The Tigers have acquired 26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Josh Anderson from the Braves for 24-year old righty reliever Rudy Darrow. Anderson played in 40 games for the Braves last season and he was 40 for 136 (.294 avg, .764 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 3 homers, 12 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He has now played in 61 games in his major league career in which he is 64 for 203 (.315 avg, .783 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 3 homers, 23 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. The Braves didn’t give Anderson away however as Darrow was the #14 ranked prospect in the Tigers’ minor league system according to Baseball America. Darrow pitched in 47 games (0 starts) in A+AA ball last season in which he was 5-3 with 10 saves, a 2.02 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

The Tigers have returned Rule 5 Pick Kyle Bloom to the Pirates. He pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Tigers this spring and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 8.44 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. This is likely a good sign for the Tigers who really shouldn’t carry a pitcher like Bloom just to keep him for the future.

The Tigers have placed lefty starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis on the 15-day disabled list with an anxiety disorder. Willis pitched in 4 games (1 start) this spring for the Tigers in which he is 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA and a 2.77 WHIP. The “D-Train” was a disaster in his first season with the Tigers in 2008. He pitched in 8 games (7 starts) for the Tigers last season in which he was 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA and a 2.21 WHIP. He walked an absolutely stunning 35 batters in only 24 innings for the Tigers last season. It’s getting close to the time for the Tigers to think about trading him and eating his salary over the nest two season.

The Tigers have placed 24-year old righty reliever Joel Zumaya on the 15-day disabled list with a sore righty shoulder. He only appeared in 1 game this spring not allowing a run while walking one batter and hitting one. Zumaya has pitched in 111 games (0 starts) in his career with the Tigers in which he is 8-8 with 3 saves, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. This hurts the Tigers as Zumaya will likely miss at least all of April.

40-year old righty swinging Gary Sheffield will be the starting DH when the 2009 season starts but he’ll have to hit well to keep the job. He played in 114 games for the Tigers last season and he was 94 for 418 (.225 avg, 726 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 19 homers, 57 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He’s sitting on 499 homers for his major league career but his past (steroid usage) will probably keep him from induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

If Sheffied has indeed lost his touch with the bat then the Tigers have the perfect alternative in 32-year old righty swinging Marcus Thames. Thames played in 103 games for the Tigers last season and he was 76 for 316 (.241 avg, .808 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 25 homers and 56 RBIs. He has 40+ homer potential if the Tigers see fit to give him full time at bats somewhere.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B-