3B Nick Castellanos played the position in the minors before the Tigers signed Prince Fielder two winters ago. Castellanos said he began taking ground balls at third the day Fielder was shipped to the Texas Rangers and Detroit has assigned new first base/infield coach Omar Vizquel to tutor him beginning in January.
LHP Drew Smyly returns to the rotation next season after a year of relieving that found him progress from long man to a late-inning role at the end of 2013. Smyly pitched 175 1/3 innings in the majors over the past two seasons, so Detroit probably will limit his innings in 2014. GM Dave Dombrowski said the organization hasn’t talked about that. “He has started in the past, we built him up pretty good,” Dombrowski said. “He’s not a young kid anymore, he’s 24. He’s not a baby, baby. Usually at 25, you’re fully developed. How do you want to work those things? I don’t really have a set answer on that at this point.”
LF Andy Dirks appears set to get the bulk of the playing time in left field this season, but he is likely to platoon with recently signed LF Rajai Davis. Dirks played all season with a bad knee but didn’t tell the club, and the soreness may have been a big part of his disappointing 2013. He hit .256 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs in 131 games last season after batting .322 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 88 games in 2012.
RHP Luis Marte was designated for assignment by Detroit on Dec. 11 to clear a roster spot for LF Rajai Davis. Marte underwent right shoulder surgery in June but recently was cleared to begin throwing again. He pitched in three games for Triple-A Toledo before being disabled in April, with the surgery following. The Tigers hope he clears waivers so they can outright him to Toledo as he pitches his way back onto the mound. Marte made the Opening Day roster in 2012, but a hamstring problem in his final tuneup put him on the disabled list, and he was only able to pitch briefly for Detroit.
UT Steve Lombardozzi will be Detroit’s primary backup to SS Jose Iglesias in addition to covering the rest of the infield and some of the outfield. In 257 games for Washington, which traded him to Detroit, he played just two games at short, but the Tigers want 2B/SS Hernan Perez to get steady at-bats with Triple-A Toledo rather than sporadic play as a reserve with Detroit.
LHP Ian Krol tentatively replaces LHP Drew Smyly in Detroit’s bullpen after coming over from Washington in the deal that sent RHP Doug Fister to the Nationals. Smyly will become a starter. Krol throws in the mid-90s and had a 2-1 record and 3.95 ERA for Washington in 32 games his rookie season. However, he allowed a run in seven of his last 11 outings, posting an 8.59 ERA over that time. He is not a lock to make the team.
1B Miguel Cabrera was consulted before the Tigers made the decision to move him from third base. Cabrera said his surgically repaired core muscle “feels great,” and he expects to be ready for full participation in spring training.
LF Rajai Davis, 33, signed a two-year deal worth a reported $10 million to add speed and a platoon presence to Detroit’s outfield. Davis stole 45 bases last season. He hit .319 against lefties last year but .228 against right-handers.
2B Ian Kinsler may lead off or he may hit down in the Tigers’ batting order. Kinsler has been a proficient power producer as the top man in the Texas batting order but his power and the presence of CF Austin Jackson as a leadoff hitter may prompt Detroit to hit Kinsler beneath the power spots. Jackson’s streakiness as a leadoff hitter may induce the Tigers to hit him lower in the batting order.
RHP Joba Chamberlain reportedly agreed Dec. 12 to join Detroit on a one-year contract worth $2.5 million plus incentives, giving the Tigers potential added depth they were looking for at the back end of the bullpen. The Tigers apparently would confirm the deal if Chamberlain passes a physical. The former Yankee was 2-1 with a 4.93 ERA in 42 innings this year. Chamberlain has not had an ERA below 4.35 in the past five seasons but is still averaging close to a strikeout an inning. He struggled with his control last season, walking 26 and allowing 47 hits, including eight home runs. He was a rookie sensation in 2007 with a 2-0 record and 0.38 ERA.
