Detroit has left itself with two open roster spaces, turning in a list of 38 players whom it will protect from the Rule 5 draft instead of the maximum 40, to give general manager Dave Dombrowski some maneuvering room heading into the winter meetings.
Having two roster spots affords the Tigers the opportunity to sign a free agent -- pitchers Freddy Garcia and Kenny Rogers come to mind -- without having to trim a player, select someone in the Rule 5 draft or acquire a player by trade. The Tigers need to get a veteran catcher so rookie Dusty Ryan doesn't have to carry the load, and they would like to add a slick-fielding shortstop to share playing time with Ramon Santiago. There are also rotation vacancies, but the club is likely to delete a bullpen member when it adds starters, if necessary.
Detroit is not expected to select someone in the draft it would have to carry on its roster all season unless that player is a promising left-handed reliever or a catcher with some defensive skills who hits left-handed.
Dombrowski has said the Tigers won't be in the bidding for high-profile free agents but that the organization does expect to field a team with a payroll north of $138 million, like last year's.
Reworking the bullpen is an area of primary concern for Dombrowski. Various agents, especially those representing left-handers, have acknowledged Detroit's interest in their clients. The Tigers may offer multiyear contracts at $3 million to $5 million a year to one or two proven late-inning relievers.
The organization has a surplus of young relief arms, but most were drafted last June and can't be traded until a year from their signing date. One could turn out to be a "player to be named," which is how the Tigers acquired pitcher Jeremy Bonderman from Oakland.
The most notable player Detroit left exposed to the draft was second baseman Will Rhymes, characterized as a David Eckstein type.
