Detroit Tigers Links: Trade reaction, no Rule 5 damage

The Detroit Tigers ended the annual baseball Winter Meetings with a bang yesterday.

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Now comes the reaction. Did the Tigers make the right moves? Are they better equipped for a long playoff run than the 2014 edition who was bounced for the playoffs way too early?

Our first two articles takes a look at the new-look Tigers and a predicted snapshot of 2015.

Our final story looks at an event which was glossed over on the final days of the Winter Meetings, the Rule 5 Draft. Because the Tigers maxxed out their 40-man roster, they were not eligible to take anyone in this special, supplemental draft wherein teams can pluck an unprotected player from another organization.

Thankfully, the Tigers didn’t lose any of their young players left unprotected or an oldster, Joel Hanrahan who was also available.

Incidentally, Detroit did have to make a move to make room on their 40-man roster for the players picked up on Thursday. They designated minor leaguer Melvin Mercedes for assignment.

2015 now all-or-nothing for Tigers – Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press

"Cespedes and Simon now join David Price as one-year rentals. Free agents next winter. Dombrowski is gambling that big seasons from players in contract years combined with the heightened sense of World Series urgency from contractually-bound stars such as Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Justin Verlander will create a championship mix."

How reshaped Tigers 2015 lineup, rotation currently look – Matt Snyder, CBS Sports

"Here’s a quick glance at the possible lineup:1. Anthony Gose/Rajai Davis, CF2. Ian Kinsler, 2B3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B4. Victor Martinez, DH5. Yoenis Cespedes, LF6. J.D. Martinez, RF7. Nick Castellanos, 3B8. Alex Avila, C9. Jose Iglesias, SSAt the top, manager Brad Ausmus could elect to go back to Kinsler in the leadoff spot and then there are myriad choices to hit second. The center-field tandem could work, as could Castellanos, Iglesias, J.D. Martinez or even bumping up the thumpers, with Cabrera hitting second (which would terrify old-school fans). But this is a rough outline at this juncture and, no, I don’t believe Ausmus would hit Miggy in the two-hole.And the rotation:LHP David PriceRHP Justin VerlanderRHP Anibal SanchezRHP Alfredo SimonRHP Shane Greene"

Detroit Tigers pitching prospects Edgar De La Rosa, Montreal Robertson go unselected in Rule 5 draft – James Schmehl, MLive

"Considered one of the premier starting pitchers available in this year’s draft class, De La Rosa was not selected in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft, thereby allowing the 24-year-old hurler to remain in the Tigers’ organization.In fact, no Tigers player was taken in this year’s draft, including right-handed pitcher Montreal Robertson, who was also considered a potential candidate this year."