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Tigers ship pitcher Brad Thomas, catcher Omir… |
Tigers relief pitcher Brad Thomas / ULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP
DETROIT FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES
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Detroit Tigers Links: Free agent frenzy set to… |
• Baseball players eligible for free agency could file beginning at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. Teams can exclusively negotiate with their former players through Wednesday. And free agents can begin signing with any team at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Here is a list of the 148 players that filed on Sunday. Any names interest you? [FOXSports.com] • It’s that time of year when minor league observers release their lists of top prospects for each organization. John Sickels has put together his list of the Tigers’ top 20 minor leaguers for 2012. The top two prospects on the list are no surprise, and maybe the top five were already set. But several players from the 2011 draft class are already ranked pretty highly. Did that mean the system was really thin before that? [Minor League Ball] • Before St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa announced his retirement Monday morning, Rob Neyer wondered if he might be the greatest postseason manager. Probably not, but he’s certainly on the list, based on postseason winning percentage. Where do Sparky Anderson and Jim Leyland rank on that list? [Baseball Nation] • Just before the weekend, the Tigers exercised their $9 million option with closer Jose Valverde. You probably already knew that. But have you seen Papa Grande depicted as an actual big potato? With butter? You may never look at a potato — or Valverde — the same way again. [Roar of the Tigers] • The Cleveland Indians declined Grady Sizemore’s $9 million option for next season, making him a free agent. Some Tigers fans are intrigued by the idea of Sizemore playing a corner outfield spot for Detroit next season. But his recent injury history (five surgeries in three years) is a major concern and the primary reason why the Tribe didn’t pick up his option. Is he worth that kind of risk for a team that could use a leadoff hitter and good defensive outfielder? [Cleveland.com] • Another player who might appeal to Tigers fans is third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who declined his option with the Chicago Cubs. Last season, Ramirez hit .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs. Rumor had it that the Tigers may have tried to make a push for him at the trade deadline, but Ramirez supposedly wasn’t interested in leaving the Cubs. [Daily Herald] Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
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Tigers Pick Up Option on Jose Valverde: Fan… |
Heading into the off-season, the Detroit Tigers will have a lot of complicated roster scenarios to ponder. Second and third base are definitive holes that need to be eliminated. Also, there is a serious question on who the fifth starter will be in the rotation. Fortunately, they won’t have to worry about a closer. 
Detroit Tigers. Detroit fans rejoiced in the October 28 announcement that Jose “Papa Grande” Valverde was picked up on his 2012 option, reportedly worth around $9 million. For a man who went 52-for-52 in save situations throughout the season and playoffs, the certainty of another year in Detroit was something that gave much-needed positive reinforcement to next season’s outlook. Valverde’s acclaim is warranted, having 75 saves with a 2.24 earned run average, during his run with Detroit. He surpassed the Tigers’ Todd Jones, breaking his record of 42 saves and became the third pitcher to reach at least 40 saves with a perfect conversion rate. His success this season has brought his career total to 242. Valverde was one of the biggest reasons Detroit made it as far as they had, this season. He was a shut-down pitcher who, despite having to pitch extended outings on several occasions, was able to continue his run of consistency. Though he fell short in the postseason, posting an ERA of 7.36, he remained the club’s late-inning workhorse. Many speculated that with the signing of Joaquin Benoit(notes), Valverde’s time in Detroit could have been cut short, saving the $9 million in funds. This season, however, he not only proved his worth, but also gave notice that his career is far from over. Picking up Valverde’s 2012 option was a necessary expense. Certainly, his numbers have warranted it. With excessive money coming off the Tigers’ books for next season, there is little to be worrisome about. Locking in the tandem of Verlander and Valverde as the bookends of the Tigers’ pitching staff makes for another possible dominant run for the pair. With any luck, and a prominent free-agent signing period, Detroit, and Valverde, will be enthusiastically dancing their way back into the postseason. The author, D. Benjamin Satkowiak, is a successful entrepreneur and published, freelance author, who has tailored works on various sports, health and fitness topics. He currently serves as a Yahoo! Contributor Network “Featured Contributor” and writes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Great Lakes Loons and Notre Dame football. Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
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Tigers exercise option on closer Valverde for 2012 |
The Detroit Tigers have exercised their option to keep closer Jose Valverde under contract next season. The team announced the move Friday. Valverde signed a $14 million US, two-year deal in 2010 with the club holding a $9 million option for 2012. The right-hander has been an all-star twice in Detroit. He helped the Tigers win a division title this year for the first time since 1987. Valverde led baseball with 49 saves in 2011. He became the third player in major league history to record at least 40 saves without blowing an opportunity. Brad Lidge did it three years ago for Philadelphia and Eric Gagne pulled off the feat in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 33-year-old Valverde has 242 career saves with Detroit, Arizona and Houston. Thanks for reading! . Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
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Detroit Tigers ‘ Justin Verlander named Sporting… |
By MATTHEW B. MOWERY
Justin Verlander delivers against the Yankees in Game 3. The Tigers star struck out 11. (AP photo) As most of the Tigers were packing up their stuff after Game 6 of the American League Division Series, many said a discreet goodbye to staff and reporters before heading to the team bus, most saying some version of “I’ll see you in Spring Training.” Except Justin Verlander, who acknowledged his offseason would probably be pretty busy by saying, “I’ll probably talk to you guys in a couple of weeks.” Anything but being cocky, it was a nod toward the fact that at the conclusion of the postseason, the awards circuit would ramp up, and Velander’s expected to win his share after a dominant season. Sure enough, another of those offseason awards came in Friday, as the Tigers’ ace was named the Sporting News’ 2011 MLB Player of the Year. He was the first pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988 to win the award, voted on by MLB players. “He’s had one of the best seasons for a pitcher. Ever,” said Yankees ace CC Sabathia, one of Verlander’s key — albeit distant — competitors for yet-to-be-announced awards like the Cy Young. Verlander, of course, led all big league pitchers in nearly every statistical category this season, including wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and pitches thrown. The next key date for Verlander’s offseason is Tuesday, Nov. 15, when the American League Cy Young is announced. The closest he’d ever previously come to winning the award was finishing third in the 2009 balloting. After that, there’s a chance he may be on a conference call on Monday, Nov. 21, when the AL MVP is unveiled. Verlander is a four-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year. On Wednesday, he and Alex Avila were named to the Sporting News’ postseason AL All-Star squad. By MATTHEW B. MOWERY
Justin Verlander delivers against the Yankees in Game 3. The Tigers star struck out 11. (AP photo) As most of the Tigers were packing up their stuff after Game 6 of the American League Division Series, many said a discreet goodbye to staff and reporters before heading to the team bus, most saying some version of “I’ll see you in Spring Training.” Except Justin Verlander, who acknowledged his offseason would probably be pretty busy by saying, “I’ll probably talk to you guys in a couple of weeks.” Anything but being cocky, it was a nod toward the fact that at the conclusion of the postseason, the awards circuit would ramp up, and Velander’s expected to win his share after a dominant season. Sure enough, another of those offseason awards came in Friday, as the Tigers’ ace was named the Sporting News’ 2011 MLB Player of the Year. He was the first pitcher since Orel Hershiser in 1988 to win the award, voted on by MLB players. “He’s had one of the best seasons for a pitcher. Ever,” said Yankees ace CC Sabathia, one of Verlander’s key — albeit distant — competitors for yet-to-be-announced awards like the Cy Young. Verlander, of course, led all big league pitchers in nearly every statistical category this season, including wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and pitches thrown. The next key date for Verlander’s offseason is Tuesday, Nov. 15, when the American League Cy Young is announced. The closest he’d ever previously come to winning the award was finishing third in the 2009 balloting. After that, there’s a chance he may be on a conference call on Monday, Nov. 21, when the AL MVP is unveiled. Verlander is a four-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year. On Wednesday, he and Alex Avila were named to the Sporting News’ postseason AL All-Star squad. What are your opinions. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
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Tigers exercise option to keep closer Valverde |
DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have exercised their option to keep closer Jose Valverde under contract next season. The team announced the move Friday. Valverde signed a US$14 million, two-year deal in 2010 with the club holding a $9 million option for 2012. The right-hander has been an all-star twice in Detroit. He helped the Tigers win a division title this year for the first time since 1987. Valverde led baseball with 49 saves in 2011. He became the third player in major league history to save at least 40 saves without blowing an opportunity. Brad Lidge did it three years ago for Philadelphia and Eric Gagne pulled off the feat in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 33-year-old Valverde has 242 career saves with Detroit, Arizona and Houston. (The Associated Press) What do you guys think about this. Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
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