On Monday, the Tigers announced their signing of C-R Ivan Rodriguez to a four-year, $40M contract, which includes a $3M buyout on a $13M option for 2008. Detroit reportedly will pay Rodriguez yearly salaries of $7M in 2004, $8M in 2005, $11M in 2006, and $11M in 2007 with $2M deferred from his 2004 salary and $3M deferred from his salary in both 2005 and 2006. The term over which the money will be deferred was not disclosed, but the catcher supposedly will collect 1% interest on the postponed payments. Rodriguez can collect an additional $500,000 the first time he wins an AL MVP and will receive $1M if he accomplishes the feat a second time.

In addition to the catch of the deferred money, the contract includes provisions for the Tigers to void the remainder of the contract following the 2005 season if Rodriguez spends 35 days or more on the disabled list as a result of a lower back problem. Detroit apparently insisted on the clause after learning that Rodriguez was born with an unusual lumbar alignment, though the condition evidently hasn't been responsible for any of his past back injuries. Voiding the final years of the contract after the 2005 season will cost the Tigers $5M, and the deal includes a similar option that allows Detroit to pay a $4M buyout on the remainder of the contract following the 2006 season should Rodriguez spend 35 days or more on the DL as the result of a lower back problem in 2006.

Rodriguez displayed some of the best plate discipline of his career in 2003, and barring injury, the Tigers can expect a similar performance from him throughout the course of this contract. Detroit's Comerica Park may actually be a slightly better hitter's park for Rodriguez than Florida's Pro Player Stadium, though I don't anticipate a substantial increase in his production. He'll certainly have fewer RBI opportunities in 2004. I'm not particularly concerned about his health, as I think the 32-year-old probably can avoid injury as long as he continues to maintain his physical fitness. The out clauses also limit Detroit's financial risk.

If he sustains his 2003 production, IRod should come close to earning his salary in the first two years of the deal. There's no reason to expect him to improve over the course of the contract, so the salary increases in the later years of the deal are merely another form of deferment. If we're only looking at on-field value, Detroit definitely overpaid. However, I view this signing as owner Mike Ilitch's apology to the Tigers' fans for Detroit's disastrous 2003 season. Rodriguez won't be blocking anyone worthy of a starting job, so I'm not going to put up a vigorous argument against improving the team and making a peace offering to the fans. Unfortunately, the Tigers don't have the infrastructure to support a run similar to the Marlins, so even though there's currently some room for competition in the AL Central, I don't anticipate this signing leading to a playoff berth within Rodriguez's time with the Tigers.

The Tigers haven't decided what will happen with C-R Mike DiFelice and C-R Brandon Inge. Manager Alan Trammell plans to use Spring Training to figure out how he wants to work the roster, but he is fond of Inge and may go out of his way to keep him in the majors despite Inge's lack of production at the plate. Trammell even mentioned the possibility of Inge possessing the flexibility to play other positions, which doesn't make much sense as Inge's defense behind the plate has been his only contribution to the team. IRod's defensive proficiency suppresses most discussion of him spending much time as a designated hitter, however if the Tigers carry all three catchers, Rodriguez could spend an occasional day at DH. The option may appeal to Rodriguez and the club as a way to slow the natural wear and tear that catching inflicts on the body. Neither Inge nor DiFelice possess the skills offensively to support giving them time at DH.

Carrying both Inge and DiFelice seems like even bigger overkill when you consider that Rule 5 pick 1B-R Chris Shelton has caught regularly in the minors, and the Tigers have every intention of keeping him on their major league roster all season. Detroit selected Shelton from Pittsburgh with the first overall pick of the Rule 5 draft held in December of 2003. The Pirates originally drafted him out of the University of Utah with their 33rd round pick in the 2001 draft. Following the draft, he reported to Williamsport in the Short-Season New York-Pennsylvania League. Shelton then spent 2002 at A Hickory in the South Atlantic League before splitting 2003 between A+ Lynchburg in the Carolina League and AA Altoona in the Eastern League. Given his rapid advancement, I don't expect Shelton to thrive in the majors, but the 68:67 BB:K compiled by the 23-year-old in 315 AB at Altoona indicates he might be able to keep his head above water until his Rule 5 season is over, when he can return to the minors and a more traditional development program. If Shelton develops as the Tigers hope, he should spend 2006 and 2007 sharing C, 1B, and DH with IRod and Carlos Pena to minimize the fatigue of all three players while increasing Detroit's overall offensive upside.