Detroit Tigers Black Friday Links: No ‘roller coasters’ in Cooperstown & the Chicago Pale ‘Holes’

Credit: FanSided.com (https://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2013/11/toddjonesa112713.jpg)

Ex-Detroit Tigers pitchers Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones among newcomers on Baseball Hall of Fame ballot – John Lowe, Detroit Free Press

"The 19 newcomers on this year’s ballot include six former Tigers: pitchers Todd Jones, Hideo Nomo and Kenny Rogers, first baseman Sean Casey and a pair of outfielders who spent one year with the Tigers, Luis Gonzalez and Jacque Jones. None might get the 5% of the vote required to remain on the ballot. But making the ballot is an honor in itself."

Todd Jones doesn’t think Todd Jones is a Hall-of-Famer – Paul Festa, FanSided

"Todd Jones went on to say in an official release that the HOF is for greatness – “No one with the nickname `Roller Coaster’ should ever be considered. The only thing the HOF will let me in for is to use the restroom.”Jones pitched for 16 years in the majors and was known mostly for his days as the closer for the Detroit Tigers from 1997-2001. During that span he had 144 saves, a 3.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. In his career, he had 319 saves, and tallied 30 or more in a season six times."

Ex-Tigers Manager Takes ‘Grand’ New Gig In Detroit – Jeff Karoub, AP

"Jim Leyland, who stepped down as Tigers manager after this season, served as the grand marshal Thursday for the city’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Leyland smiled and waved in a convertible along the route, which was blanketed with a thin coating of snow.“I certainly would have liked it to be a World Series parade, but it didn’t work out that way,” he told WDIV-TV, adding “I’m glad I came to Motown — I can tell you that.”"

News from around the AL Central

Source: Ricky Nolasco, Twins agree – ESPN

"Right-hander Ricky Nolasco and the Twins agreed to terms on a free-agent contract Wednesday, a baseball source confirmed Thursday. Nolasco still needs to take a physical before the deal is announced. According to a source the deal is for four years and $49 million.That’s a hefty price for the Twins, who historically have been reluctant to hand out big-money deals to free agents. Prior to Nolasco’s contract, the most the Twins had spent on a free agent who did not come through their system was the three-year, $21 million deal they gave Josh Willingham in 2011.Nolasco, 30, is 89-75 with a 4.37 ERA in parts of eight seasons with the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers acquired him from the Marlins in a July trade, and Nolasco went 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA during Los Angeles’ playoff push."

Best Fallback Options for the White Sox Following the Recent Signings – Matthew Smith, Bleacher Report

"The gaping holes on the Chicago White Sox roster are not shrinking. They still need to shore up the defense, find some bats that can actually make contact with a baseball and improve the team’s overall speed.Sure, Avisail Garcia, Jose Abreu and Chris Sale form a solid nucleus. And yes, it is still quite early in the offseason process. At this rate, though, it’s going to be 2016 before the White Sox have enough around those players to warrant being truly aggressive in free agency."