Tigers pay $75 million to add 'cornerstone' Ordonez

DETROIT -- Magglio Ordonez sat quietly at a table while his agent and Detroit Tigers president Dave Dombrowski fielded questions about the outfielder's knee.

When Ordonez finally got a chance to respond, his competitive spirit emerged.

"I look forward to showing everybody that I'm healthy," he said Monday. "A lot of people are talking about my knee. I've got to prove people wrong."

The Tigers signed Ordonez, the last premier free agent available this offseason, to a $75 million, five-year contract, a deal with two option years that could raise the total to $105 million over seven seasons.

If his left knee, which was operated on twice last year, puts him on the disabled list for 25 days or more in 2005, the Tigers can void the rest of the contract after paying him $12 million this year.

"They believe he will be fine, ready to go at the beginning of the season, as we do," Dombrowski said. "They were willing to give us some protection as far as the first year."

Before playing just 52 games last year, Ordonez averaged 32 homers and 118 RBI while batting better than .300 over the previous five seasons. Tigers doctors examined his medical records extensively during the offseason, and he passed his physical on Sunday.

If Magglio Ordonez can stay healthy, the Tigers could be in the hunt in the AL Central. (AP)

"(He's) one of the premier players in the league, a four-time All-Star that can anchor our lineup," Dombrowski said. "He's a big, big addition for our ballclub, a cornerstone of the franchise, the type of player you build around to try to win championships."

Ordonez, who spent his first eight-plus seasons with the Chicago White Sox, thinks the Tigers can do more than just compete in the AL Central.

"I know this division is wide open," he said. "I believe we have the best team in the division. I know we can win this division."

Just two years ago, the Tigers lost an AL-record 119 games. They won 72 games last year, a 29-win improvement that was the second-best in the league since it expanded in 1961. The turnaround came after the team made several key moves, capped by the signing of star catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

Detroit aggressively tried to improve its team again this winter, but after signing closer Troy Percival in November, it was spurned by several marquee players before landing Ordonez.

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch said he was determined to upgrade the lineup, even if he had to offer Ordonez a bigger contract than other suitors because his franchise hasn't had a winning season since 1993.