Brandon Lyon News

Recognizing this is a bit radical, but what are the chances that the team would look to trade Miguel Cabrera to get a couple of young position players to fill in some of the team's more glaring needs ? Unloading his contract would allow you to spend the money to keep Placido Polanco, Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney.

The Detroit Tigers set their 40-man roster today, purchasing the contracts of four minor leaguers: second baseman Scott Sizemore, shortstop Audy Ciriaco, first baseman/outfielder Ryan Strieby and outfielder Brennan Boesch.

Their biggest needs, in order, appear to be a back-of-the- bullpen arm with the stuff to pitch the eighth and ninth innings, a multiple-innings arm, and a dependable situational lefty.

With both Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon free agents, Joel Zumaya a constant question mark and Ryan Perry perhaps a year or two away from being handed the reigns to the ninth inning, the Detroit Tigers are looking for a closer for 2010.

Topping the to-do list: Pitching was awful -- starters, relievers, hot dog vendors called to throw an inning.

The Phillies' top priorities this offseason are to upgrade the bench, find a new third baseman, and retool the back end of the bullpen which was so good in their World Series-winning season two baseball years ago.

The Tigers will watch free agency pick up later this week, when players can field offers from all teams.

The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season.

With Jarrod Washburn and Aubrey Huff officially out of the picture, Tigers Insider Steve Kornacki said general manager Dave Dombrowski should now focus his attention on the Tigers' bullpen -- specifically free agent relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon.

Yes, two posts on Curtis Granderson potentially getting traded to the Yankees is necessary.

Brandon Lyon and the Detroit Tigers have a mutual interest in his returning as a vital bullpen component in 2010.

By now you probably have a good idea of who the Tigers' free agents are: Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon; Placido Polanco and Adam Everett; Jarrod Washburn and Aubrey Huff.

The Tigers have spent the past couple offseasons treading carefully in free agency, preferring to do most of their dealings in trades.

With the Tigers' lack of financial flexibility and so many closers on the market this year, what are the realistic options for the back end of the bullpen? Is the team more likely to use some combination of Ryan Perry and Joel Zumaya, or do you expect the Tigers to fill the role via free agency? -- Matt F., Chicago Zumaya and Perry are potential ...

ST. GEORGE Dixie State College's baseball team has an advantage over every other college program in the state of Utah: It has two major leaguers in the Detroit Tigers' Brandon Lyon and the St.

The Tigers obviously don't have a lot of money to spend, so which one of these four free agents is most necessary to re-sign: Placido Polanco, Fernando Rodney, Brandon Lyon or Adam Everett? Welcome to the portion of the blog where I praise Placido Polanco and call him one of the most important Tigers of the last five years.

There's some speculation Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre is the player the Tigers are targeting to acquire this winter.

If it's World Series time, it's generally time for Tigers owner Mike Ilitch and general manager Dave Dombrowski to talk money.

In discussing the Tigers' off-season with various baseball wizards and how a team that finished 86-77 the past season can avoid falling beneath .500 in 2010, I've come away with the following thoughts, which are either daring, prophetic, or sure to be regretted: Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager, tends to act aggressively ...

The more you look at it, the more you realize how immensely challenging the offseason will be for the Tigers.