The Tigers announced that they've agreed to sign Ramon Santiago to a two-year contract. The deal guarantees Santiago slightly more than $4MM, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The 32-year-old infielder will provide manager Jim Leyland with a familiar option for three infield positions.
Santiago hit .260/.311/.384 in Detroit this past season, appearing at shortstop, second and third. He became the Tigers’ regular second baseman toward the end of the season and continued starting in the postseason. He was not a ranked free agent, so the team would not have obtained a draft pick had he signed elsewhere.
Though the Tigers like Santiago, they didn't appear to view him as an everyday solution at second base heading into the offseason. It's not clear if they now view him as a viable everyday starter or if he'll return as a utility player.
Does anyone remember this Rod Allen story?
A few years ago the Tigers are playing a regular season game, and Santiago comes up to bat. The Tigers color commentator Rod Allen says “Santiago has what I like to call ‘sneaky power’! How many home runs does he have this year? 5? 6?”
Mario Impemba: “One.”
*dead silence for 10 seconds*
Rod: “That’s sneaky!”
I wouldn’t call a 32-year old aging
Now, Jamey Carroll..
I suppose, but I still feel like Worth could potentially give similar production.
Very glad we kept him. Seriously though he needs to be in the running for the 2d base job. One bad year, 2003, is not a good indication of his value.
The Tigers don’t think he’s an everyday player so unless something changes drastically between now and opening day, that’s not going to happen while Santiago is a Tiger.