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The day after the World Series ended, the Detroit Tigers were silent. Crickets chirped while everyone waited for the Tigers to make a move, particularly on Joakim Soria and Alex Avila's options, which needed to be picked up or declined rather quickly.
Friday afternoon the Tigers took care of more than a few things, announcing a flurry of activity and the necessary moves were made, including extending qualifying offers to Max Scherzer and Victor Martinez. Regarding Avila, the Tigers aren't required to make a decision yet as he's arbitration eligible if the Tigers decline his option, so they have until November 20 to finalize anything.
The biggest surprise of the day though, was the loss of left fielder, Andy Dirks, who was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Dirks was arbitration eligible after essentially a lost season. Still, big move. That's a left-handed bat that won't be in OF mix next year.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) October 31, 2014
Dave Brandon and Andy Dirks gone on the same day.
— Dave Hogg (@Stareagle) October 31, 2014
Dombrowski said #Tigers would have brought back Dirks if they could have trusted him being 100 percent in 2015
— Tom Gage (@Tom_Gage) October 31, 2014
Tigers let Dirks go for nothing. What?
— Neil Weinberg (@NeilWeinberg44) October 31, 2014
Dirks has always had injury problems, going back to college. With the major back surgery and his nominal value, it made sense to move on.
— Mark Anderson (@TigsTownMark) October 31, 2014
The Tigers also purchased the contract of outfielder, Wynton Bernard, from Single-A West Michigan. The head-scratching move left some less than happy about the idea.
This Wynton Bernard move is complete lunacy. #Tigers
— Mark Anderson (@TigsTownMark) October 31, 2014
All of the #Tigers other moves today make a ton of sense; including Dirks, but Bernard to the 40-man? Insanity.
— Mark Anderson (@TigsTownMark) October 31, 2014
Have no idea what Tigers are doing, but it's early enough in the winter for that to still be okay.
— Neil Weinberg (@NeilWeinberg44) October 31, 2014
While it isn't clear why the Tigers added Bernard to the 40-man roster, most of the changes and moves were expected, and it could work out in the end. It's at least a consideration since the Tigers didn't have the best luck with their roster in 2014. Still, it's too early to tell.
Tigers getting realistic -- not romantic -- about their roster. Will make sensible, lower-profile moves. And might end up with a better team
— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) October 31, 2014
To sum up the day, baseball is over until next season and the forbidden words have been uttered.
Wrote baseball stories today. And now it's snowing.
— Matthew B. Mowery (@matthewbmowery) November 1, 2014