Detroit Free Press

Jeff Seidel | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — I turned right onto Al Kaline Drive and headed toward bizzaro-world, the strangest start to a spring training I’ve ever seen. A morning rain left puddles in the parking lot outside Joker Marchant Stadium, and a dreary sky looked like a wet, grey blanket hanging from

Jeff Seidel | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Tarik Skubal, one of the most important pieces in the Detroit Tigers rebuild, looked “good” — he looked like himself — in his first bullpen Wednesday morning. “He looks good — looks like Skubal,” said catcher Grayson Greiner, who caught the bullpen after pitchers and catchers reported to

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch called a meeting with his catchers after Wednesday’s first pitcher-catcher workout of spring training. He told them to sit down at an outside picnic table near the facility building. Then, Hinch addressed the elephant in the room. “You got Wilson Ramos, and

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers’ AJ Hinch talks pitchers and catchers on report day Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch checks in Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, before the first pitcher-catcher workout at spring training in Lakeland, Florida. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers manager AJ

Evan Petzold,  Darcie Moran | Detroit Free Press Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris says, jokingly, he’ll play center field if that’s what it takes to start this year. The man wants to play baseball and he’s felt that way throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic, even sneaking out to throw balls against a chain-link fence in

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Matt Manning is ready for his MLB debut. Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila isn’t making guarantees, but he is optimistic the prized right-handed prospect will arrive in 2021. Assuming the 23-year-old doesn’t break spring training on the Opening Day roster, expect him in Triple-A Toledo to begin

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press It all happened so fast. The Detroit Tigers were in the middle of a March 12 spring training game in Lakeland, Florida, when some players began to pack their bags. This wasn’t unusual. Spring training allows for added relaxation, unlike the regular season. The locker room culture is loose. Games don’t matter much unless

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers ‘looking for more pitching,’ Al Avila says Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila talks Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, about his team entering spring training, says they could use more pitching. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Spring training is here, and

Gabe Lacques   | USA TODAY Show Caption Hide Caption MLB’s new 2021 COVID-19 protocols are stricter USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale breaks down the MLB’s new health and safety protocols. USA TODAY The Detroit Tigers open spring training Thursday in Lakeland, Florida, with the first full-team workout one week out. There’s still far too many unknowns

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption AJ Hinch: ‘In a perfect world’ Detroit Tigers sign a catcher Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch checks in Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, to discuss the roster and free-agent market as spring training looms. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press Despite COVID-19 concerns, the Detroit Tigers are

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers ‘confident’ fans can safely return to Comerica Park in 2021 Detroit Tigers vice president of ballpark operations Chris Lawrence checks in Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, to discuss fans at spring training in Lakeland. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press The Detroit Tigers improved their farm system’s offense

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press Despite COVID-19 concerns, the Detroit Tigers are returning to Lakeland, Florida, for spring training. It’s the unofficial start of the 2021 season and the beginning of new manager AJ Hinch’s era. Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday, followed by the first full-team workout Feb. 22. The Tigers will play Grapefruit

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press The Detroit Tigers‘ signing of outfielder Nomar Mazara is official. The 25-year-old signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract Thursday night, and the organization announced the move Friday. To make room for Mazara on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher John Schreiber was designated for assignment. Manager AJ Hinch wanted a left-handed

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press There’s a new Grapefruit League schedule, and spring training will proceed despite COVID-19 concerns. The Detroit Tigers, planning for up to 2,000 fans in the stands at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, will play 29 games. The Tigers begin the schedule with a Feb. 28 home game against the Philadelphia Phillies

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop: ‘I want to be better every year’ Detroit Tigers second baseman Jonathan Schoop talks Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, about wanting to showcase his versatility in the infield. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press New leagues for a fewer number of minor league teams

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press Renato Nunez grew up adoring Detroit Tigers veteran Miguel Cabrera. The former two-time American League MVP and Triple Crown winner was an idol, of sorts, even before the prime of his 18-year MLB career. As a teenager, Nunez watched Cabrera, now 37, in the Venezuelan Winter League. Separated by 11 years in

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press The Detroit Tigers signed outfielder Nomar Mazara to a one-year contract worth $1.75 million plus incentives, a source with knowledge of the agreement told the Free Press on Thursday. The source requested anonymity because the team has not yet announced the move. Mazara, 25, played 42 games for the Chicago

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers C Wilson Ramos: ‘I know how to handle’ young pitchers Detroit Tigers catcher Wilson Ramos talks Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, about joining a new team and working with young pitchers. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press The Detroit Tigers might have just picked up

Bill Dow  |  Special to Detroit Free Press As part of his series on former Detroit sports figures, Bill Dow caught up with former longtime Detroit sports broadcaster Ray Lane who celebrated his 91st birthday on Tuesday. How we remember him As one of the most versatile and respected Detroit sports broadcasters ever, Lane at

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop: ‘I want to be better every year’ Detroit Tigers second baseman Jonathan Schoop talks Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, about wanting to showcase his versatility in the infield. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press The Detroit Tigers signed infielder Greg Garcia to a