DETROIT (AP) — Ron Gardenhire sized up his new team's future in a way Detroit fans can surely appreciate."Rebuild is normally saved for automobiles," the new Tigers manager said recently. "I understand it. We're trying to do some things here, from the minor league system, all the way through, the way we go about it."On the way to 98 losses last year, Detroit traded Justin Verlander, Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez, fully committing to a rebuilding process that could be painful, at least in the short term. The Tigers come into 2018 with low expectations — the bill has come due after years of win-now aggressiveness.Detroit's expensive roster was not performing and the farm system wasn't good enough. So the Tigers began the difficult task of sending some of their biggest names elsewhere. Miguel Cabrera is the lone star still around, and he's coming off the worst season of his career. His big contract may keep him in Detroit for a while.The Tigers still have Victor Martinez, as well, and right-hander... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Cleveland IndiansManager: Terry Francona (sixth season).2017: 102-60, first place, lost to New York Yankees in ALDS.Training Town: Goodyear, Arizona.Park: Goodyear Ballpark.First Workout: Feb. 15/19.He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, OF Melvin Upton Jr., RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Going campin': Poised to possibly end their 70-year-old World Series title drought, the Indians, who reeled off 22 straight victories in 2017, didn't even make it back to the AL Championship Series after squandering a 2-0 playoff lead against the Yankees. Unlike last winter, when the club signed DH Edwin Encarnacion in free agency, the Indians were relatively quiet, counting on their core to carry them in... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — With 580 big league games under his belt, Nicholas Castellanos qualifies as a veteran on the rebuilding Detroit Tigers.He's still only 25.As Castellanos takes on a bigger leadership role this year, he made it clear he'll have his own approach to mentoring younger players. His attitude will be a carefree one — which he says helped him play well down the stretch in 2017."I think I'm going to be a playful leader. I think that it's not going to be work," he said Saturday at Detroit's TigerFest event at Comerica Park. "My goal is that win, lose or draw, we're kids playing baseball, and the rebuild is going to be as fun or as miserable as we make it."It was pretty rough at the end of last season, when the Tigers traded Justin Verlander and went 6-24 down the stretch. Castellanos, though, hit .368 in September and finished with career highs of 26 home runs and 101 RBIs.Castellanos said he had "a blast" in September, in part because he didn't feel a lot of pressure. That was also... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have started their winter caravan, an annual reminder that spring training isn't far off.It's a chance for fans to start thinking about baseball again — but this season, their hopes and expectations may be a bit subdued."Every ballclub in baseball has been through ups and downs. The one thing that I've said all along is: Yes, we're in a rebuild," said Ron Gardenhire, Detroit's new manager . "When I took this job I knew this coming in — we were going to move people, and we're still maybe not done. But the thing that you have here is a bunch of guys that have been a little battle tested from last year, that are hungry."After a 98-loss season, the Tigers enter the 2018 campaign with minimal buzz. Since last year's All-Star break, they've traded J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Justin Verlander and Ian Kinsler, part of a rebuilding process that will probably require a lot of patience among the fan base. The next couple years could be difficult on the field — a... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Michael Fulmer and Victor Martinez are expected to be at full strength at spring training for the Detroit Tigers.General manager Al Avila gave an update on their status Wednesday following a luncheon with Detroit Sports Media. Fulmer had elbow surgery in September, around the same time Martinez underwent a surgical procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat.After winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, Fulmer went 10-12 with a 3.83 ERA last season."He's thrown out to 180 feet with no restrictions and no setbacks, so right now he's on track to be 100 percent coming into spring training," Avila said.Martinez hit .255 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 2017. The 39-year-old DH is entering the last season of a four-year contract."The last report on Victor is that he's doing everything normal, there's no setbacks, and that he's expected to be in spring training also 100 percent," Avila said.Fulmer's health is a crucial issue for the Tigers. The 24-year-old right-hander is the... [More]

1B Miguel Cabrera was held out for the sixth straight game with a back injury on Friday and manager Brad Ausmus told reporters after the game that it's "extremely doubtful" Cabrera will play in the final two games. Cabrera has been bothered by the back injury for much of the season and hit just .249 with 16 homers and 60 RBIs in 130 games.

1B Miguel Cabrera said he will get a second opinion of his two bulging discs when he returns home Monday to Florida. It is questionable whether he will play again this season. "If I feel good, I'll play," Cabrera said. "I'd like to play. If I get a chance to go up there and do something, I've got to do it, you know. Because you've got to go out there and try to win for these young guys." Cabrera said he plans to get on an off-season program to strengthen his core. "This Monday I'll talk to the doctor I'll see in Miami and show the MRI to another to see a different opinion and we'll go from there," said Cabrera, the American League 2012-13 MVP. Cabrera is hitting a career-worst .249 with 16 homers and 60 RBIs. It will be the first time since 2008 that he did not bat .300. He turns 35 on April 18.

1B Miguel Cabrera is seeking a second opinion after a MRI on Sunday detected two herniated discs. "Someone else to look at the MRI. It's pretty standard, really," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "I don't think there's a treatment they've decided on." A decision has not been made whether Cabrera will play again this year. "I don't know that there's an upside or a downside to it, quite frankly," Ausmus said. "Everyone wants to make this into a career-ending injury, but it's very common." Ausmus said he played 10 years with a very similar injury.

1B Miguel Cabrera, increasingly being taken out of games early because of his lower back issues, learned after going through an MRI Sunday that he's been playing with two herniated discs in his lower back, those between the L3 and L4 plus and L4/L5 vertebrae. "I think it's probably slowly developed," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He' s got a track record of playing through pain, so how much it affects him is tough to tell. He would play through pain the majority of players wouldn't play through, and he wants to play every day, so he'll often downplay the severity." Ausmus said doctors told him surgery was not indicated at this time and Cabrera wants to play as many games as he can of Detroit's last six. That would be as a DH, Ausmus said. Cabrera has already indicated his workouts this winter will includes strengthening core and back muscles.

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera has been playing with two herniated disks in his back, an MRI disclosed Sunday, but he still wants to play through the pain and finish the season. Manager Brad Ausmus said "treatment is to be determined" but added Cabrera "has already indicated to me that he wants to go on the road. We're certainly not ruling out the possibility that he can play again. I would imagine it would be in a DH role." Doctors examining the MRI did not indicate surgery was required at this time. Cabrera, 34, is hitting .249 this season, his lowest average in his 15 major league seasons. He has hit 22 homers, and the only season in which he hit fewer was his rookie season in 2003, when he had 21.

1B Miguel Cabrera was taken out of Saturday night's game after the first inning when his lower back tightened up again. He is doubtful to play Sunday. "He's probably going to get an MRI Sunday," manager Brad Ausmus said. "I'd be surprised if he plays, especially with the off-day following that." Cabrera blooped a single near the right field foul line but it appeared the injury happened when he stretch out in a vain attempt to catch 3B Jeimer Candelario's wild throw on a bunt single by 2B Brian Dozier leading off the game.

1B Miguel Cabrera returned to first base Thursday night after serving as Detroit's designated hitter during the Tigers' three-game series with the Athletics. He was 1-for-2 with a walk before being removed for a pinch-hitter in the eighth. Lower back stiffness caused Cabrera to miss last Sunday's game. He is expected to be in the lineup Friday.

1B Miguel Cabrera served as the designated hitter. He went hitless in five at-bats, dropping his season average to .245. He missed Sunday's game with lower back stiffness. Cabrera has been nagged by back issues much of the season but he hasn't required an MRI recently, manager Brad Ausmus said.

1B Miguel Cabrera, removed from the Saturday game after four innings with back stiffness, did not play Sunday. "He doesn't want to sit down, clearly," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He wants to play. He's always tried to play through even bad injuries. The back has flared up more frequently. But this is going to be an issue the rest of his career." Expect Cabrera to return to the starting lineup Monday against Oakland.

1B Miguel Cabrera left the game after four innings when his lower back tightened up on him. He was replaced by C/1B John Hicks. Cabrera has been plagued by back problems since spring training. "All that standing around on defense is tough for him," manager Brad Ausmus said. "It started to tighten up in the first couple innings."

1B Miguel Cabrera returned from a six-game suspension Saturday and hit a two-run homer in the first inning in the 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Cabrera was suspended for his part in brawl with the New York Yankees. "Getting six games off would allow the body to refresh itself," manager Brad Ausmus said. "In typical Miggy fashion, first at-bat he hits a home run." The homer was No. 461, tying him with 3B Adrian Beltre for 37th on the all-time list.

1B Miguel Cabrera had his suspension reduced from seven games to six Saturday and the Tigers announced he would begin serving it immediately. Cabrera thus was not in the lineup Saturday for Detroit's late-afternoon game against Cleveland. He was 0-for-3 in Friday night's second game.

1B Miguel Cabrera did not start for the second straight day due to lower back tightness, which caused him to be removed from Monday's game. However, Cabrera came up as a pinch hitter in the eighth with no outs and the bases loaded. He grounded into a double play, which netted a run and increased Detroit's lead to 6-1 in what became a 6-2 victory.

1B Miguel Cabrera did not play due to lower back tightness, which caused him to be removed from Monday's game in the fifth inning. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said, "He's still a littlesore. He's probably not going to play today or tomorrow and give him the off day (Thursday). We'll see how he is tomorrow. If he comes in and says, 'I feel great,' he might go out. He told me yesterday it didn't bother him swinging, it was more standing around on defense. It started in the WBC, so it's reared its head a number of times. Quite frankly, I think he's going to probably deal with it the rest of his career -- the back issues arriving at times. I had the same issues the last 10 years of my career."

1B Miguel Cabrera was removed from the game with lower back tightness, something he has been dealing with throughout the season. The plodding early pace of the game contributed to Cabrera's back condition. Manager Brad Ausmus said, "Quite frankly, I think it was all the standing around early in the game. His back started to tighten up on him. He said he was able to hit, but in order to hit, he'd have to go stand out at first base again so we let him hit that one at-bat (in the fifth) and made the change."