The Detroit Tiger Weblog

Author: billfer

  • Tigers get Paniagua from Colorado for Santos, minor leaguer (Detroit Free Press)
    MORE: The Denver Post on the Trade

    Paniagua has been on the trading block for several weeks because of his poor spring, his penchant for allowing flyballs and the depth in the bullpen. Paniagua, whose $1.325 million salary is now Detroit’s responsibility, seemed disinterested, a quality that could possibly disrupt chemistry down the road.

    MORE FROM ME: This trade will provide some much needed depth in the bullpen. Danny Patterson has been solid the last two years, but shoulder problems ended his season early last year, and may carry over to this year. But, Victor Santos showed an ability to throw strikes and get batters out. This is more than can be said for Nate Cornejo who is slated to be the 5th starter this year.

  • ESPN.com’s Detroit Tigers season preview

  • Here’s a San Diego perspective on the Damian Jackson trade.

    Jackson’s .194 on-base percentage and failure to bunt once in 14 exhibition games made it easier for manager Bruce Bochy to install D’Angelo Jimenez as his second baseman/leadoff man, though Bochy said the Padres will miss Jackson’s defensive excellence and speed.

  • So the Tigers made a trade with…San Diego. What a surprise. The Tigers give up Javier Cardona and Rich Gomez for utility infielder Damian Jackson and Matt Walbeck. The Tigers were supposedly in need of a utility infielder. I don’t entirely get that because the Tiger have Shane Halter, the same Shane Halter who played all 9 positions in a game two years ago. But now Shane is the starting shortstop. Nothing against Halter, but I ask you, do the Tigers need a utility man, or a shortstop?

  • Ken Rosenthal on the Tigers: “Slowly, the Tigers are getting better. Their top pitchers are signed long-term, and their offense will improve with the returns of Palmer and Meluskey and the addition of Young.”

  • Sports Illustrated picks the Tigers to finish 4th in the Central. Hey Tiger fans, it could be worse, we’re not being contracted and we’re not the Royals.

  • Peter Gammons lists Matt Anderson as a breakout candidate this year.

  • Higginson leading off? Phil Garner is exploring the possiblity because the Tigers don’t have a true leadoff hitter, or number two hitter, or cleanup hitter, or …

  • From Transaction Analysis:
    “Meanwhile, this is a roster clogged with a unique blend of DHs, utility men, and punchless corner infielders and outfielders.”

  • Well, the DT Weblog has moved to a new home for the time being. This is mostly because I wanted to go ad-free without paying anything. We’ll see how things work out at our new digs. I know the URL isn’t as friendly, but hopefully you’ll mark it as a favorite, or chances are you’re linking here from somewhere else anyways. This is all part of a bigger change when we’ll start actually posting again, we’ll have a new author or two, and a new look. Stay tuned

  • Chris Karhl’s Transaction Analysis has some nice things to say about some recent Tiger moves. Besides signing Anderson and Weaver for the next few years, they have made some nice waiver wire moves.

  • Peter Gammons lists Nate Cornejo as a rookie to watch on a team “that may surprise some people.” He also lists shortstop Omar Infante as a midseason name to remember.