Not much of what Tigers’ general manager Dave Dombrowski said Sunday was surprising.
The Tigers will bring back Brandon Inge. They will likely get a bit of a hometown discount. They want Jhonny Peralta to be their shortstop next season, but will try to sign him long-term for less than the $7 million per season his contract option calls for, should they automatically pick it up. The Tigers will also try to re-sign Magglio Ordonez, but only for considerably less than the $18 million he made last season. At this stage, Ordonez is a $7 million per year player. His agent, Scott Boras, undoubtedly will shop Ordonez around to get more than that.
They made the right moves by letting everyone know up front Johnny Damon and Gerald Laird won’t be back. Dombrowski also sees Alex Avila as the Tigers’ primary catcher next season, which to me was the only surprise. I just don’t see where Avila made significant progress in 2010.
Phil Coke will move into the starting pitching rotation, a move I thought might happen this year. The Tigers need a lefty in the rotation, but it does leave a hole in the bullpen, which manager Jim Leyland said is their most pressing need.
I see the Tigers adding a fourth- or fifth-starter type in the rotation, veteran help for the bullpen and a middle of the order hitter. Could be via trade or free agency. They definitely need power.
They won’t do anything at second base. I think their second baseman of the future will be neither Will Rhymes nor Scott Sizemore, but rather Danny Worth. Of all the position players the Tigers brought to the major leagues who were honed strictly by their system this season, I was impressed the most by Worth. He is a very good fielder with a surprisingly live bat.

Random Thoughts

- If the Heisman Trophy voting were held today, how could Denard Robinson not win it? Michigan hasn’t lost a game and he has been beyond brilliant. It’s one of the best five-game stretches in the history of college football. Hope Michigan fans are appreciating the true greatness of this kid’s talent.

- I had an American League Rookie of the Year vote this year. This is what my ballot looked like:
1. Austin Jackson
2. Neftali Feliz
3. Danny Valencia
Feliz had a brilliant year, but Jackson is an every day player at a premier defensive position contributing more overall. Sealing the deal for me was Jackson’s superior defensive play. If it wasn’t in conjunction with solid hitting numbers across the board, I would have put Feliz first on my ballot.