DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers came to 2009 contract terms Wednesday with left fielder Marcus Thames and relief pitcher Fernando Rodney, avoiding arbitration with both players.
The contract terms were not available for Thames, who made $2.75 million last season, or Rodney, who made $1.7 million. Thames, 31, hit .241 with 25 home runs and 56 RBIs in 2008. He hit 17 homers before the All-Star break, and tied the Detroit record by hitting homers in five consecutive games, June 13-17. Thames' rate of one homer per 13.52 at-bats since 2006 is the fourth highest among major leaguers with 1,000-plus plate appearances during the past three seasons.
Rodney, 31, converted 13-of-19 saves and was among bullpen leaders by allowing only four of 15 inherited runners (.267) to score. But he failed too often in preserving leads to nail down the closer job left open with the retirement of Todd Jones, who was injured the last two months of the season.
Still, Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said Rodney likely will be the 2009 closer unless a trade is made.
Rodney was 0-6 with a 4.91 ERA. He struck out 49 in 40 innings, but also walked 30 and hit three batters to cause problems.
Tigers still in line for arbitration are recently acquired catcher Gerald Laird and starting pitcher Edwin Jackson, starting pitcher Justin Verlander and relievers Bobby Seay and Joel Zumaya.
Players and agents have until today to file for arbitration, and player agents and teams exchange salary arbitration figures beginning Monday. Salary arbitration hearings are Feb. 1-21 in Phoenix. Players may be signed to contracts right up until the time of the arbitration hearings.
