Detroit Tigers Links: Shopping for Papelbon and Benoit & Tigers winter home staying put

What would the Detroit Tigers have to trade to get Jonathan Papelbon? – Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press

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Papelbon, 33, is having another great season for the Philadelphia Phillies. Through 371⁄3 innings, he has a 1.32 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 22 saves in 24 chances. He also has a career 2.33 ERA, 308 saves and won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2007.

So I get that Papelbon is having a great year for a bad club. I also get that he recorded the final out to clinch a World Series title. But he costs a lot with two more years left on a mammoth contract, and he’s also, frankly, kind of a dick. The Tigers don’t need to sully the, by all reports, harmonious clubhouse with a malcontent.

A better idea may be…

Detroit Tigers trade rumors: Joaquin Benoit edition – Ryan Dunne, iSportsWeb

Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Right now, the Tigers currently have one of the worst bullpens in baseball with closer Joe Nathan being the highlight and not in a good way. But there is some hope as Nathan seems to have found his groove a little bit which is something Detroit is hoping stays true. But if Nathan goes back to struggling, having Benoit ready to go back to his closing duties is something he would be prepared for. Each week the trade deadline gets closer and closer and sooner or later Dombrowski will have to pull the trigger and make a move. Hopefully he is aiming for Benoit.

This is a much better proposition than Papelbon. Benoit is a known commodity, excelled as a Tiger, and would fit right back into the clubhouse he was a part of from 2011-13. Bringing Benoit over almost makes too much sense–in fact too much sense that something crazy will happen like another team will swoop in first or the Padres will ask the Tigers for way too much in return.

Lakeland nearing deal to keep Detroit Tigers through 2037 – Rick Elmhorst, Bay News 9

Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

The city of Lakeland and Detroit Tigers have agreed in principle on a new 20-year spring training contract. City officials want to make sure the deal keeps the Tigers in Lakeland for spring training because the team has an estimated annual impact of $45 million. The Tigers have held their spring training in Lakeland for 78 years, and their curent contract with the city expires Dec. 31, 2016. The agreement calls for $37 million in upgrades for the Tigertown complex that includes Joker Marchant Stadium and would run through 2037.

It would be hard to image the Tigers playing “home” baseball games in February and March anywhere other than Lakeland, Florida. This deal will ensure that doesn’t happen any time soon. Extensive renovations will be put in place once this deal is officially signed which includes a full stadium concourse, new seats and food options behind the left field berm, and revamped seating in the dreaded third base grandstand area.

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