The perfect marriage: the Detroit Tigers and Magglio Ordonez
When the Detroit Tigers finished the 2010 season recently, they couldn’t have done worse than usual, in their estimation. The side finished 3rd in the American League Central table. They failed to beat the Minnesota Twins to the top and that is
something they will hope to accomplish when the year turns and the regular season starts in the April of 2011. The spring training session will commence in two months and the management at the club is expected to ready its 40 man roster by that time.
The ball club made a generous offer to many outfielders in the free agency and one of their missing stars in the formation happens to be Magglio Ordonez. The side which signed on Victor Martinez from the Boston Red Sox, on a $50 million contract are looking
to employ Ryan Raburn on the left field when the next season goes underway soon. In addition to that there is just one vacancy and according to General Manager Dave Dombrowski, that position is on the right field.
Ordonez had his $15 million option cancelled due to an ankle fracture he sustained in July. He ended the season with a batting average of .303, smashing on 12 home runs and driving in 59 runs as a designated hitter. His slugging percentage amounted to .474
and he is considered to be one of the best matches for the Tigers, due to his long presence at the side and his huge leadership role in the roster. Nevertheless, his appearances were cut off to 84 in the season and that is a cause for concern for the managers.
However, that hasn’t stopped the big hitter’s agent, Scott Boras from making a comment at the link between the parties. He said in a phone conversation, "Magglio Ordonez is a very pivotal part of the Detroit Tigers leadership. With the recent signings, he
is all the more important to the production of a Martinez and a Cabrera."
With Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez at the side, an induction of Magglio in the line up will ease the pressure off manager Jim Leyland. The gaffer has still not decided what will happen for Martinez, in terms of position but things could feel better
fixed if Ordonez gets back to the club. However, while the options tend to tinker with Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford in the market, Ordonez’s value is being undermined.
Tags: