt Capps, former closer for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I’m surprised by the move as Capps wasn’t going to break the bank and has demonstrated the ability to effectively close ball games. At 26 years old with some nasty stuff he should be someone the Tigers at least examine for their vacant closer job.

Also non-tendered were Chien-Ming Wang of the Yankees, Jack Cust of the A’s, Kelly Johnson of the Braves and Garrett Atkins of the Rockies. I imagine Wang will not be without an employer for long, and the Tigers are extreme longshots to chase him. Despite his injuries and ineffectiveness last season he is a two time 19 game winner.

Kelly Johnson could spark interest with some Tigers fans to replace Placido Polanco at second base, but unless his price tag is minimal don’t expect pursuit from the Tigers front office. Johnson also struggled in 2009 but posted two above average campaigns for the Braves prior to his season long slump.

Cust and Atkins will find jobs, but not here. Atkins, like Johnson and Wang, suffered a disappointing ‘09 and lost his job to Ian Stewart. Prior to last season however Garrett had hit at least .286 and driven in 89 runs or more in each of his first four seasons. His career .811 OPS is impressive and at 30 years old he’s still considered in his prime. If the Tigers were willing to gamble on one of these new free agents he would be my first choice. With Brandon Inge in the final year of his contract and no major league ready third basemen in the system Atkins could make Inge movable.

Tiger Blog quotes Fox Sports as saying the Indians and Blue Jays have some interest in Marcus Thames. Good luck finding s new home for your country strongness.

John Lowe writes that injuries, not money were the determining factor in the Tigers non-pursuit of Michigan native J.J. Putz. I’ve long felt Putz had the stuff to be a top notch closer, but coming off elbow surgery it is reasonable to wonder how he’ll fare going forward.

And finally some big news from Bless You Boys, where Ian announced earlier this week that he will be stepping down by the end of the year. He’ll turn the mantle over to Kurt from Mack Avenue Tigers going forward. I wish both gentlemen the best of luck in their future endeavors.

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