Detroit Tigers Links: Spring Training docket, Don Kelly gone (for now), Super Martinez Bros want to stay together

The Detroit Tigers will open the 2015 season the way they ended the 2014 postseason–sort of. The Tigers will begin Grapefruit League action by taking on the Baltimore Orioles from Lakeland on Tuesday, March 3. It will be the Tigers’ 79th consecutive year in Lakeland, a remarkable feat considering all the movement of teams from Florida to Arizona over the last decade.

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Next we take a look at perhaps the end of a stirring career in Detroit?! Don Kelly say it ain’t so! Kelly and relief pitcher Evan Reed opted for free agency instead of accepting a minor league assignment in Toledo. While I doubt Reed will be back in 2015, it seems we go through this every year with Kelly. Donnie, we don’t wanna quit you….

Finally we take a look at J.D. Martinez, the Luigi to Victor Martinez‘s Mario in the Super Martinez Bros duo. J.D. feels confident that Victor wants to come back to Detroit. Balls in your court, DD.

Tigers open 50th year at Joker Marchant vs. Orioles – MLB.com

"Another AL East foe, the Yankees, will become a familiar sight in the closing weeks of camp. Detroit and New York will face each other four times, including March 20 and April 2 in Lakeland. The Tigers will visit Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., for a split-squad day game on March 14, and a 7:05 p.m. full-squad meeting on March 24.Other notable matchups include two games against the NL Central champion Cardinals. Their March 16 matchup at Roger Dean Stadium marks the back half of the Tigers’ two-day trip to Jupiter, which begins March 15 against the Marlins. The Tigers and Braves, meanwhile, meet five times — March 7 and 30 in Lakeland, and March 7, 13 and 22 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.The NL East champion Nationals will face the Tigers four times in a 12-day stretch, trekking across the state to Lakeland on March 17 and 22. The Tigers head to Viera’s Space Coast Stadium March 11 and 19."

Don Kelly, Evan Reed decline minor league assignments, leave Detroit Tigers for free agency – James Schmehl, MLive

"The Tigers have expressed interest in re-signing Kelly, but the organization would likely only be interested in bringing him back on a minor league deal with a non-roster invitation to spring training.A non-tender candidate, Kelly — who turns 35 years old in February — would be arbitration-eligible if he signed a major league deal this offseason. He batted .245 with six extra-base hits and seven RBIs in 95 games this past season with Detroit."

J.D. Martinez: Victor Martinez wants to stay with Tigers – Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

"He’s definitely indicated that if he’s got a legitimate offer and it’s close enough to everybody else, he definitely wants to stay in Detroit,” Martinez told Jim Bowden and Casey Stern on MLB Network Radio’s “Inside Pitch” on Tuesday evening."