Extensions

After making the offseason’s first bold move by trading three pitching prospects for Gary Sheffield, the Tigers front office went silent for several weeks. Some clamored for another impact move, despite clear indications that value would be hard to come by in a feverish free-agent market.

Instead of overpaying for mediocrity, general manager Dave Dombrowski made two wise investments in the team’s future, striking four-year contract extensions with third baseman Brandon Inge and righthanded workhorse Jeremy Bonderman — two holdovers from 2003 who exemplify just how far the organization has come in three years.

Both deals are solid, and the Bonderman contract is a steal if he remains healthy through 2010.

Inge is beloved by the media for his quotability, but in a very real sense he represents the resurrection of Detroit baseball. Three years ago, Inge was one of the worst players in the major leagues, a historically inept hitter whose single obvious talent – freakish athleticism – was wasted behind the plate. Now he has turned himself into a competent batsman and a dazzling defender, and although he’s 30, there’s reason to believe his immense physical gifts will allow him to perform capably for the duration of his new contract. 

With Inge a pending free agent and no other viable third-base prospects approaching the majors, Dombrowski’s hand may have been forced here. Even so, this is a good deal for both sides.

 The Bonderman pact is even more impressive. The price for pitching — always high — has skyrocketed this winter, with NRI fodder earning $21 million (Jason Marquis) and marginal fourth starters getting ace money (Gil Meche). And the Tigers were able to buy out the first two of Bonderman’s free agency years, giving them a steadily improving young pitcher through what are likely to be the finest years of his career. In addition, the deal offers cost certainty that is especially valuable to a team with a mix of big-money contracts and young players approaching arbitration.

The obvious next move is to determine Carlos Guillen’s interest in signing a contract extension before he hits free agency in November 2007. But Guillen’s is a more complicated negotiation for several reasons — at age 31, his next deal is likely to be his last chance at big money, and his last contract was signed at a team-friendly discount, meaning he may feel an obligation to chase the dollars this time. Guillen’s checkered injury history also raises questions about the wisdom of an expensive multiyear deal.

Again, the Tigers are somewhat boxed in by a farm system lacking impact position players. It appears Omar Infante will never get a fair shot as a starter in Detroit, and Tony Giarratano’s prospect status has been wrecked by injuries and poor performance, leaving the team with no clear option at shortstop should Guillen leave.

There’s no doubt Guillen is a tremendous asset, and I hope he and the Tigers can devise a way to keep him in the uniform for another three years. But the situation is muddier in Guillen’s case, and I won’t be surprised (or particularly unhappy) if we don’t hear about this until closer to Spring Training.

Although they didn’t address holes at first base and in left field, I think the Tigers are a clear winter winner, thanks to the Sheffield trade and the Inge and Bonderman extensions. If the team can get Guillen’s signature on a fair new deal, that will be gravy.