In previous posts, I’ve said I was against this signing. I still am to a certain extent with one exception. If the Tigers sign at least two more players who are better then Vina, and they make a serious attempt to make a run at an already weak AL Central Division Championship, then I’ll say it was a good signing. If Vina is the best guy we pick up, then it’s a bad move and he does us no good.

Addition by subtraction is the name of the game in the AL Central right now. The Twins have traded away Milton and Pierzinski, and have lost Hawkins and Guardado to free agency. The White Sox lost Colon, and I have a feeling Loaiza is going to have at least some sort of decline next year. Kansas City is relatively intact, but I still have the feeling they won more then was probably warranted. And as far as I know, they’re still trying to shop superstar Carlos Beltran.

So the division is ripe for the picking. I’m not saying the Tigers will compete, but if Ilitch allowed Dombrowski to raise payroll to around $75 million, allowing him to overpay and possibly sign Tejada and a top notch starting pitcher, they could certainly be competitive in the division.

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