Detroit Tigers Set Opening Day Roster

Mar 11, 2014; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones (51) shakes hands with starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) after he pitched against the Toronto Blue Jays at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

I suppose there’s always a chance that something unexpected happens ahead of Monday’s first pitch, but the Detroit Tigers have trimmed their roster down to the 25 men that will make up the team’s Opening Day roster.

Members of the front office are still throwing out terms like “due diligence” — and I don’t think they’ve come out and said this is official — but here is the current crop of 25 names:

Catchers
Alex Avila
Bryan Holaday

First Base / DH
Miguel Cabrera
Victor Martinez

Infield
Ian Kinsler
Nick Castellanos
Alex Gonzalez
Andrew Romine

Outfield
Austin Jackson
Torii Hunter
Rajai Davis
Don Kelly
Tyler Collins

Starting Pitchers
Justin Verlander
Max Scherzer
Anibal Sanchez
Rick Porcello
Drew Smyly

Relief Pitchers
Joe Nathan
Joba Chamberlain
Al Alburquerque
Phil Coke
Ian Krol
Luke Putkonen
Evan Reed

Andy Dirks (15-day), Jose Iglesias (60-day), and Bruce Rondon (60-day) will start the season on the DL, but Rondon and Iglesias should be considered out for the season (though there might be a chance that Iglesias returns late). Collins, Reed, and Romine/Gonzalez seem to be the beneficiaries of the roster openings created by the injuries.

Here’s a cool picture that was tweeted out by minor league first baseman Aaron Westlake: it’s rookie Tyler Collins signing his major league contract after being added to the 40-man roster.

It’s not quite the roster we all imagined when spring camp opened up back in February, but it still looks like a roster that can win the division and compete with the best in baseball.