Detroit Tigers: Fulmer and Martinez Expected For Spring Training

Here at the Corner, we round up Detroit Tigers news and rumors around the Tigers blogosphere so that you don’t spend hours surfing the web searching.

Detroit Tigers General Manager Al Avila held his annual media luncheon yesterday. The tone of the press conference was to emphasize the clubs commitment to a bottom-up rebuild. The club might add another starting pitcher, reliever, or utility infielder, but they have yet to be enticed by the remaining free agents.

Avila also expressed the statuses of Michael Fulmer and Victor Martinez. He believes that both Fulmer and Victor will join the team when Spring Training begins in less than a month.

CBS Detroit quoted Avila as saying:

"“He’s thrown out to 180 feet with no restrictions and no setbacks, so right now he’s on track to be 100 percent coming into spring training,” Avila said.…“The last report on Victor is that he’s doing everything normal, there’s no setbacks, and that he’s expected to be in spring training also 100 percent,” Avila said."

Avila doesn’t see any setbacks for either of the injured players. The Detroit Tigers skipper Ron Gardenhire attended The Mudhens Winter Flock Party where he received a warm welcome. According to the Toledo Blade, Gardenhire is no stranger to Toledo.

If you’re planning on attending Tigerfest this weekend, don’t plan on seeing Miguel Cabrera there. Cabrera and other big-name stars are reportedly skipping the event this year.  Speaking of TigerFest, the Detroit Tigers event caravan has officially kicked off.

The BBWAA’s Hall of Fame election results was released yesterday. Joining Detroit Tigers legends Jack Morris and Alan Trammell are Chipper Jones, Tiger Killer Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero, and Trevor Hoffman.

According to Grant Brisbee of SB Nation, last nights vote indicated that progress was made in the Hall of Fame voting. The progress isn’t always good though, as he points out.

Next: Detroit Tigers React To HoF Results

For the most part, publications and baseball experts have given positive remarks regarding the Detroit Tigers farm system. ESPN’s Keith Law wasn’t as generous in his grading. His Top 100 prospects list only had two members of the Detroit Tigers Organization.

Franklin Perez and Daz Cameron received glowing remarks from Law. Left off the list is pitchers Matt Manning and Alex Faedo, who were both on Baseball America’s Top 100 list.