Fernando Vina signs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1682929

Maybe we'll only lose 105 games next season!

yeah, this isn't the big splash Tiger fans are hoping for...but at least it's a start.

The big issue will be who else we sign. Clearly we do need a SS, and while Tejada would be amazing, even Aurilla would make our middle infield better.

Lots of people keep pointing out that Warren Morris has put up similar numbers to Vina, and that's true. However, Vina has more speed, has a great glove, and everything I've read says he's a good clubhouse guy--something the young Tigers need. The big issue is that he needs to stay healthy...maybe he should start taking those pilate classes with Higgy and Deano! :)

I'm really interested in what outfielder we will end up with. Today the News said Rondell White, hadn't heard his name come up before...pretty good numbers and relatively young (31)...

I really cringed watching Sanchez last year in Center...I know he's got speed, but he took terrible routes to fly balls and seemed lazy on routine ones...if we don't get a Cruz jr. or someone like that, I'd love to see them give Cody Ross a shot in center once (if) he's fully recovered...

Man, I'm 28 and was 9 when they won the series...kids younger than 22-25 have no idea how great a baseball town Detroit is...even a .500 club would receive great support...but man...we've just been bad for the last 10 years...

Kevin

As a Cardinals fan I am quite happy to see Vina in another uniform. He isn't the same player he was when he first came to the Cardinals. His plate discipline has become awful. Especially for a leadoff hitter. It was very frustrating to watch him swing at everything. In addition whenever he hits a rare homerun he spends the next 3 weeks swinging for the fences and he just doesn;t have any power to be doing that.

Now that is not to say he is a bad player. He does have a great glove and turns the double play better than any second baseman in the game. He also never strikes out. He would make an ideal 8th place hitter. However the Cradinals were counting on him to hit leadoff and after his first year here he just kept getting worse and worse in that role. So I wish him the best in Detroit, but I am happy he won't be hitting any more soft fly balls to RF on the first pitch he sees for the Cardinals anymore. :)

Ditto what Prime just said. I've always been a Fernando Vina fan - the guy is a scrapper and plays an awesome 2B - but his hitting skills have eroded such that he was a detriment at the plate.

And no offense to Tigers fans, but this is just the kind of signing that will keep them in the basement for years to come. Why pay big money to a guy at the tail end of his career?

In similar news, the Reds just pulled Kal Daniels out of cryogenic stasis.

The deal is only for two years, which I can buy. I'm happy to see them out there, at least trying. I hope I never have to live through another season like last year.

I agee , two years isn't too bad, and he is clearly an upgrade over what we have now. Vina isn't the answer, but the Tigers have to hope he sparks some of the other younger players because we have absolutlely no chance of signing someone who can make a difference unless this team shows even a little sign of life.

The problem is the way they are rebuilding it will take 20-30 years before they start being competitive again. Are the Tigers planning on competing next year? I would think not, so why did they sign Vina instead of allowing a younger player to step in or acquiring a younger player.

They say they are rebuilding but I am not seeing any effort to look toward the future.

I'm sure we'd like to aquire a good young prospect, but I'm assuming they are finding it difficult to find a young player willing to commit his future to the team right now.

Last season we tried to let the youngsters take over. We released Easley and gave the job to Infante. Not only did Infante not show any signs of improvement, but he seemed to get worse.

Originally posted by Balldog
The problem is the way they are rebuilding it will take 20-30 years before they start being competitive again. Are the Tigers planning on competing next year? I would think not, so why did they sign Vina instead of allowing a younger player to step in or acquiring a younger player.

They say they are rebuilding but I am not seeing any effort to look toward the future.

I think they are in the position of having to rebuild but not compete with last year's travesty. That means bringing in some short time (2 years) adequate help. I'm sure if the Tigers could lose between 95 and 100 games for the next 2-3 years, yet find themselves somewhere near .500 within 5 years, they'd take that in an instant. At this point, they have to keep from repeating last year.

Originally posted by Balldog
The problem is the way they are rebuilding it will take 20-30 years before they start being competitive again. Are the Tigers planning on competing next year? I would think not, so why did they sign Vina instead of allowing a younger player to step in or acquiring a younger player.

They say they are rebuilding but I am not seeing any effort to look toward the future.

ummmm...that's what the Tigers did last year...not really a good move by Dumbo the Savior...

It's a two year deal...it'll upgrade the big league team right now...while we let Infante and Santiago either sink or swim in Toledo, where it won't affect us...within two years, hopefully one of the prospects we have is ready (i'm betting against it, but it's still good to hope)...guys like Kelly, Raburn, the guy from Tulane we just drafted, even Woods if he's finally recovered from his knee...

This type of move at least makes me realize the Tigers do NOT want to repeat last years mistakes...now, if Vina DOES fail, well, we'll have Morris plus the two Toledo guys...but if he plays decent, then well done...

The big deal is that this MUST only be a supplemental deal...we still need 3/4 more guys to make this team ok...

Remember... .500 in the AL Central puts you within the race the the division...

Kevin

dola...looks like ksyrup stole some of my thunder...must learn to type faster...

Kevin

Tiger fans. Poor bastards...

In addition to Rondell White and Tejada/Aurelia, they're looking at Miguel Batista. He could be a relatively low cost, solid starter. If they sign a couple of these guys, and if some of their young guys improve, even imcrementally, they will not lose near 119 games again.

Of course, in order to just lose 99, they'd have to show a 20 game improvement, and that would be hard to do under any circumstances. So "improvement" in terms of wins and losses next year should be measured with that does of reality.

My point is that paying that kind of money to Vina is (IMO) an extravagant and flawed attempt at "being competitive." What you get is a guy who is clearly past his prime, who will play solid defense, hit a bunch of singles and fly-ball outs , and bat .240 or so. Are you telling me that the Tigers can't come up with a younger player to develop that can offer that, at a minimum?

Again, I am not down on Vina, I just think he's an inappropriate option for a team trying to rebuild.

Originally posted by Butter_of_69
In similar news, the Reds just pulled Kal Daniels out of cryogenic stasis.


Best baseball memory ever was a pinch hit, grand slam, game winning HR for Mr. Daniels as a Dodger. Moved him up to my TOp 10 baseball players

Originally posted by rkmsuf
Tiger fans. Poor bastards...

I agree, and yet it seems they have.... hope?! I think that only makes it harder for them.

Originally posted by WSUCougar
My point is that paying that kind of money to Vina is (IMO) an extravagant and flawed attempt at "being competitive." What you get is a guy who is clearly past his prime, who will play solid defense, hit a bunch of singles and fly-ball outs , and bat .240 or so. Are you telling me that the Tigers can't come up with a younger player to develop that can offer that, at a minimum?

Again, I am not down on Vina, I just think he's an inappropriate option for a team trying to rebuild.

Ditto.

Originally posted by WSUCougar
What you get is a guy who is clearly past his prime, who will play solid defense, hit a bunch of singles and fly-ball outs , and bat .240 or so. Are you telling me that the Tigers can't come up with a younger player to develop that can offer that, at a minimum?


So far, no we haven't been able to come up with those kind of numbers from our young players.

Infante .222
Santiago .225
Throw in Halter at .217

Morris did a decent job and hit .272, but he doesn't really have the range to be an everyday player.

If Vina can hit .245 and have a positive influence on some of the other guys, than this signing will be a success. The Tigers said a few weeks ago that they knew they would have to overpay to get some guys here. At least they are trying.

The Tigers are moving? Good. I hope they go back to Portsmouth.

Originally posted by Passacaglia
The Tigers are moving? Good. I hope they go back to Portsmouth.

I thought it was the Lions who came from Portsmouth.

Actually, send them both there.

As for the move, well, you can debate the baseball merits but, at this points, the PR benefits of the move are just as important methinks.

Don't the Tigers need help at every position???

They are quite solild at overpaid RF, thank you.

All the talk up here is that this was something Tejada had wanted done if he were to come to Detroit, so why not go for it? Worse case scenario, just just end up with Vina whos still solid for two years.

Yeah, it was the Lions that were from Portsmouth, but since I never liked baseball really, there's no reason for the Tigers to be there. On the other hand, right now I live closer to Portsmouth than I do to Detroit (I assume). Oh, well.

Vina will be 35 on April 16. He was average to above-average in his prime, now well below average.

Tejada is a very good player but I don't think we should sign him. That kind of $$ should be spent when you're contending or near to it, if then. Just look at the GM who is letting Tejada go. We need many average to above-average players to become a decent team. There are no quick fixes.

We need talent and potential, not some guy who used to be a great fielder and so-so hitter. Sparky Anderson came to Detroit in 1979 because we had lots of good young talent, and those players produced good times at the corner of Michigan and Trumbell.

I just figured this was the Tigers entry into the "Sign the Septuagenarian" for AL Central teams. The Royals keep trying to close the deal with Benito Santiago so they may have the title locked up.

SI