Monday, November 29, 2010

TIGERS DESIGNATE THE CONTRACT OF ZACH MINER FOR ASSIGNMENT

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DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has designated the contract of righthanded pitcher Zach Miner for assignment.

Miner missed the entire 2010 season after landing on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis and he was forced to undergo right elbow reconstruction surgery on May 28, a procedure performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in California.

In four seasons at the major league level with the Tigers, Miner has compiled a 25-20 record and 4.24 ERA (357.0IP/168ER) in 157 appearances (35 starts).

Miner’s contract was designated for assignment by the Tigers to clear space on the club’s 40-man roster for catcher/designated hitter Victor Martinez.

Friday, November 26, 2010

TIGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH VICTOR MARTINEZ

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Catcher/Designated Hitter Agrees to Four-Year Contract

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms with catcher/designated hitter Victor Martinez on a four-year contract, a contract that runs through the 2014 season.

Martinez batted .302 (149x493) with 32 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 79 RBI in 127 games with the Boston Red Sox during the 2010 season. He topped all American League switch-hitters with the .302 batting average, while he was second with a .493 slugging percentage and third with a .351 on-base percentage.

“We are thrilled to add a premier hitter like Victor Martinez to the Tigers organization,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “Our top off-season priority was to add a proven bat in the middle of our lineup and Victor is an established .300 hitter and run producer at the major league level.”

In nine seasons at the major league level with the Cleveland Indians (2002-09) and Boston Red Sox (2009-10), Martinez is hitting .300 (1120x3739) with 235 doubles, three triples, 131 home runs and 638 RBI in 1,004 games. He has hit 20-or-more home runs in five seasons, while he has collected 100-or-more RBI in three seasons during his career.

“We expect Victor to be in our lineup on a daily basis, serving primarily as our club’s designated hitter and catching two to three times a week,” Dombrowski said. “He also has the ability to fill in at first base and his versatility allows us to keep a premier bat in our lineup every day. We’ve discussed this role with Victor and both sides are very pleased with what he brings to the Tigers organization.”

Martinez has been selected to the American League All-Star team four times during his career, including both of the last two seasons. Additionally, he won the American Silver Slugger Award for catchers in 2004.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tigers sign catcher Victor Martinez

By Matt Harding
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As first reported by Ignacio Serrano of El Nacional, Victor Martinez has reached an agreement with the Detroit Tigers. The catcher will receive a four-year contract worth $50 million.

Martinez's 2010 season team, the Boston Red Sox, offered him a four-year deal worth $42 million. Aside from the Red Sox, the Tigers won the bidding war against the White Sox and Orioles as well.

The 31-year-old Martinez hit .302 with the Red Sox last season. He also bagged 20 home runs and knocked in 79 batters.

TIGERS DO NOT OFFER ARBITRATION TO FIVE FREE AGENTS

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DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club will not offer arbitration to the following five free agents: righthanded pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, lefthanded pitcher Bobby Seay, catcher Gerald Laird and outfielders Johnny Damon and Magglio Ordonez.

By not offering any of the five free agents arbitration, the club will not receive any compensation if the players are signed by other clubs. Additionally, all five players remain eligible to sign with the Tigers despite the club not offering them arbitration.

Friday, November 19, 2010

TIGERS OUTRIGHT THE CONTRACT OF FU-TE NI TO TRIPLE A

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DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has outrighted the contract of lefthanded pitcher Fu-Te Ni to Triple A Toledo.

Ni saw action with both Detroit and Toledo during the 2010 season. He compiled a 0-1 record and 6.65 ERA (23.0IP/17ER) in 22 outings with the Tigers after making the club out of Spring Training. In 12 appearances with the Mud Hens, Ni compiled a 7.50 ERA (12.0IP/10ER).

The first native of Taiwan to appear at the major league level for the Tigers, he has posted a 0-1 record and 4.33 ERA (54.0IP/26ER) in 58 games over his two seasons with the club.

The Tigers now have 39 players on the club’s 40-man roster.

TIGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH JOAQUIN BENOIT

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Righthanded Pitcher Agrees to Three-Year Contract

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms with righthanded pitcher Joaquin Benoit on a three-year contract, a contract that runs through the 2013 season.

Benoit appeared in 63 games for the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2010 season, posting a 1-2 record, 1.34 ERA (60.1IP/9ER) and 75 strikeouts. He limited opponents to a .147 batting average (30x204), while he issued 11 walks.

“Joaquin is a solid addition to our bullpen,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “One of our off-season goals was adding an established late inning arm to our bullpen and Joaquin has had success pitching in critical situations late in the game and he fits that role for our club.”

Benoit topped all American League relievers with a 1.34 ERA, .147 batting average against, 4.48 hits per nine innings and 6.12 baserunners per nine innings with Tampa Bay during the 2010 season, while he finished second with 1.64 walks per nine innings and 6.82 strikeouts per walk, third with 11.19 strikeouts per nine innings and fifth with 75 strikeouts.

A veteran of nine seasons at the major league level with the Texas Rangers (2001-08) and Rays (2010), he has compiled a 31-28 record, 4.47 ERA (651.2IP/324ER) and 613 strikeouts in 336 games (55 starts). In 281 relief appearances during his career, Benoit has posted a 17-9 record, 3.32 ERA (377.0IP/139ER) and 380 strikeouts.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

MIGUEL CABRERA NAMED TIGER OF THE YEAR BY THE DETROIT CHAPTER OF THE BASEBALL WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

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Photo by Jennifer MacPherson / In Play! Magazine
 DETROIT – First baseman Miguel Cabrera has been unanimously selected as the Tiger of the Year for 2010 in voting by the Detroit Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Cabrera batted .328 with 111 runs scored, 45 doubles, 38 home runs and 126 RBI. He led the American League with a .420 on-base percentage and 32 intentional walks, while he finished second with a .328 batting average, .622 slugging percentage, 341 total bases, 84 extra-base hits and an RBI once every 4.3 at-bats, tied for second with 111 runs scored, finished third with 38 home runs and a home run every 14.4 at-bats, tied for fourth with 45 doubles, finished fifth with 89 walks and 10th with 180 hits. He was selected to the all-star team for the fifth time in his career and first with the Tigers.

Cabrera became the first Tigers player to lead the American League in RBI since Cecil Fielder led the league with 124 RBI during the 1992 season. He also joined Hank Greenberg as the only player in Tigers history to finish with at least 45 doubles, 35 home runs and 120 RBI during a single season. Greenberg accomplished the feat in 1935, 1937 and 1940. The 2010 season marked his seventh consecutive season with 100-or-more RBI (2004-10) and he is one of four major league players with 100-or-more RBI in each of the past seven seasons, joining Alex Rodriguez (13 straight), Albert Pujols (10 straight) and Mark Teixeira (seven straight).

This year’s honor marks the second career Tiger of the Year award for Cabrera as he also won the award following the 2008 season. A full list of recipients follows.

Recipients of the Tiger of the Year Award
1965 – Don Wert
1966 – Al Kaline
1967 – Bill Freehan
1968 – Denny McLain
1969 – Denny McLain
1970 – Tom Timmerman
1971 – Mickey Lolich
1972 – Ed Brinkman
1973 – John Hiller 
1974 – Al Kaline
1975 – Willie Horton
1976 – Mark Fidrych
1977 – Ron LeFlore
1978 – Ron LeFlore
1979 – Steve Kemp
1980 – Alan Trammell
1981 – Kirk Gibson 1
1982 – Lance Parrish
1983 – Lou Whitaker
1984 – Willie Hernandez
1985 – Darrell Evans
1986 – Jack Morris
1987 – Alan Trammell
1988 – Alan Trammell
1989 – Lou Whitaker

1990 – Cecil Fielder

1991 – Cecil Fielder

1992 – Cecil Fielder

1993 – Tony Phillips

1994 – Kirk Gibson

1995 – Travis Fryman

1996 – Travis Fryman

1997 – Tony Clark and Bobby Higginson (tie)

1998 – Damion Easley

1999 – Dean Palmer

2000 – Bobby Higginson

2001 – Steve Sparks

2002 – Randall Simon

2003 – Dmitri Young

2004 – Ivan Rodriguez

2005 – Placido Polanco

2006 – Carlos Guillen

2007 – Magglio Ordonez

2008 – Miguel Cabrera

2009 – Justin Verlander

2010 – Miguel Cabrera


Saturday, November 13, 2010

Tigers name Phil Nevin Triple-A manager

By Matt Harding
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Phil Nevin, the first overall pick in the 1992 Draft, managed at Double-A Erie this past season. He now will take the reigns of the Tiger's Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens. Nevin, during his Major League career,
played for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Minnesota Twins.

Thursday, Nevin had the following to say:

"I've kind of seen all angles from the position-player side. I was a first overall pick, top prospect, came into the big leagues and I had some struggles, ended up being a utility player, was sent back down, learned how to catch, came back up and I got another opportunity to play and had some good years as a player. Had a chance to go to the All-Star Game and go to the playoffs, and then I went back into kind of a utility role.

"So I've seen kind of all sides of it, whether it's a utility guy or the superstar, so to speak. I don't know, you can't really say what makes a good manager. Some people say catchers do. I've seen a little bit of all of them."

Monday, November 8, 2010

TIGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH JHONNY PERALTA

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Shortstop Agrees to Two-Year Contract with a Club Option for 2013 Season

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms with shortstop Jhonny Peralta on a two-year contract with a club option for the 2013 season.

Acquired by the Tigers from the Cleveland Indians in a two-player deal on July 28, Peralta batted .253 (55x217) with seven doubles, eight home runs and 38 RBI in 57 games with Detroit. In 148 games between both Cleveland and Detroit in 2010, he hit .249 (137x551) with 30 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 81 RBI.

“Jhonny is a proven major league player both offensively and defensively,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said. “We feel that Jhonny’s signing, along with the club’s earlier signing of Brandon Inge, solidifies the left side of our infield for upcoming season.”

Peralta played primarily at shortstop after being acquired by the Tigers, compiling a .984 fielding percentage in 46 games at the position. He has recorded a .975 fielding percentage in 752 games at shortstop during his major league career.

In eight seasons at the major league level with the Indians (2003-10) and Tigers (2010), Peralta is hitting .263 (961x3652) with 208 doubles, 16 triples, 111 home runs and 494 RBI in 980 games

Thursday, November 4, 2010

SPARKY ANDERSON PASSES AWAY NOVEMBER 4, 2010

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STATEMENTS REGARDING THE PASSING OF SPARKY ANDERSON


DETROIT – The following are statements regarding Hall of Fame Manager Sparky Anderson:

The following statement is attributable to Michael Ilitch (Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers
and Michael and Marian Ilitch are co-owners of Little Caesars Pizza, the Detroit Red Wings,
Olympia Entertainment and several other businesses):
"The baseball world lost one of its best today with the passing of Sparky Anderson. Marian and I and our entire organization extend our condolences to Sparky’s family and friends. Those of us who had the privilege to know Sparky personally know how much he loved American’s favorite pastime and how proud he was to be associated with baseball. His success as a manager, both with the Detroit Tigers and the Cincinnati Reds, was about far more than wins and losses, it was about the character of the man. He cared about his players, he loved the fans and he put his heart and soul into the community. He will always be a favorite among Tigers fans and an important and memorable part of this incredible sports town."

The following statement is attributable to David Dombrowski, President, CEO and General Manager of the Detroit Tigers:

"Sparky was one of the most respected people in the game, and I was fortunate in getting to know him through the years. There is so much to admire about Sparky, the manager, and the person. He exuded a spirit of inspiration for the game and life. It's great sadness for everyone that's ever known him, and for the baseball world to lose him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Carol, and the Anderson family."

The following statement is attributable to Al Kaline, Tigers Hall of Fame player and Special Assistant to the President:
“Sparky was one of the greatest people I’ve met in baseball. He was a leader to his players both on and off the field. He was an incredible person and I cherish the time I was able to spend with him. He was a great leader and a great baseball man.”

The following statement is attributable to Jim Leyland, Tigers Manager:
"Sparky was one of the most entertaining, enthusiastic managers that ever managed with the respect of everyone in baseball. He will be missed by all. My thoughts and prayers are with Sparky’s family."

The following statement is attributable to Tom Brookens, former Tigers player and current First Base Coach:
“Sparky was great for the game of baseball. He was an all-time character that was a great ambassador for the game. I spent 10 years playing for him and learned a lot about the game of baseball from him. He was a class individual.”

LIONS PRESIDENT TOM LEWAND ON THE PASSING OF SPARKY ANDERSON

“On behalf of the William Clay Ford family and the Detroit Lions organization we extend our deepest sympathies to the Anderson family, the Detroit Tigers and the legions of Sparky Anderson fans in Detroit and across the country.

“Detroit has lost one of its most beloved and iconic sports figures. Sparky's Hall of Fame accomplishments on the field rank him as one of baseball's all-time greats. But it is his work off the field and how he touched people in our community that will truly leave a lasting legacy.”


TIGERS TRADE BRENT DLUGACH TO BOSTON RED SOX

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Club Outrights the Contracts of Four Players to Triple A Toledo

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has traded infielder Brent Dlugach to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations by April 15, 2011. Additionally, the Tigers today announced the club has outrighted the contracts of righthanded pitchers Eddie Bonine and Jay Sborz, catcher Max St. Pierre and outfielder Jeff Frazier to Triple A Toledo.

Dlugach spent the entire 2010 season with Triple A Toledo, hitting .258 (116x450) with 52 runs scored, 22 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 41 RBI in 117 games.

Bonine compiled a 4-1 record and 4.63 ERA (68.0IP/35ER) in 47 appearances with the Tigers during the 2010 season. He established career bests with four wins, 47 appearances and 68.0 innings pitched during the season.

Sborz posted a 1-6 record, 4.74 ERA (43.2IP/23ER), 19 saves and 43 strikeouts in 43 outings with Triple A Toledo this past season. He saw action in one game with the Tigers in 2010, surrendering five runs as he retired two of the seven batters he faced.

St. Pierre split time between Double A Erie and Triple A Toledo during the 2010 season before he saw his first major league action as he joined the Tigers in September. He combined to hit .274 (52x190) with seven doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 36 RBI in 59 games between Erie and Toledo. St. Pierre batted .222 (2x9) in six games with Detroit in 2010.

Frazier saw action in 123 games with Triple A Toledo in 2010, hitting .256 (122x477) with 34 doubles, two triples, 25 home runs and 73 RBI. In nine games with the Tigers, he batted .217 (5x23) with a double and an RBI.

Bonine has elected his free agency immediately, while Sborz, St. Pierre and Frazier all will be granted free agency on November 6 when all other six-year renewal option players are eligible for free agency.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

STATEMENT FROM THE DETROIT TIGERS ON THE HEALTH CONDITION OF HALL OF FAME MANAGER SPARKY ANDERSON

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DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers organization today issued the following statement:

“The Tigers organization is saddened by the news of Sparky’s illness. We will keep Sparky, his wife, Carol, and the entire Anderson family in our thoughts and prayers.”

“Sparky led one of the most beloved teams in franchise history to the World Series title in 1984 and remains the winningest manager in franchise history. His contributions to the Detroit Tigers remain a significant part of the club’s history.”

Yahoo Sports article http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-sparkyanderson-hospice

Career notes:
Sparky's record with the Detroit Tigers
First manager to win 600 games in both leagues.
Years with the Tigers - 17
From 1979 to 1995
Games- 2580
Wins-1331
Losses-1248
Winning %- .516

JACKSON NAMED TIGERS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

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Detroit Sports Broadcasters’ Association Tabs Outfielder as Tigers Top Rookie

DETROIT – Detroit Tigers outfielder Austin Jackson was named the Tigers Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters’ Association today.

Jackson led all American League rookies with 103 runs scored, 181 hits, 247 total bases, 48 extra-base hits, 34 doubles, 10 triples and 27 stolen bases. He became just the fourth player in major league history since 1901 to collect at least 100 runs scored, 180 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples and 25 stolen bases as a rookie, joining Joe Jackson (1911), Juan Samuel (1984) and Hanley Ramirez (2006) in accomplishing the feat.

He was also named the American League Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News and was tabbed the American League Outstanding Rookie in the Players Choice Award balloting. Jackson also earned American League Rookie of the Month honors for April, becoming the first Tigers position player to earn the award.

Jackson will be presented with his award prior to a Tigers home game during the 2011 season. The Detroit Sports Broadcasters’ Association has been selecting a Tigers Rookie of the Year since 1969.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

TIGERS DECLINE JHONNY PERALTA’S OPTION FOR 2011 SEASON

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DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has declined the option of shortstop Jhonny Peralta for the 2011 season.

Acquired by the Tigers from the Cleveland Indians in a two-player deal on July 28, Peralta batted .253 (55x217) with seven doubles, eight home runs and 38 RBI in 57 games with Detroit. In 148 games between both Cleveland and Detroit in 2010, he hit .249 (137x551) with 30 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 81 RBI.

“We remain optimistic that a deal can be worked out between Jhonny and the club,” Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Dombrowski said.

Peralta played primarily at shortstop after being acquired by the Tigers, compiling a .984 fielding percentage in 46 games at the position. He has recorded a .975 fielding percentage in 752 games at shortstop during his major league career.

In eight seasons at the major league level with the Indians (2003-10) and Tigers (2010), Peralta is hitting .263 (961x3652) with 208 doubles, 16 triples, 111 home runs and 494 RBI in 980 games.

With the Tigers declining Peralta’s option today, he becomes a free agent and is eligible to be re-signed by Detroit at any point.