The Winter Meetings begin today and with it we could also see the shape of the Tigers for years to come.  You’ve heard the rumors about the Granderson, Jackson and Cabrera but now the Free Press is saying Gerald Laird is also on the trading block.  Laird is in a similar boat to Jackson and he’s getting close to free agency and with Alex Avila showing the Tigers something last year, it makes Laird expendable.  He’s also due for a raise with this being his third and final year of arbitration.

Is Dusty Ryan still in the fold or did they cut him loose?  Laird didn’t show much with the bat but he did a good job behind the plate.  I’ve talked about how shortstop is one of the few positions I’ll sacrifice some offense for some defense and if there’s a second spot, it’d be catcher so I can live with Laird and his career .247 batting average.

The arbitration deadline is tonight at midnight so we’ll get to see whether Fernando Rodney or Brandon Lyon are coming back. I blew this one too and it looks like Lyon might go to the Phillies while Rodney stays home.  I figured the situations would be reversed.

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