The Detroit Tigers have been pretty quiet at baseball's Winter Meetings. The team is bringing back most of the major contributors from 2011's squad, which lost to Texas in the American League Championship Series. The big headlines were made by Anaheim when they signed slugger Albert Pujols for $254 million and by the Miami Marlins signing Jose Reyes for mucho dinero (120 million). The Tigers quietly added veteran relief pitcher Octavio Dotel to help shore up the middle innings.
Dotel has pitched for 12 major league teams, the Tigers are his 13th. At 38, Dotel still has some giddy-up on his fastball and features a nasty swing and miss slider. He has made at least 62 appearances in the last 4 seasons. Expect him to come in to face tough right handed hitters in the middle innings, a role that Ryan Perry struggled with in 2011. Dotel last pitched for the world champion St. Louis Cardinals and was part of the championship bullpen. The Tigers signed Dotel to a 1-year deal with an option for 2013 pending his passing a physical.

The Tigers are in pretty good shape already, and are probably the favorite to win the American League Central in 2012. That doesn't mean that they aren't looking for more ways to improve. A legitimate leadoff hitter and another solid infielder are still on the team's wish list. Another starting pitcher to take the place of Brad Penny is also needed. General Manager Dave Dombrowski will be looking for ways to make these things happen. Sometimes it's the small moves that make the difference.

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