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• Hafner sees V-Mart as ideal No. 3 hitter

  November 14, 2010 by JonPaulMorosi

  Free agent Victor Martinez is drawing interest from a number of teams, including the Tigers, Rangers, Blue Jays and Red Sox.

  The possible suitors must consider where Martinez would play, since he could fit into an American League lineup at catcher, first base and designated hitter.

  Then there’s the question of where he would bat. Martinez has made most of his career starts in the No. 3 and No. 4 spots.

  In an e-mail to FOXSports.com, former teammate Travis Hafner offered his take on Martinez’s best role.

  “I think Vic is best suited to hit No. 3 in the lineup,” said Hafner, the Cleveland DH who batted in front of and behind Martinez when both were with the Indians.

  “He’s gonna hit .300 every year with 20-plus HRs and 100 RBIs. He’s also a great clutch hitter and someone you want at the plate in a big spot.”

  Hafner also described Martinez as “one of my all-time favorite teammates.”

  “He loves the game of baseball and brings a lot of energy to the park every day,” Hafner said. “He had a different handshake for everyone on the team. That was one of the ways he got everyone ready to play. Most of all, he wants to win. That rubs off on everyone.”

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• Sources: Tigers re-sign minor leaguer St. Pierre

  November 08, 2010 by FOXSports

  The Tigers have re-signed catcher Max St. Pierre to a minor league contract, two major league sources told FOXSports.com.
  
  St. Pierre reached the majors this year as a 30-year-old rookie. He batted .222 in six games, after a minor league career that spanned 14 seasons and nearly 1,000 games.
  
  Detroit outrighted St. Pierre to the minors last week, enabling him to become a free agent.
  
  The Tigers have only one catcher on their 40-man roster – 23-year-old Alex Avila, a career .237 hitter in the big leagues. They will add at least one major league player at the position before Opening Day.
  
  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Tigers ready to sign Peralta

  November 07, 2010 by FOXSports

  UPDATE: The Tigers officially agreed to a $11.25 million deal with Peralta on Monday.

  The Tigers are expected to announce a two-year deal with infielder Jhonny Peralta within the next week, a major league source confirmed to FOXSports.com on Sunday.

  The contract's worth roughly $11 million.

  Peralta will enter the 2011 season as Detroit’s everyday shortstop. Brandon Inge, who signed a two-year, $11.5 million extension last month, is returning at third base.

  Amid questions about Peralta’s mobility on defense, the Cleveland Indians moved him to third base at the start of last season. But the Tigers traded for Peralta in July and switched him back to shortstop – the position he's played most of his career.

  Peralta played adequately at shortstop, and Detroit officials were impressed enough with his bat (81 RBI) to bring him back for two more years.

  Now, the Tigers must hope that neither Peralta, 28, nor Inge, 33, decline on defense between now and the end of the 2012 season. By signing Inge to a multi-year extension, the Tigers have eliminated the possibility of moving Peralta to his second-best position in the event he can’t handle shortstop.

  But in a best-case scenario for the Tigers, they should have a very productive infield in 2011. Inge and Peralta are capable of hitting 20 home runs apiece, and Miguel Cabrera's an MVP candidate at first base. A young player from within the organization – Will Rhymes, Scott Sizemore, or Danny Worth – will probably open the season at second.

  Detroit has money to spend this offseason and will pursue one or more of the impact bats available on the free agent market: Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Adam Dunn and Victor Martinez.

  - Jon Paul Morosi

   

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• Sources: Tigers have big interest in Crawford

  October 27, 2010 by FOXSports

  Much of the early Carl Crawford talk centers around the Red Sox and Angels.

  But don’t rule out the Tigers making a strong run.

  The Tigers, too, are deeply interested in Crawford as a free agent, according to major-league sources.

  Crawford, in fact, might make a greater impact for the Tigers than he would for any other club.

  Defensively, the Tigers would benefit greatly by pairing Crawford in left field with Austin Jackson in center. The two would cover an enormous amount of ground, providing an edge at spacious Comerica Park.

  Offensively, Crawford’s speed also would be an immense asset. His 105 career triples are the most among active players, and he likely would produce extra-base hits at a higher rate at Comerica than he did at Tropicana Field.

  Crawford, 29, is the most prized position player in this year’s free-agent market. The Tigers already have re-signed third baseman Brandon Inge and are expected to re-sign shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

  Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn is another free agent that the Tigers have liked in the past -- they pursued him at the trade deadline and would view him as a DH.

  -Ken Rosenthal

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• Tigers likely won't be in Jeter market

  October 25, 2010 by JonPaulMorosi

  Some have wondered if the Detroit Tigers would be an option for Derek Jeter, in the unlikely event that his negotiations with the New York Yankees break down. After all, he is a Michigan native.
  
  But it’s doubtful that the Tigers will be in the market for a shortstop by the time Jeter files for free agency.
  
  Instead, the Tigers are expected to reach an agreement with incumbent shortstop Jhonny Peralta, perhaps even before the free agency period begins.
  
  Peralta’s contract includes a club option for next year worth $7.25 million. The Tigers are expected to decline that option and instead renegotiate a two-year deal. The total value of the contract will probably be a little less than the $11.5 million that third baseman Brandon Inge received in his two-year extension.
  
  Peralta’s range at shortstop isn’t what it was, but he performed capably on defense after arriving in a July trade with the Cleveland Indians. The Tigers are willing to accept something less than Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop in exchange for Peralta’s run production; he totaled 81 RBIs in 148 games last year.

  For more MLB coverage, go to www.foxsports.com/mlb

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