Detroit Tigers Links 1/15/14: Rick Porcello’s pending emergence, Skip’s advice to Justin Verlander, arbitration-eligible Tigers and ranking Ray

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello’s long-awaited emergence may finally be at hand – Kurt Mensching, Detroit News

"Seemingly every year since Porcello’s emergence in 2009, he’s been the tabbed to take a big step forward. And yearly, he underwhelms. This is almost an ongoing punchline, like the yearly search for Jeremy Bonderman’s changeup. It’s always been a bit hard to buy into a full Porcello breakthrough. But if there’s ever a year to believe, this is the one. It’s necessary, too, with the ill-received trade of Doug Fister from the Tigers rotation to the Nationals."

Jim Leyland urges Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander not to rush back from core muscle injury – Josh Slagter, MLive

"“Just take your time,” Jim Leyland said on MLB Network on Tuesday. “A week or two setback is not much, but you try to rush these things and it turns out to be 2-3 months. You don’t want that happen. (The Tigers) know what they’re doing. They’re going to make sure he’s right.”"

Detroit Tigers’ Max Scherzer, Alex Avila, four others due to file for arbitration – George Sipple, Detroit Free Press

"The Detroit Tigers are expected to have six players file for arbitration today: catcher Alex Avila, outfielders Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks, and pitchers Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Al Alburquerque. Friday is the deadline for players and clubs to exchange salary figures. If the sides can’t agree on a deal, they will schedule hearings next month to go before a panel of arbitrators."

Ray ranked 10th-best lefty pitching prospect – Jason Beck, MLB.com

"After a couple different rankings put Ray among the top prospects in the Tigers’ farm system, the latest positional rankings from MLB.com put Ray as the 10th-ranked left-handed pitching prospect in baseball. It marks Ray’s debut on the top prospect list, a jump that reflects the relative breakout season Ray posted in Washington’s farm system over the summer."