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2006 Detroit Tigers: Where are they now?

By Andy Patton

DETROIT - OCTOBER 14: Players from the Detroit Tigers celebrate at home plate as Craig Monroe runs home on a 3-run walk-off home run, hit by Magglio Ordonez, against the Oakland Athletics during Game Four of the American League Championship Series October 14, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers won 6-3 to sweep the Athletics and advance to the World Series. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
DETROIT - OCTOBER 14: Players from the Detroit Tigers celebrate at home plate as Craig Monroe runs home on a 3-run walk-off home run, hit by Magglio Ordonez, against the Oakland Athletics during Game Four of the American League Championship Series October 14, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers won 6-3 to sweep the Athletics and advance to the World Series. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – AUGUST 16: Carlos Guillen #9 of the Detroit Tigers follows through on a second inning double against the New York Yankees on August 16, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – AUGUST 16: Carlos Guillen #9 of the Detroit Tigers follows through on a second inning double against the New York Yankees on August 16, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Carlos Guillen

The Tigers acquired Carlos Guillen in one of the best trades in team history. In 2004, they sent minor leaguer Juan Gonzalez and Ramon Santiago to the Mariners in exchange for Guillen.

Santiago came back to the Tigers after only playing in eight games with the Mariners.

Meanwhile, Guillen went onto become one of the better shortstops in team history. He was with the Tigers from 2004-2011, accruing 892 hits and 95 home runs. He slashed .297/.366/.476 with a 121 OPS+ and made three All-Star games.

2006 was Guillen’s finest season in the Motor City. The switch-hitter slashed .320/.400/.519 with 19 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He had a 136 OPS+ and a 6.0 bWAR, finishing 10th in MVP voting.

He was one of the few Tigers who hit well in the World Series, hitting .353 with two RBI.

Guillen went on to play five more seasons with the Tigers, although his last two were spent primarily on the disabled list. He was also moved around the diamond quite a bit, spending time at first base, second base and even left field. He ended up signing a minor league deal with the Mariners in February 2012 but voluntarily retired less than a month later.

Guillen finished his career with 1,331 hits, 124 home runs and a 27.7 bWAR. He is one of the five greatest shortstops in Tiger history and was an instrumental part of Detroit’s World Series run in 2006.

Post-retirement, Guillen has actually taken on the role as GM of the Venezuelan World Baseball Classic team. He oversaw a team littered with Tigers, including Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. The team was even managed by former Tigers first base coach Omar Vizquel, although there was some controversy between the two early on.

Guillen is extremely involved in Venezuelan baseball, also running an academy in his home country. The academy actually produced the Tigers top prospect, Franklin Perez.

Guillen is one of the greatest Venezuelan baseball players of all-time, and he is looking to make his mark on the country last well beyond his playing days.

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