Tigers trying to work out a deal with Brian Wilson

The Detroit Tigers came into the offseason with the goal of acquiring a closer. After finally settling on Joaquin Benoit, the Tigers knew they had to revamp the bullpen.

After being mentioned as a possible suitor for Joe Nathan, the Tigers reportedly are in negotiations with free agent closer Brian Wilson.

 Wilson met Sunday with Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and with Wilson’s agent, Dan Lozano, in Los Angeles.

Wilson, 31, is coming off a partial 2013 season in which he posted an ERA of 0.66 in 13 2/3 innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wilson didn't make his season debut until Aug. 22 because he was working his way back from Tommy John surgery performed in April of 2012.

Wilson was a three time All Star with the San Francisco Giants, where he had his greatest success. If the Tigers can  sign Wilson it would address the glaring hole in the bullpen they've been trying to ever since Jose Valverde was forced to relinquish the closer's role.

Along with the Tigers, Wilson has also reportedly drawn interest from the Rockies, Rangers, Angels, Mariners and the Indians. He's reportedly looking for a multi-year deal.

Tigers might bring back Jose Valverde

The Detroit Tigers are unsettled in their bullpen. The closer portion to be specific.

After a horrible postseason in which he allowed nine earned runs on 11 hits and one walk in 2 2/3 innings during the postseason, former closer Jose Valverde was shown the door. The Tigers are committed to making rookie Bruce Rondon the closer. Right now the Rondon experiment looks to be on shaky ground.

Valverde hasn't been signed by anyone and he dropped out of the World Baseball Classic (Dominican Republic) for personal reasons.

Last month Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he was "shocked" that Valverde hasn't been signed by anyone. Joel Sherman of the New York Post has reported that Leyland is interested in bringing back Valverde as a safety net in case Rondon can't hold down the job.

Leyland is interested but Valverde actually returning is another story. I would not entertain that thought for one minute. If I'm looking for a safety net, try Brian Wilson on an incentive laden deal.

Bringing back Valverde would do nothing except damage his now fragile psyche after the epic collapse he endured last season. Imagine the chorus of boos raining down on him at Comerica Park. He doesn't need to be back in Detroit and the fans don't want him back.
 

Valverde Denies Role In Spit-Gate

There's always a lot of back and forth between athletes and fans at a sporting event. Most players take it in stride, some fans take the heckling to a different level and which leads to atheletes lashing out. Ask Ron Artest and Vernon Maxwell about that. Recently the mild mannered, good guy Grant Hill even went after a fan. What is the world coming to?

Thursday night Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde was accused of spitting on a Baltimore Orioles fan. Valverde denies that he did it. He did say he spit in that direction but not at the fan. Fellow reliever Daniel Schlereth backed his claim which is basically saying the fan's claim was bogus. I wasn't there so I wouldn't know. I'd like an Orioles fan to clue me in on this one. Valverde said the fan was yelling at him all game. He shouldnt've spit in that direction as it is, that way you're not going into self defense mode.

"This guy's drinking and drinking, and he doesn't know what's going on in the game," Valverde said. "He started doing a lot of stuff, BS. The thing is, you have to sometimes leave it alone, because they pay for that. There's nothing you can do. He paid for the ticket. He can do whatever he wants to. But after a while, he ticked me off …

And sometimes you have to ignore it and be the bigger man. Well Valverde probably already is the bigger man.

"They're shouting, 'You [stink], you piece of …' And I'm tired of that. Everybody's tired. And I tell them, 'You know what, you want to do something? Come on. Come here.' And he told me, '[Forget] you. [Forget] your mother.' He talks about my mother, and I said, 'OK. God bless you.'"



As a fan there are lines you don't cross. Say anything you want but leave family out of it.






  

 

Tigers Dance Off

During Tigerfest, pitcher Jose Valverde and shortstop Ramon Santiago had a dance contest. The final result was that Valverde ended up the winner.