
Once again, John Smoltz is on the open market, and questions of a return home to Michigan naturally follow. Again, however, that doesn't appear to be happening.While several teams have expressed interest in Smoltz, including some clubs examining him as a closer, the Tigers aren't one of them...

Jim Leyland received two third-place votes out of 28 ballots for American League Manager of the Year from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.Angels skipper Mike Scioscia, for whom Leyland has been outspoken in admiration, won the award with 15 first-place votes...

Mike Hessman was a Toledo Mud Hen for five years. He joined the club back when they had a prospect named Curtis Granderson in center field, a slugger named Marcus Thames and a first-base mix of Chris Shelton and Carlos Pena...

Justin Verlander wasn't expected to win the AL Cy Young award, but his 19 wins and 269 votes presented a strong case. He got one first-place vote, but finished third behind Zack Greinke and Felix Hernandez. He beat out CC Sabathia and Roy Halladay...

Just a reminder that MLB Network will be airing the Bob Costas interview with Ernie Harwell on Inside Studio 42 tonight at 8pm ET. It looks like a very good piece, likely to tug at the heart again. If you miss it, it'll air again tonight at 11pm ET.

Honestly, there were more highlights from Ernie Harwell's lengthy interview with Bob Costas for the hour-long Studio 42 show than I have room to describe. Some were included in the preview article from last week...

Rick Porcello finished third in AL Rookie of the Year balloting, just released. A's closer Andrew Bailey earned 13 of the 28 first-place votes. Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus finished second. Porcello received seven first-place votes, eight votes for second place and five votes for third...

Trade interest in Curtis Granderson is expected to draw teams that already have an established center fielder...

By now, you can tell it's going to be a crazy stretch of reported interest in the Tigers' trading pieces, and it's just starting...

While trade rumors build around the Tigers regarding players they control, their interest in their own free agents hasn't gone away, at least not for most of them.The Tigers have had contact with the agents for relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon, second baseman Placido Polanco and shortstop...

Placido Polanco is the Tigers' lone Gold Glove award winner this year, picking up his second such award in three years and adding another honor to his resume as he hits the free-agent market...

Yes, free agent reliever J.J. Putz confirmed, the Tigers would be a situation that interests him. But then, a lot of situations would interest him. "I'd have interest in most teams, including the Tigers," Putz wrote in an email to MLB.com Tuesday....

The tight payroll the Tigers have to manage is the biggest challenge in their offseason dealings. That much was clear even before the report Tuesday night on Edwin Jackson...

Former Tigers infielder Tom Brookens is headed back to Detroit, this time to join manager Jim Leyland's coaching staff as the new first-base, outfield and baserunning coach.The Tigers announced Brookens Monday as their replacement for Andy Van Slyke, who parted ways with the club last month...









