Tigers avoid arbitration with all 4 eligible players
January 16, 2007

DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers avoided salary arbitration with all four of the players that filed, agreeing to one-year contracts Tuesday with outfielder Craig Monroe, left-hander Nate Robertson, right-handed reliever Fernando Rodney and infielder Omar Infante.

Monroe will make $4,775,000 this season after tying a franchise record with five homers in one postseason, helping the Tigers reach the World Series for the first time since 1984. During the regular season, he had a .255 batting average with 28 homers, 35 doubles and 92 RBIs, making $2.8 million. The 29-year-old left fielder had 12 assists, tied for second among American League outfielders.

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Robertson gets $3.26 million, up from $402,5000 last year, when he was 13-13 in 32 starts. The 29-year-old starter set career highs in wins and with a 3.84 ERA and 208 2-3 innings. He is 33-42 with a 4.56 ERA since making his major league debut in 2002 with Florida.

Rodney will make $1.05 million this season, nearly three times the $385,000 he made last year. The 29-year-old was 7-4 with seven saves in 63 appearances last season with the AL champions. He posted a 3.52 ERA and struck out 65 in 71 2-3 innings and ranked sixth among AL relievers with a .196 batting average against.

Infante gets $1.3 million, up from $385,000 last year, when he hit .277 in 78 games with four home runs, 11 doubles and 25 RBIs. The 25-year-old played 37 games at second base, 10 at shortstop, seven at third base, four in center field and also was a designated hitter.

Could we be "dicking" around with not signing Monroe to a longer-term deal because we're looking at Carlos Lee and Soriano?

I love C-Mo... I heard he acts like a dick outside of baseball (and he's a big whore), but I can't say I blame him...

I like the way he plays ball, but he's streaky as hell... At times he seems like a head case that can't "find himself" but when he's on, I agree, he's damn good...

Still, until he levels himself out a bit, and until we lose hope on signing Lee or Soriano, I can understand why C-Mo doesn't get his long-term deal.

Both of those players signed huge long-term contracts in the off-season.

Andruw Jones, however....