Chris McCosky

Tigers' bullpen reconstruction project still far from being finished Assuming good health, five spots in the Tigers' bullpen are set. The other three, though, appear to open for the taking.

“Listen, we’ve cut a reliever in the lobby of a hotel before our first game in four consecutive years. Someone is going to have coffee with me in San Diego and not love the setting.”
--AJ Hinch on bullpen decisions

Tigers' Tarik Skubal contemplates staying with Team USA for another start The plan was for Tarik Skubal to be one and done with Team USA. But after a dominant performance against Great Britain Saturday, he's hungry for more.

AJ Hinch, Justin Verlander, Casey Mize and others weigh in on Tarik Skubal's pending emotional decision. "We support him, 100 percent"...

Tigers pitching plan today in Dunedin

Bryan Sammons
Sean Guenther
Tyler Mattison
Cole Waites
Konnor Pilkington

Tigers today in Dunedin

Tigers' Tarik Skubal contemplates staying with Team USA for another start The plan was for Tarik Skubal to be one and done with Team USA. But after a dominant performance against Great Britain Saturday, he's hungry for more.

"When you get into these environments, when you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from that."
--Tarik Skubal

Tigers' Will Vest gearing up for potential role with Team USA In three years, Will Vest has gone from being a final cut in camp to a potential leverage reliever role with Team USA in the quarterfinals.

Three years ago, Will Vest was among the final cuts in spring. In a week, he could be pitching leverage innings for Team USA in the WBC quarterfinals...

For Tigers' Casey Mize, sleight-of-hand glove work a double-edged play Casey Mize's third spring start was productive in all ways but one, an important one. His fastball command and velo were out of whack.

Tigers game report
—Mize hopes fastball funk will be a quick fix
—Slater not going quietly
—Aggression escalating
—Dingler inching closer
—Holton dialed

For Tigers' Casey Mize, sleight-of-hand glove work a double-edged play Casey Mize's third spring start was productive in all ways but one, an important one. His fastball command and velo were out of whack.

Tigers game report
—Mize hopes fastball funk will be a quick fix
—Slater not going quietly
—Aggression escalating
—Dingler inching closer
—Holton dialed

Tigers' Will Vest gearing up for potential role with Team USA In three years, Will Vest has gone from being a final cut in camp to a potential leverage reliever role with Team USA in the quarterfinals.

Three years ago, Will Vest was among the final cuts in spring. In a week, he could be pitching leverage innings for Team USA in the WBC quarterfinals...

The Tigers-Pirates game today in Lakeland will showcase baseball's two top prospects -- No. 1 Konnor Griffin, who is starting at shortstop for the Bucs, and No. 2 Kevin McGonigle, who is expected to sub in at some point.

Will Vest expects to join Team USA for the quarterfinal round if the team gets out of pool play. "It's exciting," he said. "Hopefully they do their business in pool play and I can get in there. It'll be fun."

Tigers today

Tigers send out 5 more players, including injured Josue Briceño Busy morning in Lakeland, with players moving in and out of manager AJ Hinch’s office and in and out of the trainer's room.

Tigers notebook
--Tough morning for Josue Briceño
--Drew Sommers sent out with a clear message
--Is time running out for Beau Brieske?
--Updates on Baez, Melton, Dingler and Lee

Justin Verlander conquers nerves, emotions in spring debut with Tigers The first ovation got to him. And he’d get four more before his day was done.

“I don’t want this to sound like this is it, but it could be. I’m on a one-year contract. If something catastrophic goes wrong, then that’s it. I’m done. All I know is there isn’t that much time left, so enjoy it while I can.”
—Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander conquers nerves, emotions in spring debut with Tigers The first ovation got to him. And he’d get four more before his day was done.

“I don’t want this to sound like this is it, but it could be. I’m on a one-year contract. If something catastrophic goes wrong, then that’s it. I’m done. All I know is there isn’t that much time left, so enjoy it while I can.”
—Justin Verlander

Tigers send out 5 more players, including injured Josue Briceño Busy morning in Lakeland, with players moving in and out of manager AJ Hinch’s office and in and out of the trainer's room.

Tigers notebook
--Tough morning for Josue Briceño
--Drew Sommers sent out with a clear message
--Is time running out for Beau Brieske?
--Updates on Baez, Melton, Dingler and Lee

Tigers today optioned LHPs Drew Sommers and Jake Miller to Toledo. Josue Briceno, Matt Seelinger and Ben Malgeri assigned to minors camp

Tigers today

Tigers at mid-camp: McGonigle decision, bullpen battles going to wire The toughest decision, as it stands right now, of course, is whether to start the season with No. 2-ranked prospect Kevin McGonigle.

Where Tigers roster battles stand at the midpoint of camp...

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander's relentless pursuit of greatness unabated by time You hear players say it all the time: They are not a finished product. Justin Verlander is a living embodiment of that truth.

Tigers pitching plan today v. Red Sox in Lakeland

Justin Verlander
Drew Anderson
Will Vest
Jack Little
Tanner Rainey

Tigers at mid-camp: McGonigle decision, bullpen battles going to wire The toughest decision, as it stands right now, of course, is whether to start the season with No. 2-ranked prospect Kevin McGonigle.

Where Tigers roster battles stand at the midpoint of camp...

Kyle Finnegan's late-bloom story heartening for Tigers' non-roster hopefuls Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan didn’t debut until he was 28 years old, spending eight seasons in the minors, including parts of four years in Triple A.

"I feel I have a lot to offer to a guy that’s been grinding it. My journey through the minor leagues is still paying dividends.”
—Kyle Finnegan

Minor-league campers ignite late rally, Tigers get 4-4 tie in Dominican Javier Báez was held out of both games in the Dominican Republic. He is dealing with back tightness.

Meanwhile in the Dominican, Javier Báez was held out of both games in the Dominican Republic. He is dealing with back tightness.

Report is updated to include news that Tigers prospect Hao-Yu Lee has been removed from the Chinese Taipei roster because of a left oblique strain. He is returning to Lakeland for further evaluation.

Montero note has been updated with AJ Hinch comments from the Dominican Republic...

Montero note has been updated with AJ Hinch comments from the Dominican Republic...

Report is updated to include news that Tigers prospect Hao-Yu Lee has been removed from the Chinese Taipei roster because of a left oblique strain. He is returning to Lakeland for further evaluation.

Minor-league campers ignite late rally, Tigers get 4-4 tie in Dominican Javier Báez was held out of both games in the Dominican Republic. He is dealing with back tightness.

Meanwhile in the Dominican, Javier Báez was held out of both games in the Dominican Republic. He is dealing with back tightness.

Kyle Finnegan's late-bloom story heartening for Tigers' non-roster hopefuls Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan didn’t debut until he was 28 years old, spending eight seasons in the minors, including parts of four years in Triple A.

"I feel I have a lot to offer to a guy that’s been grinding it. My journey through the minor leagues is still paying dividends.”
—Kyle Finnegan

Staying home turns out to be perfect tonic for Tigers' Jack Flaherty Jack Flaherty pitched three scoreless innings with three strikeouts in the Tigers’ 2-1 exhibition win over Team Panama at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Tigers game report
--Jack Flaherty had the option of pitching in the Dominican series. He smartly opted stay in his routine
--Kerry Carpenter's first spring dinger, left on left to left
--Back-end bullpen staples sharp v. Panama