Detroit Tigers Links: Yoenis Cespedes 4-ever, Melville & Lobstein first, Ryan Perry back

The Detroit Tigers big offseason acquisition was Yoenis Cespedes. The fan base seems divided on the skills of the 29-year old, but it seems that he is not divided on the Tigers.

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Cespedes is saying all the right things in the final year of his first major league contract and saying he’d like to set down roots in Detroit and learn from veterans like Miguel Cabrera.

Speaking of Miggy, he has been progressing nicely on the treadmill, but the Tigers eased him off a bit as he felt a little bit of pain Friday. No reason for worry just yet, it’s a normal part of the healing process and he will likely be back on the special treadmill today. He did take infield drills however. Alex Avila sat out yesterday with a sore back, but will likely be out there on Saturday.

Other news in Tigers’ camp on Friday include the team picking Tim Melville to start their game against Florida Southern on Monday that kicks of Spring Training games, and Kyle Lobstein gets the start in the first Grapefruit League game Tuesday against Baltimore.

One more note, Ryan Perry was brought back on a minor league deal. Perry didn’t do much during his time here before being dealt to Washington in 2012. It’s always funny to see Tigers’ fans flip out when they resign a player that didn’t perform. It is a minor league deal which means he is filler for the minor league teams. If he shows anything down there, he’ll come up. Low risk/high reward.

Cespedes wants to play in Detroit for a long time – Don Drysdale, Detroit Sports Nation

"“I think Detroit, in this moment, is one of the best teams in the league,” Cespedes said. “I think not only me, but what player wouldn’t want to be on this team? I think I would like to be on this team for a long time.”Cespedes, who is 29 years old, hit .260 with 22 home runs and 100 RBIs in 152 games during the 2014 campaign. He played 101 games with Oakland and 51 games with Boston. He was then traded to the Tigers in the offseason, a move that he expected to happen.“Baseball here in the United States is a business,” Cespedes said. “The team owners and general managers do what is best for them. I think no player – sometimes we don’t like it, but we have to understand that this is a business.”It is true baseball is a business, but Cespedes seems very happy he was traded to Detroit. Comfort is very important and he seems to have that feeling so far with the Tigers."

Tigers pick Tim Melville to start spring opener – Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

"Melville, 25, is in his first big-league camp. He signed a minor league deal with the Tigers this off-season, after spending six seasons with the Kansas City Royals.He has a 4.79 ERA in those six seasons. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012.“I feel healthy,” he said last week.“Big kid, big pitcher’s frame,” Ausmus said. “Tall, lean pitcher’s frame.”Melville has a starter’s repertoire. He throws both a two- and four-seam fastball, curveball, change-up and slider. He was ranked as the No. 93 prospect in the major leagues by Baseball America prior to the 2010 season.Lobstein, 25, posted a 4.35 ERA in seven games — six starts — with the Tigers last season, many of them down the stretch in place of Anibal Sanchez, who missed the final two months of the season with a pectoral injury.The Tigers look at Lobstein as a starting pitcher and will build up his innings that way this spring. He likely will start at Triple-A Toledo and serve as the top choice should one of the starters get injured."

Detroit Tigers bring back former first-round pick Ryan Perry on minor league deal – Chris Iott, MLive

"“Our scouts saw him throw side sessions, bullpens,” Avila said. “They said he looked healthy and he was throwing hard.”Perry was thought to be one of the Tigers’ top prospects after they drafted him with the 21st pick in 2008. He never lived up to his billing and went 5-6 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.438 WHIP in 149 games for the Tigers before being traded to the Washington Nationals before the 2012 season for right-hander Collin Balester.Perry posted a 10.13 ERA in seven games for the Nationals in 2012 and hasn’t pitched in the majors since. He struggled at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2013 and 2014."

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