NewsTigers' plans for Sizemore unchanged
Defensive work will be key for prospect in Spring Training
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
10/26/09 4:33 PM EST
DETROIT -- Scott Sizemore's broken ankle is not expected to affect his readiness for next season, the Tigers have said, and it should not affect the Tigers' decision process on where he plays next year. At this point, his only loss is how much he can prepare for next year.In that aspect, he might have to make up for lost time in Spring Training.
Sizemore visited with a team doctor Monday to determine whether any follow-up work would be needed on his injury. A team representative said they expected to have more information on his status on Tuesday.
The Tigers sent Sizemore to the Arizona Fall League for his second stint in three years not just to get some extra at-bats, but also for more defensive work at second base. If he's going to take over the job in Detroit, which team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski laid out in a likely scenario if they can't resign free agent Placido Polanco, they want to shore up his glovework as much as possible ahead of time.
Ironic, then, that he suffered a fractured tibia trying to turn a double play Thursday for the Peoria Javelinas, where this year's Tigers AFL prospects are playing. A slide from Danny Espinosa on a Chris Marrero ground ball sent Sizemore tumbling. In the process, it threw a wrench into the Tigers' seasoning plans for their top positional prospect.
Their succession plans at second base, however, appear unaffected.
Had the Tigers not been in the heat of a playoff race, Sizemore might have received some seasoning in Detroit as a September callup. The reality of the race in the American League Central, and the fact that Polanco was going to play regularly down the stretch except for a game or two of rest here and there, prompted the Tigers to think otherwise. Plus, Detroit would've had to add Sizemore to its 40-man roster to use him.
Like all teams with their own free agents, the Tigers will have two weeks after the end of the World Series to negotiate with Polanco before he can officially field offers from other teams. The reality, though, is that interest from other teams and how far they're willing to go to sign him should be well-defined before then.
With Sizemore just about ready and Polanco at age 34, it's difficult to envision the Tigers offering Polanco a long-term contract, no matter how highly the Tigers regard Polanco's overall game.
Sizemore, who will turn 25 years old in January, batted .308 with 39 doubles, 17 home runs and 66 RBIs in 130 games between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo this season. Defensively, he committed 21 errors in 118 games at second base at the two levels, along with a .966 fielding percentage and 100 double plays. However, he also posted a 5.05 range factor -- putouts plus assists per game -- a number just under the 5.09 mark Polanco posted in Detroit.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
