Detroit Tigers: At a glance

It's easy to assume the Tigers took a step back this offseason when they traded All-Star Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and let Placido Polanco return to the Phillies.

Earlier this week, I said the White Sox are the biggest threat to the Twins in the AL Central, and I still believe that. But the more I study the Tigers, the more dangerous they look.

The Johnny Damon signing changed everything. Yes, he's 36, and yes he posted a.915 OPS at the new Yankee Stadium last year, compared to .795 on the road, but he should solidify the top of Detroit's lineup. Now the Tigers can bat Damon leadoff, with rookie second baseman Scott Sizemore batting second.

The bottom of the batting order is suspect, but Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello give them a potent 1-2 punch atop the rotation, and AL hitters aren't going to like facing Scherzer, either. If the Tigers can get bounceback seasons from two other pitchers -- Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galarraga, Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson -- they will definitely be contenders.

2009: 86-77

LOOOOONG GONE: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Edwin Jackson, Fernando Rodney, Brandon Lyon.

WELCOME: Johnny Damon, Jose Valverde, Max Scherzer, Phil Coke, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson

LINEUP
1. LF Johnny Damon
2. 2B Scott Sizemore/Ramon Santiago
3. RF Magglio Ordonez
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera
5. DH Carlos Guillen
6. 3B Brandon Inge
7. C Gerald Laird
8. SS Adam Everett
9. CF Austin Jackson/Ryan Rayburn

BULLPEN
RH Jose Valverde
RH Joel Zumaya
LH Phil Coke
RH Zach Miner
LH Bobby Seay/LH Fu-Te Ni
RH Daniel Schlereth/RH Ryan Perry

ON THE HORIZON
C Alex Avila (big league backup)
OF Wilkin Ramirez (AAA)

MY TWO CENTS
The Tigers looked broken after losing Game 163 to the Twins last October. They had blown a seven-game lead over the season's final month. Cabrera was battling alcoholism. Soon, they traded Granderson and Edwin Jackson, and Polanco signed with Philadelphia. But the Tigers didn't wilt after that Game 163 loss. There was a method to their offseason moves, even if the transactions seemed like head scratchers from afar. Cabrera has been through rehab. Right now, I'd pick this team third in the AL Central behind the Twins and White Sox, but it could easily be a three-team race.