The Corner: Tigers Add New Faces In The Mix

The Detroit Tigers have added their first major league signing of the off-season, bringing in veteran outfielder Leonys Martin. The acquisition is just the start of the rebuilding process.

Martin is reported to have inked a $1.75 million deal for approximately one year.  The 29-year old is a .247 career hitter with a .300 on-base percentage and .661 OPS. He has 115 stolen bases in 151 career attempts.

While the biggest news of yesterday was the Tigers adding Leonys Martin, they also added some depth at the minor league level as well. Adding players to the farm system is part of the Detroit Tigers full rebuilding plan.

Signing free agents isn’t the only option the Tigers have for adding depth, as Andy Patton points out. A Rule 5 draft option could be Nick Burdi as the Detroit News makes the case for. GM Al Aliva has also stated that every player is available to be traded away.

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One player not making the return to the Detroit Tigers next season is pitcher Bruce Rondon, whom the Tigers non-tendered earlier this week. Another non-tendered player, Jace Peterson, should be picked up the Detroit Tigers, as our own Ben Rosener argues.

One of the players signed by the Detroit Tigers is veteran catcher Derek Norris, who Bless You Boys believes was a mistake to sign. The Tigers GM, despite Norris’s histor,y defended the signing of the catcher to a minor league deal.

The Tigers should also consider adding some veteran catching experience at the Triple-A Level, at least according to our very own Andy Patton.  Some options for the Tigers include Rafeal Lopez and Hector Sanchez who would pair well with Grayson Greiner.

Bless You Boys also point out seven pitchers that the Tigers should sign during the winter meetings.

Next: Tigers add Leonys Martin

Lasty, former Tiger Anthony Gose is going to work as an outfielder and pitcher in the Rangers farm system.