Placido Polanco News

And this year . . . probably won't be anything like that. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and his staff have long since established their off-season priorities: The Phillies need to sign a third baseman, remake their bench, and improve their bullpen.

Best Transaction: Signing Magglio Ordonez as a free agent.A The Tigers made their second major free-agent splash in two seasons with the signing of Magglio.A Ia TMm ignoring his semi-bad contract here and focusing solely on the Tigers signing a guy that would be a major presence in the middle of the Tigers lineup for the bulk of his contract.A ...

The roster was at 42, but with the 6 free agents off the roster, and the addition of these 4 players it is now full at 40.

While the Tigers look at the possibility of adding young talent in trade talks, they have their own prospects to worry about, and a deadline by which to decide about them.

Friday is moving day for major league teams. The 150-plus baseball free agents can begin signing with teams other teams, and the 30 clubs must solidify 40-man rosters.

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

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

Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco won his second Gold Glove last week, but he didn't crack the top three in the Fielding Bible Awards, which are published in the Bill James Handbook.

All those who believe payroll is driving the Tigers' steadily hotter trade talks are bang-on with their logic.

Day 2 of the general managers' meetings in Chicago produces its share of trade rumors.

In honor of Placido Polanco's second Gold Glove, here are the players who have won the most of them as a Tiger: AL KALINE The Hall of Fame outfielder tops all Tigers with 10 awards, including seven years in a row .

Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco, who made just two errors in 2009, won his second Gold Glove in the last three years.

Placido Polanco won his second Gold Glove for excellence in the field of fielding.

The Tigers owe Willis $12 million in 2010. Getting beyond all the disappointment and second-guessing, let's assess the 2009 Tigers for what they really were: a fourth-place lineup that overachieved their way to the cusp of the postseason.

At one time it was the only place to easily find a number of uncommon stats. Sites like Fangraphs and Baseball Reference and the rise of Pitch F/X data make some of these stats easier to come by, but the Handbook is still a trove of baseball stats.

Closer Fernando Rodney was essential to stabilizing the Detroit Tigers' bullpen, and shortstop Adam Everett was central to improving the team's defense in 2009.

Chase Utley could've been a Tiger. The Phillies' star second baseman was drafted 15th overall in the 2000 draft, seven spots after a fella named Matt Wheatland, who Baseball-Reference.com tells us is a right-handed pitcher who made just 16 appearances in the Tigers' minor leagues.

Outfielder Casper Wells is having the best showing of the Tigers' seven prospects competing in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas.

In looking to next season with the help of this one, don't begin at the Metrodome ending, but in the middle - as in the middle of the Tigers' batting order.