Pudge is still a Tiger..

[BronxBomberz]

It was a big decision, but it didn't take that long to reach, after all. The Detroit Tigers are bringing catcher Pudge Rodriguez back for the 2008 season. The decision came down to whether the Tigers would pick up the $13 million option on Rodriguez's contract for 2008, or buy him out for $3 million. Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski and team owner Mike Ilitch discussed the issue last week, and afterward it appeared that a decision had not been made. But it had. Acting on the probability that the Tigers would not be able to replace Rodriguez with a productive free agent, they had no alternative other than to bring him back for a fifth season in Detroit. He's coming off what Dombrowski labeled last week as a solid season. "Pudge remains a quality major league catcher and we expect him to be a key player for our club in 2008," Dombrowski said Tuesday in a press release. Rodriguez batted .281 with 11 home runs and 63 RBI in 129 games in 2007. He struck out a career-high 96 times and walked just nine times.

Pudge will return to Tigers in 2008

Smart move by the Tigers.

[brewersfan19]

smart move by the Tigers.

[love_that_reefer]

Tigers really had no choice. There is no one better on the market and they don't have a real replacement in house.

[brewersfan19]

either way, smart move!!!!

[GiantsFanatic]

Good move, definetly deserved it, he came to Detroit after they lost 119 games, and helped build that pitching staff, now Detroit is a NLC contender for years to come. And Pudge still has allot of game left IMO. Probably one of the greatest 5 tool catchers ever!

[BronxBomberz]

Originally Posted by GiantsFan83 Good move, definetly deserved it, he came to Detroit after they lost 119 games, and helped build that pitching staff, now Detroit is a NLC contender for years to come. And Pudge still has allot of game left IMO. Probably one of the greatest 5 tool catchers ever!

They are in the AL

[browntown653]

That $13 mil deal is certainly going to catch Jorge Posada's eye.

[DirtyKash]

do you people realize that Pudge has 2,500 career hits? He's well on his way to 3,000. For a catcher, that would be so sick.

[BronxBomberz]

Originally Posted by DirtyKash do you people realize that Pudge has 2,500 career hits? He's well on his way to 3,000. For a catcher, that would be so sick.

Mike Piazza of the present?

[brewersfan19]

He is a better pure hitter than Piazza, just not as much power. And yes, 3,000 hits would be a sick number for a catcher.

[DirtyKash]

Originally Posted by BronxBomberz Mike Piazza of the present?

Piazza has just a little over 2,100 and is much older and much more over his prime... he's a better power hitter though, obviously enough.

[brewersfan19]

I agree, Piazza is past his prime.

[Pronk48]

Pudge>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Piazza

Pudge is a superior defensive catcher compared to Piazza. I'd take Pudge behind the plate before Piazza.

[brewersfan19]

oh, who wouldnt take Pudge over Piazza. I was just commenting on the hitting aspect of their game.