Speculation by some national wrriters during the past few weeks was that the Tigers would not tender a contract to Joel Zumaya. I thought they got the wrong reliever when they said that. Turns out, they did.
Today, the Tigers announced their decision not to tender a contract to Zach Miner only a couple of days after they designated him for assignment. So this really shouldn't come as any surprise.
That also means they will tender one to Zumaya. He should come in at a cost of about $1 million, which really isn't that much to pay for a reliever of his quality when he's healthy. Armando Galarraga will also be tendered a deal, but that's no surpise. Right now he's the favorite to be the fifth starter.
A few days ago, MLB.com's Jason Beck reported the Tigers and Miner have mutual interest in finding a deal that works.
Sorta related link:
The West Michigan WhiteCaps will honor Zumaya with a Hall of Fame induction. Heather Nabozny, former Caps and current Tigers groundskeeper, and Ramon Hernandez will also be honored. They'll join Francisco Cordero, Robert Fick, Brandon Inge and Bruce Fields in the hall. The ceremony is Jan. 19.
"These are three individuals that obviously epitomize what the Whitecaps are all about," Whitecaps vice president Jim Jarecki said. "When people talk about the Whitecaps, those are some of the first names people think about.