Detroit Tigers Links: Nelson Cruz Detroit drumbeat continues, AJax mad hoops skills & Tigers 2014 schedule

Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

MLB free agent predictions: Nelson Cruz to the Detroit Tigers – Paul White, USA Today (via the Detroit Free Press)

"Nelson Cruz: Don’t necessarily link this to his PED history. Fellow Biogenesis suspendee Jhonny Peralta landed quickly in St. Louis this winter. But Cruz stands to be this year’s biggest loser in a market that has few legitimate suitors for him. The market: He figures to be Exhibit A for, “See, not everybody cashes in for cheating.” He also stands to be a bargain for somebody as he ends up trying to prove himself on a short-term (yes, one year is quite possible) deal. Our call: Tigers, one year, $9 million."

Detroit Tigers Outfielder Austin Jackson Shows Off His Basketball Skills – Yahoo Sports–The Post Game

"The 26-year-old Austin Jackson’s strong defense earned him the Tigers’ defensive player of the year award for 2013. Jackson’s Detroit teammate, Torii Hunter, recently posted a video of Jackson soaring for an easy slam dunk."

Analyzing the Detroit Tigers’ 2014 schedule – Matt Pelc MCB special to the Free Press

"The Tigers were blessed with a fairly favorable schedule while winning their third straight division title in 2013. That schedule had just one trip to the west coast, occurring in April, meaning the Tigers had nearly six months of games in either the Eastern or Central time zones. They didn’t have many lengthy road trips either. This year they are not so lucky."