Detroit recently signed LHP Jamie Walker, who was eligible for arbitration, to a one-year, $900,000 contract with a $1.25M club option for 2006. The deal includes $150,000 worth of potential bonuses in both the guaranteed and option seasons. Over the past two seasons, Walker has developed a sizeable platoon split, indicating the Tigers may want to limit his exposure to right-handed hitters next season. However, the 33-year-old generally possesses solid skills, and Comerica Park nicely suppresses the downside of his flyball pitching, making him a valuable member of the Detroit pen.

The Tigers paid the $100,000 buyout on RHP Al Levine's $1.1M 2005 option. Due to his less than excellent walk rate, Levine suffers without an excellent defense behind him to keep his hit rate down and limit his total baserunners. Meanwhile, the sharp drop in Levine's G-F has created home run problems for him over the past few years. Consequently, Detroit appears wise to have declined his option.

During the post-season the Tigers made a handful of waiver claims, successfully picking up RHP Colby Lewis from Texas, OF-L Dewayne Wise from Atlanta, and OF-R Byron Gettis from Kansas City. Lewis developed shoulder problems this year and underwent rotator cuff surgery in May. He missed the remainder of the 2004 season and may not resume pitching in games until a month or two into the 2005 season. However, Lewis demonstrated considerable upside prior to the injury and could develop into a useful pitcher for Detroit if he fully rebounds from the surgery. At the very least, the 25-year-old should provide the Tigers with AAAA starting depth, giving Detroit an alternative to rushing their young starters to fill holes in their rotation.

Wise lost his job to OF-L Charles Thomas when he hit the disabled list with a strained left elbow in late June. Once he recovered, Wise spent a couple of months at AAA before rejoining the Braves for September. During September, he served as a frequent pinch-hitter and late inning outfield replacement. Although a plate discipline upgrade stands between him and a starting job, his solid power, useful speed, and position flexibility in the outfield make him a handy bench player. Unfortunately for Wise, the Tigers already possessed a variety of outfield reserve options, so competition for roster spots will be tight.

Gettis's lack of substantial AAA experience left him unprepared for his promotion to the majors this season. With his poor contact rate, the 24-year-old was unable to muster a decent batting average and eventually returned to the minors. Less than a month after his demotion, the Royals moved him down to AA, a level at which he had already proven himself competent, rather than allow him to work out his troubles in AAA. When comfortable at the plate, he's displayed solid power potential, and his plate discipline indicates intriguing upside. If Detroit allows him to consolidate his skills at AAA, this waiver claim could pay off nicely for both the Tigers and Gettis, who Kansas City did not seem to know how to handle.