TIGERS AGREE TO TERMS ON ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH PHIL COKE

DETROIT- The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with lefthanded pitcher Phil Coke, thus avoiding arbitration.

Coke appeared in 49 games for the Tigers during the 2013 season, posting a 0-5 record, 5.40 ERA (38.1IP/23ER) and 30 strikeouts. He appeared in six games with Triple A Toledo, posting a 1-0 record, while not allowing a run over six innings.  

In four seasons with the Tigers, Coke has compiled a 12-22 record, 4.34 ERA (265.2IP/128ER) and 203 strikeouts in 237 (15 starts) appearances. 

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FIELDER GONE!

DETROIT TIGERS ACQUIRE IAN KINSLER FROM THE TEXAS RANGERS IN EXCHANGE FOR PRINCE FIELDER AND CASH CONSIDERATIONS

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers tonight announced that the club has acquired second baseman Ian Kinsler from the Texas Rangers in exchange for first baseman Prince Fielder and cash considerations.  

"We are fortunate to be in a position to acquire a quality and proven player in Ian Kinsler," said David Dombrowski, Tigers President, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager. "Ian is an All-Star caliber talent who provides our lineup with a top of the order bat and has been a solid defensive performer at second base. The Tigers organization thanks Prince Fielder for his contributions to our ballclub for the past two seasons and we wish him all the best in the future."

Kinsler, 31, batted .277 (151x545) with 31 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 72 RBI in 136 games with the Rangers in 2013. The three-time All-Star (2008, 2010, 2012) compiled a .978 fielding percentage at second base for Texas this season.

He was originally selected in the 17^th round of the 2003 June draft by the Rangers and made his major league debut in 2006. In eight seasons at the major league level with Texas, he has hit .273 (1145x4201) with 249 doubles, 23 triples, 156 home runs and 539 RBI in 1,066 career games.

Kinsler, 6-0, 200 lbs, is a native of Tucson, Arizona and resides in Dallas, Texas during the offseason.
Fielder, 29, batted .279 (174x624) with 36 doubles, 25 home runs and 106 RBI in 162 games played with the Tigers in 2013. In nine seasons at the major league level, Fielder hit .286 (1352x4732) with 269 doubles, 10 triples, 285 home runs and 870 RBI in 1,322 games between the Brewers and the Tigers.   

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TIGERS PURCHASE CONTRACTS OF SEVEN PLAYERS

DETROIT- The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has purchased the contracts of lefthanded pitcher Kyle Lobstein, righthanded pitcher Justin Miller and first baseman Jordan Lennerton from Triple A Toledo, shortstop Eugenio Suarez and center fielder Daniel Fields from Double A Erie, and righthanded pitcher Jose Valdez and right fielder Steven Moya from Single A Lakeland. 

Lobstein, 24, posted a 13-7 record, 3.27 ERA (167.2IP/61ER) and 148 strikeouts in 28 starts between Double A Erie and Triple A Toledo during the 2013 season. He limited opponents to a .264 batting average (165x624) between both levels. He was tabbed the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Month in May after posting a 3-1 record, 2.68 ERA (37IP/11ER), two complete games and 29 strikeouts in six starts with Double A Erie during the month.

Miller, 26, split the 2013 season between Double A Frisco and Triple A Round Rock. He finished 1-0 with a 6.19 ERA (16.0IP/11ER) and 21 strikeouts with Frisco. He posted a 0-1 record, 9.82 ERA (11.0IP/12ER) and 12 strikeouts with Round Rock.

Lennerton, 27, batted .278 (143x514) with 68 runs scored, 25 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 57 RBI in 139 games with Triple A Toledo during the 2013 season. Lennerton earned a spot on the World Team for the Futures Game held prior to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in New York City this season. Additionally, he was awarded a Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove at first base after posting a .996 fielding percentage in 2013. He has appeared in 13 games with Leones de Ponce in the Puerto Rico Winter League following the season, batting .348 (16x46).

Fields, 22, hit .284 (130x457) with 71 runs scored, 27 doubles, six triples, 10 home runs and 58 RBI in 118 games with Double A Erie in 2013. He ended the season ranked 10^th in the Eastern League with a .284 batting average.

Suarez, 22, spent the majority of the 2013 season with Double A Erie, batting .253 (112x442) with 53 runs scored, 24 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 45 RBI in 111 games with the club. He has seen action in four games with Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League following the season.

Moya, 22, batted .255 (93x365) with 52 runs scored, 19 doubles, five triples, 12 home runs and 55 RBI in 93 games with Single A Lakeland in 2013. He is playing in the Dominican Winter League with the Toros Del Este and has seen action in one game.

Valdez, 23, split the 2013 season between Single A West Michigan and Single A Lakeland. He posted a 1-1 record and 2.73 ERA (26.1IP/8ER) in 27 games with West Michigan last season. He finished 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA (23.0IP/7ER) in 23 games with Lakeland. He was selected to the Midwest League Midseason All-Star team. Following the season, he has appeared in four games with Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League, posting a 3.38 ERA (2.2IP/1ER) with five strikeouts. 

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WHO WAS BETTER TEAM...THE '68 TIGERS OR THE '84 TIGERS?

“TIGERS DEBATE OF ALL DEBATES”

December 4, 2013

MGM Grand Casino

“Intrigue Room”

Which World Championship Tiger team, the '68 Tigers managed by Mayo Smith, or the '84 Tigers under Sparky, was the better team? It's a question that's been debated for almost 30 years.

The only way to answer that question is to get the players together from both those teams. That's exactly what's being planned in Detroit. Here are the details:
WHAT: THE TIGERS SHOWDOWN IN MOTOWN!

A great evening of dining, storytelling, memorabilia, autographs, raffles, and auction items, with stars of two Tigers World Series Championship teams.

WHO: It's the '68 Tigers, led by HOFER Al Kaline, 31 game winner Denny McLain, Slugger Willie Horton, and (just added) Super Sub Tom Matchick, and Reliever Jon Warden VS. the '84 Tigers, led by Sluggers Darrell Evans and Lance Parrish, and Starting Pitchers Dan Petry and Dave Rozema. Other names may be added in the future. It's an All-Star cast unlike anything you've seen in years! Author Eli Zaret will MC the debate and the storytelling (and maybe a few lies). You'll hear wild tales you never heard before!

 When: This never-to-be-forgotten event will be held on Wednesday, December 4. The "Meet and Greet" with Cash Bar will begin at 6PM, followed by dinner, an incredible auction, the great debate and storytelling, and the end of the auction.
Where: MGM Grand Hotel, located at 1777 Third St. in Detroit, a couple of Cabrera home runs east of old Tiger Stadium where these teams made history.

Why: To honor our heroes and to relive those great moments from the past. All profits support our injured military heroes and their families, as well as the USA Military All-Star Baseball Team.

Cost: Individual Tickets Cost $150 per person, and include one autograph per Tiger, subject to availability. Depending on demand, additional autographs may be available for a donation; all autograph proceeds are for our military heroes. Cost also includes a delicious buffet dinner at the MGM. Group tickets and sponsorships are also available; see the attached for details.

No guarantees, but we expect other celebrities also to appear at the event.

To buy a ticket, or if you have any questions, you can call Dave Lubbers at 810 588 9106,  616-534-3033 (home) or 616-540-2020 (cell). You can pay via cash, check, PayPal, or credit card.


It will be an incredible night that you will never forge

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MIGUEL CABRERA NAMED AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP

Miguel Cabrera was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player this evening in voting conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He won the award with 23 first place votes and seven second place votes to capture the award for the second consecutive year. 

Cabrera, 30, batted .348 to win his third consecutive American League batting crown. He is the first Tigers player to lead the league in hitting in three straight seasons since Ty Cobb did so from 1917-1919. Cabrera also led the league with a .442 on-base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage, while he was tied for first with 37 go-ahead RBI, second with 44 home runs, 137 RBI and 353 total bases.

Cabrera is only the second player in franchise history to win the award in back-to-back seasons, joining Hal Newhouser, who was named the league’s MVP in 1944 and 1945.

The Tigers have now featured the American League’s Most Valuable Player in each of the last three seasons, with Justin Verlander winning the award in 2011, and Cabrera following in 2012 and 2013. The Tigers are the first American League club to have back-to-back-to-back MVP’s since Roger Maris (1960-1), Mickey Mantle (1962) and Elston Howard (1963) won the MVP award in four straight seasons for the New York Yankees. Miguel Cabrera is the first American League Player to win back-to-back American League MVP Awards since Frank Thomas did so from 1993-4 with the Chicago White Sox. 

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MAX SCHERZER NAMED AMERICAN LEAGUE CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER

DETROIT- Max Scherzer was named the 2013 Cy Young Award Winner this evening in voting conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He won the award with 28 first place votes, one second place vote, and one third place vote. 

Scherzer, 29, is the first Tigers player to win the award since Justin Verlander in 2011, and just the fourth pitcher in franchise history, joining Verlander (2011), Guillermo Hernandez (1984), and Denny McLain (1968-69).  

He led the American League with 21 wins and an .875 winning percentage, while he was second with 240 strikeouts, 10.08 strikeouts per nine innings, 25 quality starts, and a .198 batting average against, fifth with a 2.90 ERA, and tied for fifth with 214.1 innings pitched.  

Scherzer established a franchise record, winning 13 straight decisions to begin the season as a starter. In addition, he became just the second pitcher in American League history to fan six-or-more batters in his first 18 outings to begin the season, joining Pedro Martinez who struck out six-or-more batters in 29 straight outings to begin the season in 2000. (Source: Elias Sports Bureau) 

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