Tigers Report: Roster

The return of RF Magglio Ordonez completed the major portion of Detroit's offseason makeover. Adding Victor Martinez as the DH was the primary boost to the offense. Second base will be filled internally with some combination of Carlos Guillen, Will Rhymes and Scott Sizemore. Re-signing Brandon Inge and Jhonny Peralta filled the third base and shortstop holes, and free agent RHP Joaquin Benoit solidified the back end of the bullpen. It appears the Tigers will be going with only two catchers, one behind the plate and one DH'ing.

ARRIVALS: RHP Joaquin Benoit (free agent from Rays), DH/C Victor Martinez (free agent from Red Sox), RHP Brad Penny (free agent from Cardinals).

DEPARTURES: C Gerald Laird (free agent, signed with Cardinals), RHP Eddie Bonine (free agent, signed with Phillies), RHP Zach Miner (free agent, signed with Royals), LF Johnny Damon (free agent, signed with Rays).

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Justin Verlander

2. RHP Max Scherzer

3. RHP Rick Porcello

4. LHP Phil Coke

5. RHP Brad Penny

Verlander and Scherzer rank among baseball's best 1-2 combinations. Verlander has been crowding 20 wins since he came to the majors and could break through this season, while Scherzer was dominating the last four months after a trip to the minors to straighten out his mechanics.

This is a high-ceiling group but not without question marks. Is the real Porcello the 14-game winning 20-year-old of 2009 or last year's up-and-down 10-game winner? Can Coke return to starting, which he did in the minors, from major league relieving? Will Penny stay healthy?

If the group stays relatively healthy it could carry Detroit to the playoffs. If not, well, the Tigers will have to rush some youngsters who probably won't be ready.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Jose Valverde (closer)

RHP Joaquin Benoit

LHP Daniel Schlereth

RHP Joel Zumaya

RHP Ryan Perry

LHP Brad Thomas

RHP Al Alburquerque

As good a collection of power bullpen arms as there is in the game, although each member has his issues. Valverde fell off sharply from his spectacular first half; Benoit is a late bloomer; Schlereth finished strong, but inexperience and control could be problems; Zumaya has suffered season-ending injuries four consecutive years; Perry is still shy on experience; Thomas blossomed after years of being a journeyman; Alburquerque has no major league experience.

There is some thinness from the left side in the minors but the club's late-inning arms show little falloff against left-handed hitters. Alburquerque was given a major league contract to sign as a minor league free agent but that doesn't guarantee him a spot.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Austin Jackson

2. 2B Will Rhymes/Scott Sizemore

3. RF Magglio Ordonez

4. 1B Miguel Cabrera

5. DH Victor Martinez

6. LF Ryan Raburn

7. SS Jhonny Peralta

8. 3B Brandon Inge

9. C Alex Avila

2B Carlos Guillen claims the job after he recovers from micro-fracture surgery of his left knee, which is expected at some point in April. Slick-fielding INF Danny Worth could force himself into the second base equation if Rhymes or Sizemore don't look good in the spring, although INF Ramon Santiago probably will be the primary backup.

Avila hit better the last two months after getting regular playing time and will get at least two months to prove he can be a decent major league hitter. If he doesn't, Martinez moves behind the plate full-time and Detroit will look to OFs Brennan Boesch or Casper Wells as designated hitters.

TOP ROOKIES: RHP Jacob Turner is on track to be the next young star pitcher for the Tigers, but probably won't debut with Detroit until 2012. He was 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA after a bump to high Class A Lakeland in his first pro season. LHP Andy Oliver was 0-4 in a five-start mid-year cameo for Detroit, then settled in at Triple-A to go 3-4 with a 3.23 ERA over nine starts. If he sharpens up his secondary offerings quickly, Oliver would be Detroit's first call-up in the event something happens to one of the Tigers' starters.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--2B Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery) can resume running Feb. 1, and his doctor says he can play in exhibition games the last two weeks of spring training. His availability for the start of the season remains doubtful.

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