Detroit Tigers Links: Fister deal explained, Castellanos ready & Beltre trolling Tigers fans

Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Tigers GM sheds some more light on unpopular trade of Doug Fister – Lynn Henning, Detroit News

"Dombrowski might have mentioned when the trade was announced that Washington had two weeks earlier said no to parting with Ray. It would have softened some of the artillery rounds fired by fans irked that Fister was leaving in a deal for three no-names. Dombrowski had a wry line when asked Saturday why he kept the trade chronology quiet. He said he “wanted to get beat up a bit” before he spilled the beans.He took his lumps, all right. He’s still taking them. Not until Ian Krol, the left-handed reliever Detroit also grabbed in the Fister swap, begins throwing from the bullpen in the fashion Dombrowski imagines, and not until Ray arrives as a steady starter, will fans cease steaming about November’s exchange."

Detroit Tigers rookie Nick Castellanos ready to ease into starting role at third base – Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press

"The 21-year-old heads to camp this year as the presumptive third baseman. Like the man he replaces at the corner, Castellanos hits to all parts of the field with power — though no one is saying he is the next Miguel Cabrera. Still, that liquid swing and plate coverage got Castellanos signed as a first-rounder in the 2010 draft. He shot through the minors, moving from A ball to Triple-A ball in two years, enough for MLB.com to count him as its 15th hottest prospect entering this season."

Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer pick up their hardware – Detroit News

"And the award goes to … OK, we already knew, so the excitement lacked on that front. But it made Saturday night no less special for Tigers stars Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer, who were in New York to pick up their hardware. The awards dinner in New York was the reason Cabrera and Scherzer missed TigerFest at Comerica Park on Saturday."

Beltre: Fielder will win AL MVP – Richard Durrett, ESPN Dallas

"Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre said Friday he thinks Prince Fielder will win the AL MVP in 2014. And while Beltre was smiling as he said it, he didn’t appear to be joking. “We added two great hitters,” Beltre said. “One big producing guy that we know in Fielder, playing against him over the years he’s been unbelievable. And Choo, I know him for a while back when I played with him in Seattle and we know what kind of guy he is. He’s going to get on base however he can, pus he’s got some pop, too, and some defense. The additions we got are really good.”"