The Year of the Tiger?

Detroit Tigers 2007 Record: 88-74 (2nd in AL Central)
2008 Prediction: 1st in AL Central


In

• Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis (FLA) - acquired for Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo and 3 minor leaguers - 12/5/07
  
• Edgar Renteria (ATL) - acquired for Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez - 10/29/07
  
• Jacque Jones (CHC) - acquired for Omar Infante - 12/4/07
  
• Denny Bautista (COL) - acquired for Jose Capellan - 12/4/07
  
• Todd Jones (DET) - resigned to a $7 million contract -11/12/07
  
• Kenny Rogers (DET) - resigned to a 1 year, $8 million contract - 11/30/07
  

Out

• Jair Jurrjens (ATL) - traded for Edgar Renteria - 10/29/07
  
• Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo (FLA) - traded for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis - 12/5/07
  
• Jose Capellan (COL) - traded for Denny Bautista - 12/4/07
  
• Omar Infante (CHC) - traded for Jacque Jones - 12/4/07
  
• Chad Durbin (PHI) - signed to a 1 year, $900,000 contract - 12/20/07
• Sean Casey (BOS) - signed to a 1 year, $800,000 contract - 2/5/08
  

Remaining Free Agents

• Neifi Perez
  

Projected Opening Day Starters
C- Ivan Rodriguez
1B - Carlos Guillen
2B - Placido Polanco
3B - Miguel Cabrera
SS - Edgar Renteria
LF - Marcus Thames/Jacque Jones
CF - Curtis Granderson
RF - Magglio Ordonez
DH - Gary Sheffield

Projected Opening Day Rotation
Justin Verlander
Jeremy Bonderman
Nate Robertson
Dontrelle Willis
Kenny Rogers

Projected Opening Day Closer
Todd Jones

Improvements: Edgar Renteria, Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis (all acquired via trade) give the Tigers an immense amount of talent to a club that already had more talent than most. They also added Jacque Jones to serve as a lefty power bat in the outfield and off the bench.
Lack of improvement: Nice guys really do finish last. Just ask fireball reliever Joel Zumaya. Zumaya hurt his throwing shoulder while preparing his suburban San Diego home for evacuation during the wildfires in October. He underwent reconstructive surgery, and will miss at least the first half of the season - which is a relief (pun intended), considering his career was in jeopardy at first notice. And with all of the improvements the Tigers did make, they didn't find anyone to replace Zoooomaya (not that anyone really could). So the bullpen of Fernando Rodney, Bobby Seay, and Macay McBride will have to bridge the gap to closer Todd Jones, without the 100 MPH fastball of Zumaya.
Keys to success: Dontrelle Willis was acquired by the Tigers from the Marlins (along with Cabrera) for a group of talented players. Willis will be expected to revert to his 03-05 seasons of great success, after having a relatively dismal season in 2007. Youngsters Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman, along with 30-year old Nate Robertson will have to keep showing signs of maturity and continue to grow and improve to the standards set for them by their early success.