2013 Free agents

still in search of a reliever and a RH outfielder!!!

I still think the reliever issue will be resolved from with in and not sold on this big need for RH outfielder.....why can't Dirks play everyday.....he hits LH ok?

Don't know why Dirks is not an option either. Better than anything out there, considering the price, and yes, that include Upton.

Delmon will probably remain unsigned for another month or so. Teams will wait to hear how he recovers after surgery before making a move.

[http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/01/
15/13/Trainer-V-Mart-will-be-ready-
for-Opening/landing_tigers.html?blockID=849663]

Update on Vmart and Infante

Don Kelly returns.

Tigers sign him to a minor league contract with spring training invite!

Raburn? Inge? Both available.

Maybe Don Kelly will be used a trade piece in some package deal with another team. Not worth much, but a solid backup player defensively at various positions. Can't really see him with the Tigers again, sometimes they keep players around to long but I'm sure they have their reasoning behind it all. Evidently the Cubs and Mariners have not offered enough for Porcello and I'm glad that DD is waiting for a good deal. Porcello could be of value to Detroit as a starter or long relief pitcher so waiting for a solid deal to materialize is a good decision.

Not sure why any team would want Kelly included in a trade. He was available for any team to sign him and it appears all 29 other teams passed.  Tigers were nice enough to give him a 'stage' to perform on this spring. Maybe some team will need a temporary fill in on their bench - and if Kelly plays decently this spring - he might find a job somewhere.

Besides, with Ryan Raburn set to return - there will be no room for Kelly in Detroit!

Ok, I'll say it. I dont want Justin Upton. At least not for the haul the Mariners would have had to give to acquire him. The guy has the talent to be the MVP, but I dont think he will ever put it together consistently to be worth that kind of loot.

Charged were you ok with DD not trading Porcello for Halladay when he had the chance? I'll be honest I didnt want Porcello traded at the time. I regret it now, after his first year I thought he would be a stud.

With the right defensive team behind him, Rick Porcello would have a better record. I also thought he would become a stud pitcher but he has not mastered other pitches and has not had the best infield to support his style of pitching.

Charged were you ok with DD not trading Porcello for Halladay when he had the chance? I'll be honest I didnt want Porcello traded at the time. I regret it now, after his first year I thought he would be a stud.

I remembered that trade and at first didn't want to let Pocello go but then thought about it and realized Detroit would have got compensation picks if Halladay didn't resign with Detroit. But it's hindsight.

I still beleive Porcello tried to be something he was not last year a strikeout guy or flyball pitcher. He tried to change his game to fit the Tigers lineup and thats just not what he is.  

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I still beleive Porcello tried to be something he was not last year a strikeout guy or flyball pitcher. He tried to change his game to fit the Tigers lineup and thats just not what he is.  

I think that coaches had tried to change him long before that. The question has been asked here before, but still... whatever happened to that 95-97 mph FB? His sinker used to top at 93 as well. His mechanics are pretty much the same fluid motion he had in his rookie year, he is not a violent thrower. What gives?

The Tigers avoided arbitration with Brennan Boesch. They agreed on a $2.3 million contract. It was reported that 99.9% of Tiger fans threw up in their mouths a little when they read that. According to Tigers' mascot, Paws, who also handles Fan Club affairs for the players, the Boesch Fan Club has only one member at this time. Paws stated that BB's membership will go up when they receive filled in applications from local police drunk tanks.

They agreed on a $2.3 million contract.

Money well spent.  Yes, I know, BB had a touch of the sophomore jinx working for him in his third year, but I heard somewhere that DD and JL plan on platooning BB with Torii Hunter in right field this year--to give Hunter the rest he needs because is so old and and because it will also help BB get the sweetest power swing in MLB back on track.

the Boesch Fan Club has only one member at this time.

Don't be mad, Iffy, but I must point out that it's not the size of the fan club, it's the size of loyalty in the fan. 

Sincerely,
Herman, President of the Iffters, (Iffy's largest North American Fan Club) 

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Nice....Big Bad Brennan back in the Motown.....life is good for this Tiger fan.

and because it will also help BB get the sweetest power swing in MLB back on track.

^This^

The Tigers starting lineup seems fairly set. The 4 bench players have yet to be determined. Any guesses?

I assume that Bryan Pena fills one spot as backup catcher, but the other 3 spots are not as clear. I expect that Santiago, Worth, and Jeff Kobernus fight it out for the spot as backup infielder. Berry or Boesch will battle for a spot as 4th outfielder. The last spot is up for grabs....unless the Tigers add another (RH) outfielder.

My selections (for right now)....Pena, Worth, Berry, and a player not currently with the organization - perhaps a guy who can fill several positions.

DK would help the Tigers more than Ramon Santiago, IMO. Just as Brennan Boesch would help more than QBert. Gerald Laird would prolly have helped much more than all four, again, in my opinion. My attendance in Lakeland would most likely help even more than any of the five. As Detroit has not made a World Series without it since 1984. Donations are being accepted C/O Don Kelly, Comerica Park, Detroit, MI. For just $5/day, you can make your own dreams come true.

Kelly will have to beat out either Berry or Boesch to make the team. All three are left-handed hitters. Kelly does answer the need (IMO) for a utility player. A long shot for Kelly, but it isn't like he has to get ahead of potential All-Stars.

Keep and eye out for Inge and Raburn in Lakeland. They may be disguised as an elderly couple from Flat Rock.