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Clips Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Detroit Free Press Detroit Tigers' 'finally' wins Gold Glove at second base (Fenech) Tigers GM laying groundwork at winter meetings for leaner payroll (Fenech) Impending labor agreement leaves Tigers’ luxury-tax bill up in air (Fenech)

The Detroit News Tigers' big money days are over, Avila pledges austerity (McCosky) Prospect puts himself back in Tigers’ fast lane (McCosky) Tigers take page out of Yankees’ retooling guide (McCosky) Tigers' Ian Kinsler wins 1st Gold Glove (Staff) highlights his own merits for (Paul)

MLive.com Tigers' Ian Kinsler wins 1st (Woodbery) See the 16 Tigers minor-leaguers who are now free agents (Woodbery) : Tigers listening, but not shopping Justin Verlander, (Woodbery) Tigers lefty Joe Mantiply claimed on waivers by Yankees (Woodbery) Don't think Justin Verlander should win Cy Young? Here's a spreadsheet he'd like you to see (Woodbery)

MLB.com Kinsler wins first Gold Glove in career (Beck) Jones' key fuels AFL comeback win (Rosebaum) Tigers open to roster overhaul (Morosi)

Oakland Press Tigers’ Ian Kinsler wins first Gold Glove award (Mowery)

Daily Transactions

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Detroit Tigers' Ian Kinsler 'finally' wins Gold Glove at second base November 9, 2016 By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Ian Kinsler was taught at a young age, by his father, Howard, on the fields of Tucson: There are three aspects to baseball. There’s hitting, fielding and baserunning. “You can affect the game doing any three of those things,” he said. “There’s a lot of ways to affect the game and defense is a huge component of that.” On Tuesday night, Kinsler – an 11-year major league veteran – finally won his first Gold Glove Award. The Detroit Tigers’ beat Boston’s and Seattle’s Robinson Cano for the award. “It’s something that I work hard at,” Kinsler said. ”I want to be someone that can play really well on both sides of the ball and I work really hard at it. To finally be rewarded, it’s a good feeling.” The award was long overdue: Kinsler was a finalist in each of the past two seasons and once during his tenure with the Rangers. In 2016, Kinsler had a .988 . He finished tied with Pedroia for the AL lead in with 12 and fourth in defensive rating according to , with 10.8. He credited Tigers’ defensive coordinator with helping him improve. “He had a lot to do with it,” Kinsler said. “Just really helping me slow the game down and working on my footwork and making sure that I’m not making pressure mistakes that I used to make when I was a little bit younger. “I was always capable of playing really good defense, so Matt really worked with me in slowing down the game and it’s really benefitted me.” He is the first Tiger second baseman to win the award since Placido Polanco and sixth all-time. won three Gold Gloves in 1982, 1984-85, and Frank Boling won in 1958. Kinsler, 34, has been worth 15.2 defensive in his career, according to Baseball- Reference.com. He feels he has improved as a defender as he’s gotten older. “Obviously being a veteran and playing a lot of years, a lot of repetition, a lot of practice, obviously being more and more comfortable with the game, that all plays into it,” Kinsler said. “It’s really about understanding yourself and what plays you expect yourself to make and how to get certain balls and how to make it easier on yourself and all of that stuff starts to happen quicker and quicker the older you get. That’s my experience and I don’t really plan on slowing down.”

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Tigers GM laying groundwork at winter meetings for leaner payroll November 9, 2016 By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – At some point, Al Avila said, the Detroit Tigers are going to hit a brick wall. “We’re at that brick wall right now,” he said. “And I don’t want to smash right through it.” The Tigers and their second-year general are up against it. Led by owner , they have overspent their means for quite some time. Now it’s Avila’s job to bring a payroll well above $200 million down to earth, under ’s luxury-tax limit, which threatens to further limit their financial flexibility. On Tuesday, the second day of the general managers meetings, Avila said what he has said often this off- season: The Tigers’ goal is to cut payroll. They want to remain competitive. Their big-money players are not coming off the books. They will have to trade some. “Are there going to be good, viable trades out there?” he said. “We’ll find out. If there are, a trade or two may happen. If not, then we’ll wait.” In a day’s time at the Omni Scottsdale Resort, Avila heard from a number of GMs. Some surely inquired about the Tigers’ top-two players — right-handed ace Justin Verlander and first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Other players likely were mentioned, too, such as second baseman Ian Kinsler and rightfielder J.D. Martinez. Nothing substantial had been discussed, Avila said, but with the team scheduling meetings for the final two days of the GM meetings, he probably will gather information to lay the ground work for moves that will shape the organization’s future. “This is where you get that process started,” Avila said. “I think there’s going to be interest in several of our players, I do. It’s just going to be a matter of where we go with those talks. But, yes, there is interest, and we expect there to be interest.” Which players have garnered the most interest, Avila would not say. But he did say — again — the moves to be made represent a change in philosophy from the free-spending days of the past decade, which produced perhaps the best stretch of Tigers’ baseball in franchise history minus a title. “I don’t have a hard number,” Avila said, when asked about the 2017 payroll. “You just can’t keep adding and adding. Eventually, you’re going to have a $300-million payroll. That’s just not the way to operate. You’re trying to put together a good business model moving forward.” That means being active on the trade market, beginning this winter. And though Avila’s free-agent signings in his first off-season certainly bear some of the blame for the financial situation the Tigers are in, his wise trading will be leaned on heavily in the process. Last winter, Avila acquired centerfielder and Francisco Rodriguez via trades. Both were good moves. Parting with prospects for those players, however, pales in comparison to the monumental moves he might be forced to make should the trade market not look favorably on some of the team’s tradeable assets. “Obviously, in every business, and this is no different, the supply and demand will dictate how these things will go,” he said. “It’s a situation where last year, there were more starting available than this year, so you would think that would affect how you would handle it.” A weak starting-pitching market could benefit the Tigers in two ways: First, they could receive an offer for right-handers Anibal Sanchez or Mike Pelfrey from a team starved for pitching. Second, they could receive an offer they can’t refuse for Verlander from a team unable to sign a front-line starter in free agency. A number of teams will be interested in Martinez, a middle-of-the-order bat, and Kinsler, a great player. But Avila insisted that, at this point of the off-season, the Tigers are open to all options as opposed to dead-set on moving particular players. “We’re not here actively shopping,” he said. “We’re here actively listening to see what the interest is in those guys, and then we’ll react to that. Depending on what we find, we’ll act accordingly. But I’m not calling these guys saying, ‘Hey, this guy is available.’ We’re not saying anybody’s available. All we’re saying is we’re listening on all of our players.” 3

The process, as detailed by Avila, likely will not be completed this winter. But the most painful part — trading a future Hall of Famer like Verlander or Cabrera, or All-Stars like Kinsler or Martinez — could be realized in the coming months. “The first step is always the hardest,” Avila said. And there will be many more to come.

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Impending labor agreement leaves Tigers’ luxury-tax bill up in air November 9, 2016 By Anthony Fenech/ Detroit Free Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – As a lengthy off-season of trade rumors and payroll projections for the Detroit Tigers begins, there is one yet to be resolved that could make a big impact on the team’s moves. Because Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires in December and a new pact, negotiated by the league and players’ association, has yet to be agreed upon, next season’s luxury-tax limit has yet to be announced. For the past two seasons, the luxury-tax limit was $189 million. In 2014, it was raised $11 million. With so much money now in baseball, it’s reasonable that the luxury-tax limit could increase, perhaps to more than $200 million. The Tigers’ current payroll is around $216 million. If the luxury-tax limit were to stay at $189 million, they would have to trim $27 million from the payroll. In 2016, the Tigers surpassed the luxury-tax limit and were penalized 17.5%. If they surpass that amount again in 2017, the penalty will rise to 30%. “A hard number is not something that I’m looking at,” Al Avila said. “I’m just looking at starting the process, and it might take us where it’s not that much, it might take us where it’s more than you would think. Until we get there, I don’t know.” Avila is committed to gaining more financial flexibility regardless of the luxury tax limit. But it certainly could affect potential moves, especially when that extra money could be used to keep a franchise player like Justin Verlander or Miguel Cabrera Waiver claim: The Tigers lost left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply to the , who claimed him off waivers. Mantiply, 25, posted a 2.44 ERA in four minor league seasons. He made five appearances in September. Mantiply was a 27th-round pick from Virginia Tech in 2013.

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Tigers' big money days are over, Avila pledges austerity November 9, 2016 By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Scottsdale, Ariz. — Tigers general manager Al Avila knows a fire sale when he sees one. He was part of one of the biggest in major league history with the Marlins in the winter of 1997, essentially dismantling the World Series championship team in a few months. What he is embarking on with the Tigers this offseason is not a fire sale. “Not even close,” he said on Tuesday during a break in the General Managers Meetings. “What this is, it’s a change in philosophy in how we do business.” Avila is changing the Tigers’ business model, a daunting challenge, and this offseason is only the first step in the process. “The first step is always the hardest,” he said. “I said from the very beginning, this is a process that could take three winters, not just one. It’s not a process you do in three months. It’s a process you do by changing the philosophy of the way you do business going forward.” The days of buying $100 million free agents are over, for now. The Tigers are no longer looking to package their prospects in trades for expensive, veteran stars. “We’re trying to minimize that,” Avila said. “We’re trying to turn it around and accumulate more young prospects. I have always said, the best way to be good is to draft and sign and develop your own players and keep the good ones. “You just can’t keep on adding and adding. Eventually, you end up with a $300 million payroll. That’s not the way to operate … We’re trying to make this organization good for the long , not the short run. We are all in for long haul.” The Tigers full payroll projection, as Avila talked on Tuesday, was roughly $216 million. The luxury tax threshold has been $189 million, though it is expected to rise possibly above $200 million with a new collective bargaining agreement. As it stands now, the Tigers would need to shred $27 million to get under the threshold. “There isn’t a hard number that I’m looking at,” Avila said. “I’m looking at starting the process.” Clearly, though, there is financial urgency. The Tigers paid the luxury tax for 2016, which was 30 percent of the amount they were over the limit (roughly $10 million). If they are over the limit again next year, that tax will be doubled. In addition to that, the Tigers are in danger of being in violation of the league’s debt service rule — a nebulous rule designed to make sure clubs have the resources to pay their financial obligations. Although the rule has never brought a punitive action against any team, theoretically the Tigers could lose draft picks and face other sanctions if they are found in violation. So, regardless of where the luxury tax threshold lands in the new CBA and regardless of the fact the Tigers will have several expensive contracts come off the books after next season, Avila really has little choice but to start the austerity process now. “When I took over (for in 2015), I felt it was inevitable,” Avila said. “It was going to happen at some point — sooner than later. This is the point. This is the beginning.” Avila has made it clear since his postseason press conference last month that his goal is to trim the payroll. Even though he has no hard-fast number in mind, it would behoove the organization to get it as close to $189 million as possible. His message to fellow general managers here was this: “We’re not here actively shopping players. We’re here actively listening to see what the interest is in our players. We will react to that interest. I am not calling these guys and saying, ‘Hey, these players are available.’ But we are listening on all of our players.” Yes, that includes Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, both on the books for $28 million each next season. Avila knows those are the names the media and public will latch on to. But the truth is, unless he finds no other way to shrink the payroll, the odds are long against trading either one. 6

“But,” Avila added, “we have to stay open-minded. If it makes our club better moving forward, you have to make the deal.” Both Cabrera (owed $190 million over the next six years) and Verlander ($84 million over the next three) have the ability to veto any trade. More plausible, though no less painful for the fan base, would be finding trade partners for second baseman Ian Kinsler, who will make $11 million in the final year of his contract, and right-fielder J.D. Martinez, who will make $11.75 million in the final year of his deal. The Tigers will also listen to offers for left-fielder . He will make $22.125 million and can opt-out of the final four years of his $132 million contract. If the Tigers were to find a trade partner for Victor Martinez ($18 million) or Anibal Sanchez ($16.8 million), they would likely have to pay off a significant portion of those contracts — which would be counterproductive. “I don’t know what we’re going to trade yet,” Avila said. “We may not be able to trade the right guys and we may not be able to make certain trades. It might take until next winter. I just don’t know.” He and his staff have talked to all 29 teams. Avila senses there is some interest, but it’s still early in the process. “We’ve been working well over our means for so many years and we’re well over $200 million,” Avila said. “We have no (big money) free agents coming off the books. Our only course of action, other than changing philosophy, is to keep adding, keep paying the luxury tax and keep putting the organization in peril because we don’t have young guys coming through the system as much as you need. “At some point, you are going to hit a brick wall. We are at that brick wall right now and I don’t want to smash right through it. We’re going to step back, get leaner, reduce payroll, and build a better model — a more prudent and efficient model.”

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Prospect Grayson Greiner puts himself back in Tigers’ fast lane November 9, 2016 By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Surprise, Ariz. – The perception around baseball is the ’s cupboard in the Detroit Tigers system is relatively bare. You should know that David Littlefield, the Tigers’ director of player development, disagrees with that. “There isn’t a lot of depth in our industry overall, in regards to catching,” Littlefield said. “This came up in our organizational meetings (three weeks ago) and my opinion was, we actually have a pretty solid group of . “There have been things said and written about where we are, negatively, but we have a fairly young guy in James McCann starting in the big leagues who I think is going to be a real fine player as time goes on.” And then Littlefield went down the list – veteran and Miguel Gonzalez at -A, Austin Green and Drew Longley at -A, Andres Sthormes and Tim Remes at high Class-A, Franklin Navarro, Arvicent Perez and the oft-injured Shane Zeile at low-A. “Relative to my experience, I think we have a pretty solid group of catchers,” he said. “I feel good about where we are there.” Which brings us to Grayson Greiner, the Tigers’ third-round pick in 2014, who has a chance to put himself in position to be the organization’s No. 3 catcher sometime in 2017. “It’s rare that you see a guy make the kind of adjustments and improvements year to year like he has,” Littlefield said. “Look at his numbers. The progress is remarkable.” Greiner, all 6-6 of him, was a star on some good South Carolina teams in 2013 and 2014, and when he hit .322 at West Michigan in his first couple of months as a pro, the Tigers were certain they had something special. He was invited to pro camp the following spring. And that was the last good thing to happen to him for about a year. He mangled his finger in the first bullpen he caught, missed a big chunk of and then proceeded to hit just .183 in his first full season at High-A Lakeland. Just that quickly, he was off the Tigers’ organizational radar. Manager was asked in February 2016 why Greiner wasn’t invited to pro camp, even just for pitchers and catchers. “You have to earn those kinds of things,” was his answer. Greiner, who is part of the Tigers’ contingent at the Fall League, admitted the snub stung. “It kind of was (a wake-up call),” he said Monday. “I was honored to go my first year. But then, I didn’t feel like I deserved to be invited after 2015. It was such a crappy year. That motivated me a little bit, though. “Big league camp was awesome and something I want to do again. I hope I have that opportunity.” That seems almost assured now. He earned a spot in the by hitting .293 with a .763 OPS, with seven home runs, 15 doubles and 42 RBIs last season. He rose from Lakeland, to Double-A Erie and finally, in the last week of the season, to Triple-A Toledo. “I just sat down (after 2015), looked myself in the mirror and realized what I had to do to change things,” Greiner said. “I know I needed to work my way back up in the organization’s eyes. I know I needed to show them I could still play and drafting me in the third round wasn’t a mistake – that it was smart.” A couple of things happened between the end of the 2015 season and the start of 2016. First, he got Lasik eye surgery. “You can’t hit what you can’t see, right?” he said. “I had that done in the offseason and it has been amazing. I would recommend it to anybody.” Just as significant, he went back to South Carolina and worked with coach and former big-leaguer Brian Buscher. “I asked him what he thought I should do,” Greiner said. “He said I didn’t have much rhythm in my swing, or that much timing. He suggested trying a leg kick. So I gave it a shot, took it to spring training and I felt comfortable with it. “The coaches liked it and they worked with me to refine it more.”

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The work put in with Buscher and with Tigers roving hitting coach Bruce Fields clicked and Greiner started hitting the ball hard, his confidence grew, and now 2015 seems like only a bad dream. “I consider 2015 a fluke,” he said. “I know I can hit. That year was my first full year, it was in the and I got off to such a bad start, I couldn’t crawl out of that hole. I am glad I got off to a hot start last year and now all that matters is what I do from here on out.” Greiner has played in just eight games this fall – splitting time between catcher and designated hitter. He’s got eight hits in 30 at-bats – including four doubles and a . If spring training started tomorrow, Greiner would likely be playing for Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers are expected to sign a left-handed hitting, veteran backup catcher this offseason – Greiner bats right-handed. Hicks would likely be the Mud Hens’ starting catcher, with Greiner or Gonzalez backing up. “I try not to look too much into that stuff,” Greiner said. “I just need to come out and do my best every day. Obviously, it’s my dream since I was a little kid to play in the big leagues. Getting that final promotion to Triple-A showed me I’m one phone call away from realizing that dream. “That motivates me even more to get after it even harder. If it’s Toledo, good. I love Toledo. But I’m not stopping there.”

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Tigers take page out of Yankees’ retooling guide November 9, 2016 By Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News

Scottsdale, Ariz. — You want a model for what the Tigers are trying to do this offseason? Check the New York Yankees. With an aging team and a bloated payroll, the Yankees missed the playoffs in 2013 and 2014. But smartly, gradually, at times painfully, over a three-plus-year period, general manager was able to pare some of the age and bloat off the payroll while infusing the farm system with fresh talent and keeping the club competitive in the . “I can’t speak for Detroit’s situation,” Cashman said Tuesday during a break at the General Manager’s Meetings. “But you make a commitment to go for it. You make some financial plays. You make some significant commitments to older players and it doesn’t work — then you either have to wait it out or you have to speed up the process by getting out. “That’s what we’ve been doing.” Besides some shrewd moves at the trade deadline — he got four top Indians prospects for , plus starting Adam Warren and three prospects from the Cubs for Aroldis Chapman last July — he has been able to get quality young talent for the likes of (outfielder ) and David Robertson. He was able to acquire pitcher in 2014 for Martin Prado and David Phelps. He traded left- hander Justin Wilson, who was on the verge of an arbitration pay raise, to the Tigers for two young pitchers — Chad Green and Luis Cessa — who both contributed last season. “You go all in, you go for it, and if it doesn’t work out then you have to regroup,” Cashman said. “You either play it out or get out. We chose to try and get out.” That’s what the Tigers have chosen, as well. Why K-Rod? Without being asked, general manager Al Avila Tuesday explained his willingness, in the midst of trying to reduce payroll, to pick up the $6 million option on closer Francisco Rodriguez. “We brought him back because we felt he was good for the team to anchor that back end and help the young guys along until they’re ready to take off on their own,” Avila said. Specifically, he mentioned both Bruce Rondon and prospect Joe Jimenez, both could be in line to be Rodriguez’s successor. “We thought it was a pretty good situation for him to be in, both to help up win games and to help those young guys,” Avila said. Arbitration commitments Although Avila said nothing was etched in stone, it is likely the Tigers will make offers on the six arbitration- eligible players. According to MLBTradeRumors.com, Jose Iglesias ($3.2 million), Nick Castellanos ($2.8 million), utility man Andrew Romine ($1.2 million), reliever Justin Wilson ($2.7 million), reliever ($1.2 million) and Rondon ($900,000) are expected to get salary increases if their case goes before an arbitrator. The Tigers have a history of working out deals before arbitration. Around the horn The Tigers outrighted right-hander to Toledo on Monday. ... They have 38 players on the 40-man roster.

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Tigers' Ian Kinsler wins 1st Gold Glove November 9, 2016 By The Detroit News Staff/ The Detroit News

Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler won his first Gold Glove and is the first Detroit second baseman to receive the honor since Placido Polanco in 2009. Kinsler was one of four Tigers nominated for the defensive honor. The other finalists were pitcher Justin Verlander, catcher James McCann and shortstop Jose Iglesias. All three were seeking their first career Gold Gloves. In 151 games at second base in 2016, Kinsler had a .988 fielding percentage, committing just nine errors in 744 total chances. Kinsler led all AL second basemen with a 5.09 per nine innings, while he was tied for the lead among AL second basemen with 12 defensive runs saved. He also ranked second among AL second basemen with 303 putouts and 432 assists, while he was fifth with a .988 fielding percentage.

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Justin Verlander highlights his own merits for Cy Young November 9, 2016 By Tony Paul/ The Detroit News

On this Election Day, it's clear for whom Justin Verlander would've cast his ballot. Himself. At least, when it comes to the American League Cy Young race. Verlander on Monday afternoon defended his case to win his second when he sent a prominent baseball writer a spreadsheet detailing all the statistical categories he's No. 1 in – more than the other two finalists, of the (and a former Tigers teammate) and of the . Dan Connolly, a beat writer, wrote in a Twitter post: "I think the stunner, as (Zach) Britton's agent points out, no AL starter had a dominant season. And the guy who dominated still didn't get in the top 3." Britton, the Orioles’ closer, was surprisingly left out of the top three, when the finalists for the Baseball Writers Association of America Awards were announced on MLB Network. There's no debating that sentiment. Britton had one of the most dominant seasons ever by a closer, allowing four earned runs in 67 innings. Verlander didn't take issue with that opinion. He didn't appreciate someone saying no starting pitcher had a dominant season, so he tweeted the spreadsheet – originally created and posted on the blog – at Connolly, with no words needed. Verlander's lead in eight categories was highlighted in yellow – games started (34), (254), WHIP (1.00), average against (.207), innings (227.2), WAR (6.6 from Baseball Reference, 5.2 from Fangraphs) and games allowing two earned runs or fewer (23). Porcello led in wins (22-4) and run support (7.63), and tied Verlander in Fangraphs' WAR; Kluber didn't lead in any of the categories listed. "Admittedly, lotta yellow," Connolly wrote back. "But talking starter dominance, I'm partial to 24-5, 2.40 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 8.4 WAR. That's dominant." Those stats, by the way, were Verlander's from 2011, when he won his first and only Cy Young Award, plus the Most Valuable Player Award. Verlander seemed to just be having some fun. Earlier, he sent out congratulations to his fellow finalists, plus Tigers right-hander , a favorite to win the Tigers first AL Rookie of the Year award since Verlander in 2016. "No negativity here," Verlander tweeted. "I just enjoy the debate and the stats. That's 1 of the things that makes baseball great." Or, is that what makes baseball great ... again?

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Tigers' Ian Kinsler wins 1st Gold Glove award November 9, 2016 By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- After a decade as one of the baseball's best defensive , Ian Kinsler finally has a Gold Glove to put in his trophy case. The Detroit Tigers second baseman won the American League honor Tuesday night, beating out Robinson Cano of the and Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox. The last Tigers second baseman to win a Gold Glove was Placido Polanco in 2007. Kinsler, 34, has spent the last three seasons as the Tigers' everyday second baseman since being acquired from the for . Pitcher Justin Verlander, catcher James McCann and shortstop Jose Iglesias were also Gold Glove finalists seeking their first honors, but all three were beaten out. of the Cleveland Indians was named the top defensive shortstop. Catcher Salvador Perez won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove, while pitcher won at his position for the third straight year.

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See the 16 Tigers minor-leaguers who are now free agents November 9, 2016 By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- Outfielder Wynton Bernard was among 16 minor league players in the Detroit Tigers system who exercised their right to become free agents this week. The moves took effect on Monday and were announced on Tuesday. The Tigers added Bernard to the 40-man roster after the 2014 season, but he never played in a big-league game and was designated for assignment and then outrighted to the minors in June. Bernard, 26, split time between Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie in 2016, hitting .279 with seven homers and 33 RBI. He stole 23 bases and had an OPS of .741. The other Tigers who elected free agency are a mixture of veterans and players reaching free agency for the first time. They are: pitchers Yordy Cabrera, Edgar De La Rosa, Preston Guilmet, David Martinez, Dustin Molleken, Thad Weber, Drake Britton, Cesar Ramos and Tommy Shirley; infielders Chad Huffman, Tyler Bortnick, Corey Jones, Jordany Valdespin and Pedro Ciriaco; and outfielder Alex Fernandez Jr. Guilmet, a 29-year-old right-handed reliever, has had brief stints with four different MLB teams. In 68 innings for Toledo in 2016, he struck out 82 and walked just 12. • Yordy Cabrera, 26, was a second-round draft pick of the in 2010. The Tigers signed him as a free agent in March and had been working on converting him to a reliever after his career as a hitter stalled. A full list of minor league free agents from around baseball is posted on . Players may elect free agency if their original minor league contract has been renewed six times and they've spent parts of seven seasons in the minor leagues. Around the league, that means players in the 2010 draft class who have not yet been promoted to the 40-man roster can now become free agents. The only player in the Tigers' 2010 draft class meeting that criteria is Corey Jones of Double-A Erie. The Tigers may ultimately re-sign a handful of their free-agent players to new minor-league deals for 2017.

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Al Avila: Tigers listening, but not shopping Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera November 9, 2016 By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila said he's spoken to some of the team's biggest stars, including Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander, to let them know the team's philosophy entering the offseason. His message? The Tigers are willing to listen to offers, but they aren't actively shopping their top talent. "I've talked to all the guys -- Cabrera, Verlander, (Ian) Kinsler, guys like that -- just to let them know it's part of the business, but not to worry about anything," Avila said. If there's anything afoot, they'll hear it directly from him. "Unless I call them, there's nothing going on," Avila said. The Tigers first-year GM made the comments on the MLB Network from the league's annual GM meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. Last year, Avila said the Tigers spent most of their downtime talking to player agents. This year, they'll be talking trades with other teams. "The idea is not to come out here and say, 'Verlander's available and Cabrera's available.' That's not the case," Avila said. "We have to be open-minded in listening to what clubs may be interested in from us and what we can do with it. If it includes Verlander or it includes Cabrera, we have to listen. But it's not so much that these are the guys we're trying to move. Quite the opposite. It would be in our best interest if we could keep them and do everything that we need to do." In the interview Avila repeated some of the themes he's used previously. This is not a "full-blown selloff by any means," he said, and the Tigers "would hope" to compete in 2017. "The idea here is to keep our young talent, not trade away our young talent, and hopefully acquire more young talent," he said. "The last several years, we've been going well, well over our means. "We will have to change how we do business. We've got to get a little bit leaner, a little bit more athletic and get a grasp on our expenditures going forward." That process will take a while, Avila said. "Quite frankly, like i told ownership, it may not get done this winter," he said. "As a matter of fact, it probably won't get done this winter." So why talk so openly about the team's new philosophy now? "We're trying to be as transparent as possible and let people know where we are at this stage," he said. "We just don't feel comfortable where we're heading with payroll. We do need to do something different."

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Tigers lefty Joe Mantiply claimed on waivers by Yankees November 9, 2016 By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- Left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply was claimed on waivers Tuesday by the New York Yankees. The Tigers were clearing space on the 40-man roster and planned to outright Mantiply to the minor leagues if he had gotten through waivers. Instead, Mantiply is now a Yankee. The 25-year-old was drafted by the Tigers in the 27th round in 2013 out of Virginia Tech. Mantiply had a nearly flawless August at Double-A Erie, prompting the Tigers to give him a surprise promotion to the big leagues in September. He pitched in only five games for the big-league club. Mantiply projects as a left-handed specialist in the big leagues. Lefties hit only .143 against him at Erie. Mantiply went 3-1 with a 2.47 ERA, striking out 62 and walking 11 in 51 innings with the Seawolves. In August, he pitched 13 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out 21. The Tigers now have two vacancies on their 40-man roster. They outrighted pitcher Dustin Molleken on Monday; he became a free agent today.

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Don't think Justin Verlander should win Cy Young? Here's a spreadsheet he'd like you to see November 9, 2016 By Evan Woodbery/ MLive.com

DETROIT -- Justin Verlander will find out next week whether he has won his second American League Cy Young Award. The votes were cast more than a month ago, so any last-minute campaigning won't affect the race. But that didn't stop Verlander from putting forth a compelling case that he should win the trophy. He did so in the form of a color-coded spreadsheet that was originally posted last month by Twitter user Jar5150. And we have to admit, the argument is fairly convincing. Verlander does well in both the traditional statistical categories and the new ones (like Wins above Replacement). While he may lag behind finalist Rick Porcello in wins, the chart shows the wide disparity of run support for each pitcher. The third finalist, Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians, had a phenomenal postseason, but that won't affect the balloting. All the votes were submitted before the first playoff game. Verlander posted a final message Tuesday night saying that he wasn't trying to be critical of any other pitcher, but was simply enjoying the debate. "That's one of the things that makes baseball great," he said.

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Kinsler wins first Gold Glove in career November 9, 2016 By Jason Beck/ MLB.com

DETROIT -- Ian Kinsler finally has the Rawlings Gold Glove Award he has been flirting with for years. And with his first career honor, the Tigers have a Gold Glove for the first time since 2009. After seemingly being doomed as a perennial finalist without getting the top honor, Kinsler won the nod as the American League Gold Glove second baseman, beating out longtime rivals Dustin Pedroia and Robinson Cano. "It's very rewarding," Kinsler told MLB.com via text message. "I work hard at being really good at every aspect of the game, and have put in a lot of hard work over the years." Kinsler becomes the first Tigers Gold Glove infielder since Placido Polanco won the honor at second base in 2009. Kinsler did not have company, as Tigers teammates Justin Verlander, James McCann and Jose Iglesias lost out at their respective positions despite being finalists. Kinsler has been a Gold Glove finalist all three years he has been a Tiger. Despite leading his position in Defensive Runs Saved the last two years, he lost out to Pedroia in 2014 and Jose Altuve in 2015. His case this season wasn't quite as clear; he finished tied with Pedroia at 12 DRS while trailing Pedroia in Ultimate Zone Rating. Major League managers and coaches, voting only within their league and unable to vote for players on their own teams, account for 75 percent of the selection process. The other 25 percent goes to the sabermetrics community. "Can't change the past," Kinsler told MLB.com. "There are a lot of good players in this league. Just happy to win the first one." Kinsler made a point to credit Tigers defensive coordinator Matt Martin for helping him improve, not just with the physical work in infield practice, but also with mental approach. • Complete awards coverage "Matt Martin has really helped me with slowing down the game," Kinsler said. "That needs to be said." The Tigers as a team can take some pride in Kinsler's award. Until Yoenis Cespedes won the AL Gold Glove in left field for his half-season in Detroit last year, the Tigers hadn't had a Gold Glove winner since Polanco in 2009. Defensive improvement has been a priority for the Tigers the last few years. Kinsler has been at the head of that effort ever since the Tigers acquired him from Texas after the 2013 season. "It means a lot," Kinsler said on ESPN. "It's one of those trophies that I saw and Omar Vizquel and Ken Griffey Jr. hoist multiple times when I was a kid growing up. It's such a beautiful trophy. It's one of those trophies that as a kid you dream of winning one day."

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Jones' key hit fuels AFL comeback win November 9, 2016 By Mike Rosebaum/ MLB.com

JaCoby Jones is showing in the Arizona Fall League that he's a good guy to have at the plate with the game on the line. On Tuesday the Tigers' No. 9 prospect delivered a clutch two-run to cap Salt River's seventh-inning comeback and propel the Rafters to a 5-4 win over Peoria at Salt River Fields. "I knew the bases were loaded and the pitcher was struggling with his command, so I was hoping he'd stay around the zone with the first pitch," said Jones, who finished 2-for-3 with a walk at the plate. "Luckily he threw me a middle-down and I put a good swing on it and it went up the middle." Peoria wasted no time in pushing across the game's first run, as Justin Williams' ground out to second base plated Guillermo Heredia -- who had reached on a one-out single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing by Salt River catcher Jacob Nottingham -- to give the Javelinas an early 1-0 lead. That score held until the top of the seventh inning, when Adrian Marin drove in Franchy Cordero with a sacrifice fly to left field to extend Peoria's lead. But Salt River would get the run back and then some in the bottom of the frame. Nottingham reached on a leadoff error, advanced to second on Tigers No. 3 prospect 's double and scored on Braves No. 18 prospect Dustin Peterson's single. The Rafters' next hitter, Braves No. 9 prospect Travis Demeritte, then tied the game at 2 with a sacrifice fly to right field. Salt River didn't stop there, though, as it loaded the bases with one out ahead of Jones, who connected on the first pitch he saw from reliever Kyle Bird for a go-ahead two-run single to center field. With an exit velocity of 109.11 mph according to Statcast™, Jones' knock was the hardest-hit ball recorded in the game. His other hit, a fourth-inning single, was the third hardest-hit ball in the contest at 106.24 mph. Overall, Jones has hit .333 with 11 RBIs through 16 games in the Fall League. "I feel more comfortable at the plate than I ever have in my life to be honest," Jones said following the game. "I feel like my swing is shorter and I'm recognizing pitches out of the pitcher's hand. I'm working on my balance, being quicker to the ball and just being in the ready position early." The Rafters added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Peterson's second RBI single of the game, which followed Stewart's second double of the contest. They finished the game with two hits apiece, while Nottingham paced Salt River with two runs scored. Peoria's made things interesting in the top of the ninth with a two-out, two-run double against Salt River closer Adam Ravenelle (Tigers' No. 20), only to be thrown out to end the game as he attempted to stretch the hit to a triple. Both teams' starting pitchers were sharp in the contest. The lone run allowed by Salt River's was unearned, as the Tigers' No. 12 prospect scattered three hits over four innings. He issued one walk, struck out five and induced six ground-ball outs, with 43 of his 66 pitches going for strikes. The 24-year-old righty lowered his Fall League ERA to 4.50 with the performance. Meanwhile, Reds farmhand Seth Varner did not allow a hit in his three innings of work for Peoria. The 24-year- old lefty compiled four strikeouts against one walk while throwing strikes with 38 of his 57 pitches.

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Tigers open to roster overhaul November 9, 2016 By Jon Morosi/ MLB.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Whether the Tigers prefer to say they are rebooting, retooling, recalibrating or rebuilding, there's one participle that fully describes their activity at this week's General Managers Meetings. They are listening. On everyone. Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez -- if you are on Detroit's roster today, general manager Al Avila offers no guarantees you will remain there when the 2017 regular season begins. Kinsler and Martinez have better chances of being dealt than Cabrera and Verlander for two basic reasons: Kinsler and Martinez have moveable contracts, with one guaranteed year left on each, while Cabrera and Verlander have full no-trade clauses, so the Tigers' range of potential trade partners is limited to destinations where they'd want to play. Why the change in direction? Avila said Tuesday on MLB Network's MLB Now that the team's previous spending levels -- a club-record payroll of more than $200 million in 2016 -- is no longer sustainable. Avila didn't specify Detroit's attendance decline, but undoubtedly, that is a factor: The Tigers surpassed 3 million fans as recently as 2013; this year's figure was more than 500,000 fans below that. "At the very beginning, I said this may be a process that takes three winters, not just one winter," Avila told MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli on Tuesday. "Now people are like, 'Oh, they are going to trade everyone.' No. I don't know who we are going to trade yet. We want to trade the right guys and certain things might take until next winter. ... "The goal is to shed payroll and get better. Now, how do you do that? It may not all be accomplished in one shot. It's a process. I'm going to keep on saying that. It's not a process you do in three months. It's one you do by changing the philosophy and way you go about it moving forward -- as opposed to every year going out and signing big-time free agents and trading away your prospects." Avila added: "Are there going to be good, viable trades out there? We will find out. If there are not, we will wait ... I think there's going to be interest in several of our players. I do. It's just a matter of where we go with those talks." Verlander, who turns 34 in February, has three years and $84 million left on his contract -- a reasonable sum for someone named an American League Cy Young Award finalist Monday. If Verlander were a free agent now, he'd sign for more years and overall dollars than are on his current deal, one general manager said Tuesday. In other words, Verlander is priced fairly in the marketplace, to the extent that the Tigers could expect the acquiring team to assume all of his salary while including good -- perhaps even great -- prospects. The Dodgers and Yankees are among the teams with the financial resources and Minor League talent to make such a deal. Cabrera, who turns 34 in April, would be more difficult to move because he's due nearly three times as much as Verlander ($220 million) over seven years. The guaranteed portion of Cabrera's contract runs through his age- 40 season, the sort of long-term deal teams have increasingly resisted in recent offseasons. It's natural to speculate on the Red Sox as a fit for Cabrera. They need a big bat following David Ortiz's retirement. Dave Dombrowski, Boston's president of baseball operations, made the blockbuster trade that brought Cabrera to Detroit eight years ago. But if the Red Sox decide to spend big on a first baseman/designated hitter, Edwin Encarnacion likely will cost less than Cabrera in total dollars -- at zero prospect cost. The best pairing for Cabrera, if there is one, could be Houston. Based in the fourth-largest city in the U.S., the Astros have signaled that they are prepared to increase their payroll and bring it more in line with their market size. Houston needs a big bat, possesses a strong farm system and has a compelling personal sales pitch: Jose Altuve -- Cabrera's friend and fellow native of Maracay, Venezuela -- would play alongside him on the Astros' infield. With becoming a free agent, the Dodgers are an intriguing fit for Kinsler. (The Angels and Braves are among the other teams said to be interested in upgrades at second base.) Martinez, meanwhile, should

20 generate broad interest among teams looking for outfielders and/or designated hitters, including the Orioles, Rangers and Blue Jays.

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Tigers’ Ian Kinsler wins first Gold Glove award November 9, 2016 By Matt Mowery/ Oakland Press

Finally, Ian Kinsler got his due. After years of coming up just short of recognition as one of the elite defenders in baseball at his position, Kinsler was named the winner of the Rawlings Gold Glove for American League second basemen on Tuesday. He joins Placido Polanco, Lou Whitaker and Frank Boling as Tigers second basemen to win the award. The Tigers had three other finalists — pitcher Justin Verlander, shortstop Jose Iglesias and catcher James McCann — but none of them came home with the hardware. Last year, Yoenis Cespedes won the Tigers’ first Gold Glove since Polanco’s 2009, and the first outfield Gold Glove since 1989. The last Tigers pitcher to win a Gold Glove was in 2006. Frank Lary (1961) was the only previous Tigers pitcher to win one. The last Tigers catcher to win a Gold Glove was Pudge Rodriguez in 2007 (he won three straight with Detroit). (3: 1983-85) and (5: 1965-69) were the only other Tigers backstops honored with a Gold Glove. The last Tigers shortstop to win a Gold Glove was (4: 1980-81, 1983-84); Ed Brinkmann also won one in 1972. Before Polanco, the previous Tigers second basemen to win Gold Gloves were Whitaker (3: 1982, 1984-85) and Boling (1958). The other candidates were: AL PITCHER — R.A. Dickey, Toronto; Dallas Keuchel, Houston* AL CATCHER — Carlos Perez, Los Angeles; Salvador Perez, Kansas City* AL SECOND BASE — Robinson Cano, Seattle; Dustin Pedroia, Boston AL SHORTSTOP — Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles; Francisco Lindor, Cleveland* * — 2016 Gold Glove winner

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LAST UPDATED: WED, NOVEMBER 9, 2016, 02:12 EST

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Baltimore Orioles Jed Bradley Outrighted to Minors

Kansas City Royals Dillon Gee Outrighted to Minors

Kansas City Royals Dillon Gee Refused Minor League Assignment - Free Agent

Kansas City Royals Daniel Nava Refused Minor League Assignment - Free Agent

Kansas City Royals Daniel Nava Outrighted to Minors

New York Yankees Joe Mantiply Acquired Off Waivers From from Tigers, Detroit

New York Yankees Branden Pinder Designated for Assignment

San Diego Padres Matt Thornton Retired

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Atlanta Braves Josh Collmenter Signed, ( 2017)(avoids arbitration)

Baltimore Orioles Mark Trumbo Tendered Qualifying Offer

Chicago Cubs Dallas Beeler Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right shoulder inflammation)

Chicago Cubs Dallas Beeler Outrighted to Minors

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Chicago Cubs Conor Mullee Removed From 60-Day DL, (Numbness in right hand)

Chicago Cubs Christian Villanueva Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right fibular fracture)

Chicago Cubs Tendered Qualifying Offer

Chicago Cubs Tim Federowicz Outrighted to Minors

Chicago Cubs Aaron Brooks Removed From 60-Day DL, (Hip contusion)

Chicago Cubs Zac Rosscup Removed From 60-Day DL, (Left shoulder inflammation)

Chicago White Sox Daniel Webb Cleared Waivers and Became a Free Agent

Chicago White Sox Giovanni Soto Acquired Off Waivers From from Athletics, Oakland

Cincinnati Reds Ivan De Jesus Refused Minor League Assignment - Free Agent

Cleveland Indians Carlos Carrasco Removed From 60-Day DL, (Fractured right hand)

Cleveland Indians Michael Brantley Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right shoulder inflammation)

Cleveland Indians Adam Moore Outrighted to Minors

Colorado Rockies Jairo Díaz Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right elbow surgery)

Colorado Rockies Scott Oberg Removed From 60-Day DL, (Axillary artery thrombosis in right arm)

Detroit Tigers Dustin Molleken Outrighted to Minors

Los Angeles Angels Matt Shoemaker Removed From 60-Day DL, (Skull fracture, hematoma)

Los Angeles Angels Justin Miller Signed to a Minor League Contract

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Los Angeles Angels Removed From 60-Day DL, (Torn ligament, right elbow)

Los Angeles Angels Yunel Escobar Signed, ( 2017)(team option exercised)

Los Angeles Angels Removed From 60-Day DL, (Left flexor muscle strain)

Los Angeles Angels Garrett Richards Removed From 60-Day DL, (Torn ligament, right elbow)

Los Angeles Angels Cory Rasmus Designated for Assignment

Los Angeles Angels Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right knee inflammation)

Los Angeles Dodgers Vidal Nuno Traded From from Mariners, Seattle (for C Carlos Ruiz)

Los Angeles Dodgers Chin-Hui Tsao Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right triceps strain)

Los Angeles Dodgers Tendered Qualifying Offer

Los Angeles Dodgers Justin Turner Tendered Qualifying Offer

Los Angeles Dodgers Hyun-Jin Ryu Removed From 60-Day DL, (Left elbow tendinitis)

Los Angeles Dodgers Chris Hatcher Removed From 60-Day DL, (Strained left oblique)

Los Angeles Dodgers Yimi García Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right biceps soreness)

Los Angeles Dodgers Carlos Frías Removed From 60-Day DL, (Strained right oblique)

Los Angeles Dodgers Scott Van Slyke Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right wrist irritation)

Los Angeles Dodgers Trayce Thompson Removed From 60-Day DL, (Lower back irritation)

Los Angeles Dodgers Patrick Schuster Signed to a Minor League Contract

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Milwaukee Brewers Yhónathan Barrios Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right shoulder surgery)

Milwaukee Brewers Yhónathan Barrios Outrighted to Minors

Milwaukee Brewers Ben Rowen Outrighted to Minors

Milwaukee Brewers Josmil Pinto Outrighted to Minors

Minnesota Twins Alex Wimmers Outrighted to Minors

New York Mets Tendered Qualifying Offer

New York Mets Yoenis Cespedes Tendered Qualifying Offer

Oakland Athletics Donn Roach Signed to Play in Korea, (KT Wiz)

Philadelphia Phillies Tendered Qualifying Offer

Pittsburgh Pirates Dan Runzler Signed to a Minor League Contract

San Diego Padres Signed to a Minor League Contract

San Diego Padres Robbie Erlin Removed From 60-Day DL, (Left elbow surgery - out for season)

San Francisco Giants José Domínguez Signed to a Minor League Contract

Seattle Mariners Carlos Ruiz Signed, ( 2017)(team option exercised)

Seattle Mariners Carlos Ruiz Traded From from Dodgers, Los Angeles (for LHP Vidal Nuno)

Seattle Mariners Ryan Cook Refused Minor League Assignment - Free Agent

Tampa Bay Rays Steven Souza Jr. Removed From 60-Day DL, (Left hip surgery)

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Tampa Bay Rays Matt Duffy Removed From 60-Day DL, (Left Achilles surgery - out for season)

Texas Rangers Prince Fielder Removed From 60-Day DL, (Herniated discs in neck)

Texas Rangers Declared Free Agency, (team option declined)

Texas Rangers Adrian Sampson Removed From 60-Day DL, (Right flexor bundle strain)

Texas Rangers Ian Desmond Tendered Qualifying Offer

Toronto Blue Jays Edwin Encarnacion Tendered Qualifying Offer

Toronto Blue Jays Jose Bautista Tendered Qualifying Offer

Washington Nationals Neftalí Soto Signed to a Minor League Contract

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016

TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION

Chicago Cubs Jason Hammel Declared Free Agency, (team option declined)

San Francisco Giants Mac Williamson Removed From 60-Day DL, (Strained quad)

San Francisco Giants Chris Heston Removed From 60-Day DL, (Oblique strain)

San Francisco Giants Ray Black Removed From 60-Day DL, (Bone spur, right elbow)

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