(AP) Polanco hit .529 en route to the 2006 ALCS MVP award.
The Tigers announced this afternoon that they have offered arbitration to relief pitchers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon. The Tigers declined to offer arbitration to second baseman Placido Polanco.
Rodney, 32, had 37 saves for the Tigers in 2009, a year in which he made $2.7 million. He'll likely get a hefty raise if he decides to accept the Tigers' offer.
Lyon, 30, earned $4.25 million in 2009 after coming over via free agency last season from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lyon went 6-5 with a 2.85 ERA and recorded three saves in his first season in Detroit.
By refusing to offer arbitration to Polanco, the 34-year-old Dominican's time in Detroit appears to be up. Polanco spent five seasons in Detroit, after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, hitting .311 with 37 home runs and 285 RBI in a Tiger uniform. Polanco earned $4.6 million in 2009.
Polanco was a key component in the Tigers run to the 2006 World Series, having been named the MVP of the 2006 ALCS. Polanco hit .529 in the four-game sweep over the Oakland A's. Polanco had 186-game errorless streak at second base for the Tigers, dating from July 1, 2006 to April 8, 2008.
Scott Sizemore is the likely candidate to fill in for the two-time Gold Glove winner. Sizemore hit .308 in 71 games at Triple-A Toledo in 2009.
As expected, the Tigers also declined to offer arbitration to Jarrod Washburn and Aubrey Huff. They also declined to offer arbitration to shortstop Adam Everett.
Comments