Monroe, Robertson avoid arbitration
Tigers also agree to one-year deals with Rodney, Infante

The Tigers haven't gone to an arbitration ruling with a player since Dave Dombrowski joined the organization five years ago. Surprisingly, that streak continues.

Faced with four potential cases heading into Tuesday's deadline for exchanging salary proposals, the Tigers reached one-year contracts with all of them -- outfielder Craig Monroe, left-hander Nate Robertson, reliever Fernando Rodney and infielder Omar Infante.

On a team that won the American League championship last year on the strength of emerging young players, to have no lingering contracts is something that could catch folks off-guard. Among them, honestly, was the Tigers front man negotiating the deals.

"I give the agents credit. I give the players credit," vice president and legal counsel John Westhoff said. "We were able to kind of roll up our sleeves. I'm happy with the deals. I think they're fair deals. We were surprised."

Westhoff went to work Tuesday with none of the cases settled, though he admitted a couple of cases were already close. Rodney's agent, Bill Rego, said he and the Tigers made significant progress in talks over the last few days.

The Tigers were supposed to submit their salary proposals to the Commissioner's Office at noon. Their last deal, Westhoff said, was completed with a few minutes to spare.

They could've settled after exchanging numbers anyway, but Westhoff said, "I think the deadline today kind of drives people to their bottom line."

Of the four, only Monroe had been eligible for arbitration before; his agent, Adam Katz, and the Tigers exchanged numbers a year ago before settling. He batted .255 with 28 home runs, leading the team, and 92 RBIs. He also finished second among AL outfielders with 12 assists.

The right-handed slugger, who turns 30 years old next month, will make $4,775,000 this year, up from $2.8 million last season. He could become a free agent after the 2008 campaign.

Robertson agreed to a $3.26 million base salary plus performance bonuses after establishing himself in the Tigers rotation. The 29-year-old went 13-13 with a 3.84 ERA in 2006, both career bests along with his first 200-inning season, before starting the opening games of Detroit's AL Division Series and the ALCS.

Like Robertson, the 29-year-old Rodney was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter after barely missing out on the service time required to qualify last offseason. He had battled injuries and inconsistency for much of his career, but found a late-inning role in Detroit's bullpen last year in his first full Major League season.

The Dominican native led Tigers pitchers with 63 appearances in the regular season, filling in for injured Todd Jones as closer for the first month and a half before he settled in as a setup man. He went 7-4 with seven saves in 11 chances and a 3.52 ERA, allowing just 51 hits over 71 2/3 innings. His .196 batting average allowed ranked sixth-lowest among American League relievers with at least 54 innings pitched. He made $385,000 last year.

Rodney is expected to hold down a similar role in the bullpen this year. The addition of Jose Mesa as a free agent could mean fewer multi-inning outings.

The 25-year-old Infante had been mentioned in trade rumors during the offseason, but returns to Detroit as a versatile utility player with a $1.3 million contract. He played at four different positions over the course of last season while batting .277 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. Of the three utility infielders currently on the Tigers roster, Infante has the most offensive punch.

With those deals, Dombrowski has gone nearly a decade as a general manager with two different clubs without an arbitration ruling. His last one, coincidentally, came after his last World Series appearance. Then-Marlins catcher Charles Johnson earned a tenfold raise coming off Florida's first world championship in 1997.

By avoiding it this time, the Tigers' contract matters are just about finished for the upcoming season, though they'll still have to work on one-year deals with players who aren't yet arbitration-eligible. They're also expected to discuss a contract extension for shortstop Carlos Guillen, who could become a free agent next winter.
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Rodney, Tigers finalize two-year deal
Setup man prevents arbitration with incentive-filled contract

A couple of days after agreeing to a one-year deal, the Tigers and reliever Fernando Rodney added another. Rodney now has a two-year contract worth at least $2.7 million that gives the Tigers cost certainty in their bullpen while giving the 29-year-old setup man and part-time closer some job security.

Rodney was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter after enjoying his first full, healthy Major League season in 2006 with a team-high 63 appearances. His .196 batting average allowed ranked sixth lowest among American League relievers with at least 54 innings pitched. While Rodney led the team with seven relief victories, none of them came in blown saves. He entered September with a 3.20 ERA before finishing the year at 3.52.

Rodney pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings against Oakland in the ALCS before pitching in four of the Tigers' five World Series games. He gave up two earned runs in four innings against the Cardinals, while two unearned tallies came on a throwing error in Game 4.

"Last year, he stepped up big-time, particularly in the postseason. I think he's proven to us he can pitch in the big game."

Rodney becomes the third Tiger this winter to agree to a multi-year deal and the first one out of the group of first-time arbitration eligibles. President/general manager Dave Dombrowski usually prefers to give such players one-year contracts unless there's a clear incentive for locking them up for another year. The Tigers front office usually doesn't look to lock up players beyond their free-agency years until they're eligible for arbitration for at least the second time.

Between the escalating salaries for relievers and Rodney's Tommy John elbow surgery in 2004, there was mutual interest in a multi-year contract when the season ended. Vice president and legal counsel John Westhoff said that they had a two-year agreement in place earlier in the week, but they couldn't finalize it until Rodney underwent a physical. They chose to announce a one-year, $1.05 million contract on Tuesday rather than exchange arbitration figures and continue that process.

The new deal actually lowers Rodney's salary this year to $1 million, but he'll be guaranteed $1.7 million in 2008. The key from Rodney's side is incentives if he ends up filling in at closer, which he did for the first month and a half last season while Todd Jones was on the disabled list. The escalating incentives are based on games finished, from a partial bonus for 30 games up to $1 million if he finishes 55 games this year.

"That's why we were very pleased with John Westhoff and the Tigers organization, because they've always seen the value in Fernando," said Bill Rego, Rodney's agent and president of RSM Sports Management. "They've guaranteed their upside by getting a second year, and they're granting our upside by giving us a fair incentive package."

Added Westhoff: "That was one of those deals where it made sense for [Rodney], because he wanted the security, and it made sense for us because he could make more per year if he becomes a top-flight setup man."

If Rodney were to close in 2008, after Jones' contract has expired, he can go back to arbitration the following winter as a fifth-year player. He'd be eligible for free agency as soon as after the 2009 season.

All in all, it's quite a comeback for a pitcher whose arm and career were marked by uncertainty two years ago.

"I couldn't be happier for Fernando Rodney," Rego said. "He's not only a client, but also a friend and at times a son."
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