Tigers offer Pudge 40 million

Tigers Offer Rodriguez Four-Year, $40 Million Contract
Cubs, Orioles Also Interested in Former AL MVP
By LARRY LAGE, AP SPORTS

DETROIT (Jan. 16) -- Ivan Rodriguez has been offered a $40 million, four-year
contract by the Detroit Tigers, a baseball source told the Associated Press on
Friday.


The 10-time All-Star catcher and his agent, Scott Boras, were in Detroit on
Thursday, according to the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said earlier this week the
team is interested in Rodriguez, but has declined to elaborate much on his
discussions with Boras.

"We continue to explore the situation," Dombrowski said Friday, before flying
to the Chicago area for his father's birthday. "I don't expect anything
imminently."

The Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles also have expressed interest in
Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, MVP of the NL Championship Series, had a $10 million, one-year deal
with the Florida Marlins last season and helped them win the World Series. He
asked for a $40 million, four-year contract from Florida, which broke off talks
Dec. 7 by refusing to offer salary arbitration.

Detroit set an AL record with 119 losses last season -- one short of the modern
major league record held by the 1962 New York Mets.

The Tigers have been active in the free-agent market, but they have not signed
an undisputed star such as Rodriguez.

Second baseman Fernando Vina and outfielder Rondell White agreed to $6 million,
two-year deals.

At a lower level, Detroit also agreed to one-year contracts with right-hander
Al Levine ($925,000) and catcher Mike DiFelice ($650,000) and to a minor league
deal with third baseman Greg Norton, who would get a $600,000, one-year
contract if he is added to the roster.

DiFelice was signed to back up Brandon Inge, a solid catcher defensively, who
hit .203 with eight home runs in 104 games.


01/16/04 20:08 EST

On 17 Jan 2004 07:49:31 GMT, marlinnation.TakeThisOut@aol.com (Marlin Nation)
wrote:

>Tigers Offer Rodriguez Four-Year, $40 Million Contract
>Cubs, Orioles Also Interested in Former AL MVP

Why would the Orioles be interested in Pudge, having just signed Javy
Lopez? Both are first-string catchers.