Carlos Gomez celebrates in the locker room after the Twins defeated the Tigers to win the American League Central. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
What happens to the Tigers' cast of injured and disabled players between now and February will have obvious effects on next season, not to mention roster plans crafted this autumn and winter.
Dave Dombrowski, president and general manager of the Tigers, was asked about this Friday in Florida, where he was inspecting prospects during the instructional program at their Tigertown complex.
There was little news, which on balance favors the Tigers:
"No question," said Dombrowski, who knows a healthy Zumaya could replace Fernando Rodney as the closer after Rodney, as expected, leaves for a free-agent contract elsewhere.
Bonderman's prognosis is strong for the simple reason he showed dramatic improvement from June to August in rebuilding the muscle and nerve areas severed during his 2008 thoracic surgery. The Tigers knew the right-hander was looking at a long recovery, based on the amount of healing he faced.
But they saw enough during his late-season bullpen appearances to believe he will be ready. Bonderman, of course, still needs a third pitch, which is why some wonder if he might be better suited to the bullpen.
It's a reasonable thought, except that Bonderman has 200-inning capacity as a starter. It's easier to find relievers than workhorses of Bonderman's capability.
As for Robertson, if he throws with as much zip as he generally displayed during September, the Tigers might have the left-handed starter they desperately need. The removal of cysts from his throwing elbow in June clearly restored some of Robertson's zing.
Realistically, it's not going to happen. The Tigers won't say, but they likely recovered somewhere in the vicinity of 50 percent of Willis' $10 million salary in 2009, because of insurance protection clubs uniformly take out on players of Willis' stature and expense.
But he hit only .230 with 170 strikeouts.
The consensus was that Inge's aching left knee sabotaged the second half of his season. The Tigers will wait for doctors to determine if surgery, rather than rehabilitation, might yet be needed.
By the numbers
5 Complete games for Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Jarrod Washburn.
20 Stolen bases by Curtis Granderson. No other current Tiger had more than seven.
141 Strikeouts for Curtis Granderson, exceeded only by Brandon Inge's 170.
Still working
Here are the Tigers prospects playing in the 2009 Arizona Fall League (the prospects play for the Peoria Javelinas in the six-team league):
History in the making
A look at the milestones Tigers players reached this season:
| Player | Category | Milestone | Set (Opponent) |
| Miguel Cabrera | Home runs | 200 | Aug. 23 (Oakland) |
| Brandon Inge | Games | 1,000 | April 13 (Chicago White Sox) |
| Magglio Ordonez | At-bats | 6,000 | May 24 (Colorado) |
| Placido Polanco | At-bats | 5,000 | May 7 (Chicago White Sox) |
| Curtis Granderson | Triples | 50 | May 13 (Minnesota) |
| Magglio Ordonez | RBI | 1,100 | April 22 (L.A. Angels) |
| Placido Polanco | Hits | 1,500 | April 11 (Texas) |
Key dates
2010 schedule highlights
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