Interrupting Monday’s broadcast between the Tigers and the Nationals, Dave Dombrowski had a little more news than the usual minor league update. Such is the life of a MLB GM with under a week until camp’s break for Opening Day. Dombrowski has his eye on the future, and with a line-up in injury flux, he can’t help but think that his team is getting off on the wrong note. The latest news out of Lakeland has Detroit sending reliever Rudy Darrow to the Braves for left-handed outfielder Josh Anderson.
What makes this move so intriguing is the fact that Anderson has been slotted into the 25-man roster, likely taking a spot from a player like Brent Clevlen or Ryan Raburn. Assuming that the regular starting line-up will feature (in no particular order) Granderson, Polanco, Cabrera, Ordonez, Guillen, Sheffield, Laird, Everett and Inge, that would mean the four backups would have to include Matt Treanor, Ramon Santiago, Marcus Thames and Anderson.
So where does this leave us? I would find it hard to believe that one member of the Raburn, Clevlen and Jeff Larish group would be left off the Tigers. It is clear that some significant roster move is on the radar, perhaps one that would try to draw some excitement to a fan base worried by Bonderman’s arm and Willis’ anxiety disorder.
Newest Tiger Josh Anderson