Detroit Tigers Clips Thursday, February 25, 2016 Detroit Free Press Could Cabrera open the season at third base? (Fenech) Seidel: Maybin back home in Lakeland with Tigers (Seidel) Ausmus: Norris needs a slow buildup to the season (Fenech) Tigers' K-Rod resolves visa issues, will arrive soon (Fenech) The Detroit News Tigers' Daniel Norris dials down to ring when it counts (McCosky) Tigers believe gamble on Pelfrey is well-placed bet (McCosky) Rodriguez expected to arrive at Tigers camp (McCosky) New parking garage next to Comerica Park sought (Aguilar) MLive.com Brad Ausmus expects to see improved Mike Pelfrey: 'I feel like there's more there' (Iott) Detroit Tigers notes: Rain alters plans for first session of live batting practice (Iott) Closer Francisco Rodriguez on way to Lakeland, will work out Thursday with team (Iott) Spring training clubhouse job with Tigers all glamour to Grand Rapids resident (Wallner) MLB.com Nesbitt confident he has Major League ability (Beck) Ausmus: Miggy may play 3B to open season (DelGallo) ESPN.com K-Rod to report Thursday; Cabrera provides interleague option at third (Strang) FOXSports.com Tigers making adjustments starting season in National League ballpark (Ramsey) USAToday.com For Al and Alex Avila, business side of baseball separates them again (Ortiz) CBSSports.com 1 Miguel Cabrera may open 2016 at third base and it's not a crazy idea (Axisa) Daily Transactions 2 Could Cabrera open the season at third base? February 25, 2016 By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. – Miguel Cabrera used to play third base in Miami. He was younger then, in his early 20s, when he handled the hot corner for the Marlins. And the Tigers first baseman might come full circle to open the season. Manager Brad Ausmus said Wednesday that Cabrera is a possibility to play third base during the season- opening two-game set against the Marlins on April 5-6. “He is assuming (Victor Martinez) is all right at first base,” Ausmus said. In a bit of a scheduling quirk, the Tigers will open and close the season in National League parks without the designated hitter. Playing Cabrera at third base would allow them to keep Martinez, a full-time DH, in the lineup. “It’s a little bit of an inconvenience for us because we’re one of those teams that really has a DH in Victor Martinez, so in that sense, yes,” Ausmus said. “Should we be forced not to play Victor a game or two or three because of that, especially if you’re looking at the end of the season and we’re fighting for a playoff spot, that’s not ideal, for sure.” Martinez is an option to serve as Cabrera’s backup at first base, Ausmus said, should he prove healthy enough to play the position this spring, On Tuesday, Cabrera and Martinez took ground balls on a back field in Tiger Town. “If they let me,” Martinez said when asked about his desire to play in the field. Hobbled by soreness stemming from a second major knee surgery last off-season, Martinez was limited to 10 games at the position in 2015. Cabrera didn’t play third base last season, but is one of the most instinctually gifted players in the game and should have no problem reacclimating himself to a position where he has extensive experience. Cabrera moved to first base full-time after he was acquired by the Tigers in a November 2007 trade, then moved back to third base for two seasons after Prince Fielder in January 2012. Cabrera played first base regularly the past two seasons, but did play 10 games at third base in 2014. The possible scenario laid out by Ausmus would mean that starting third baseman Nick Castellanos would be an option off the bench for the opening series. The Tigers finish the season with three games in Atlanta against the Braves on Sept. 30-Oct. 2. 3 Seidel: Maybin back home in Lakeland with Tigers February 25, 2016 By Jeff Seidel/ Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. – Yes, he has been here before. On this team. In this clubhouse. In Joker Marchant Stadium. “It’s not weird,” Cameron Maybin said. “It almost feels right.” Maybin was drafted No. 10 overall by the Tigers in 2005. In the spring of 2006, Maybin was invited to camp to get his first glimpse of the big leagues, and he was in this same clubhouse with guys like Pudge Rodriguez, Carlos Guillen, Brandon Inge, Craig Monroe and 23-year-old Justin Verlander. “Where was your locker back then?” I asked him. “Down there in the corner,” he said, looking to the back recesses of the clubhouse to a small space where they pack the young players who don’t have a realistic shot to make the team. “Like, back there by that blue door,” he said, smiling. “Past that blue door. That’s where they put the guys just out of high school, the 18-year-olds.” He laughed. “I’m surprised they didn’t put me outside the door,” Maybin said, displaying a fun, easygoing personality. He’s back. No longer a kid. He is a 28-year-old veteran, who has played on four teams during a nine-year career that has had its share of ups and downs and injuries. Now, his locker is in a far different place — located in a piece of prime real estate that commands respect and prestige, along the wall, in a row of lockers near the shower. Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez use the lockers to his right. Miguel Cabrera, the guy for whom he was once traded, has one at the end of the row, to his left. Yes, it feels right. “I’m in the mix of some pretty good company,” Maybin said. “I’m excited to pick their brains. I have already sat down and talked to J.D. It’s exciting. These guys enjoy being students of the game. I think that’s what I’m looking forward to being around. It’s a group where guys know what they have to do.” 2005 draftees now teammates That 2005 draft is interesting when you consider this year’s roster. Justin Upton, an outfielder from Chesapeake, Va., was selected first overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mike Pelfrey, a pitcher out of Wichita State, was selected ninth by the New York Mets. And the Tigers took Maybin at No. 10. Maybin was considered a five-tool player. He had been named Baseball America’s 2004 youth player of the year. Now, Maybin, Upton and Pelfrey are teammates, brought together for one reason: to get this franchise back to the playoffs. “I was excited” when the Tigers signed Upton, Maybin said. “I’ve known Justin for a long time. I think his track record speaks for itself. He is like everybody else. He is eager to win.” Maybin has played more than 100 games only three times. He never lived up to the expectations of being a top- 10 pick. He never has been an All-Star. But he is well-known by this front office and coaching staff. Maybin was in San Diego for two seasons (2011-12) when Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was a special assistant with the Padres. “He was always very encouraging,” said Maybin, who also has played for the Marlins and Braves. “I had a good first year in San Diego, and I was banged up there after that. He was always really encouraging, letting me know, ‘Hey, I’ve been there, man. You just have to do what you are doing. Just keep plugging away.’ “As a special assistant, he didn’t have to take his time to see how I was doing or give me encouraging words. I’m excited to come here and play hard for him, as I always do.” He'll outwork anybody Earlier this week, Maybin was on the field at Joker Marchant Stadium, working on outfield techniques before practice. 4 “At the end of the day, I don’t think there is a guy who outworks me,” Maybin said. “There may be guys who are better than me. I’m always OK with that.” Maybin is a .251 career hitter, but last season was encouraging. He hit .267 — the best average of his career, not counting the eight games he played in 2008 for Florida when he hit .500 in 36 plate appearances. Maybin will battle Anthony Gose for playing time in centerfield. “All you can ask for is opportunity,” he said. “You have to go out and win a job. I believe they are going to give me that, but I have to make good on it. Nothing’s given to you.” Not even after all these years. 5 Ausmus: Norris needs a slow buildup to the season February 25, 2016 By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. – If Daniel Norris ran into a brick wall, manager Brad Ausmus wondered Wednesday, he’s not sure if Norris’ first thought would be to go around it. “He has that mind-set,” Ausmus said. “He’d try to run into it harder.” And the Tigers’ left-handed starter learned a lot in his rookie year. One of the foremost things was how to prepare for the season. He and Ausmus spoke about it this winter, and agreed that entering camp in more of a buildup phase would be beneficial to staying fresh — and healthy — throughout the 162-game grind. “He had mentioned to me that he felt like he went too hard, too fast last year trying to make the team in Toronto and it cost him a month of the season,” Ausmus said.