I think a Spring Training competition is a safe assumption, and given how tough it is to guess how Robertson and Willis will look after their 2008 season, it's a relatively wide-open competition. The fact that the Tigers haven't committed to Miner as a starter or reliever adds another factor to the mix, since they could find a role for him as either. You can't completely rule out a trade, but I think any deal involving those guys is extremely unlikely, given that the Tigers are pretty well set everywhere but their pitching staff.

What have the Tigers decided to do about Freddy Garcia?
-- Steve R., Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The Jackson trade pretty much fills up their starting rotation. Even before the Jackson trade, however, the Tigers had not been pursuing Garcia this offseason, though a lot of teams have basically taken a wait-and-see approach on Garcia while he prepared to pitch in winter ball. I think Garcia will land a rotation spot somewhere, just not Detroit.

Why did the Tigers trade Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson? They're always looking for a lefty with home run power, and Matt Joyce was just that. He could not only handle the bat, but he could play extraordinary defense. I understand the Tigers' need for another pitcher, but I think they gave up too much.
-- Justin B., Battle Creek, Mich.

Two factors made a Joyce trade feasible for the Tigers. One was the development of Jeff Larish, their other young left-handed power hitter, who might yet end up working on outfield play in Spring Training on top of his corner infield capabilities. The other is the projected recovery for Clete Thomas, Detroit's other outfield prospect who hits left-handed, after his Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery last September.

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With all the past talk of a left-handed bat needed to balance things, why trade Matt Joyce and not Marcus Thames?
-- Kevin W., Sturgis, Mich.

Joyce attracted much more interest among teams this offseason than Thames, who was mentioned surprisingly little at the Winter Meetings. In the Rays' case, they wanted an outfielder who batted left-handed. Plus, Joyce is seven years younger and won't be eligible for arbitration for at least two more years, while Thames is up for arbitration.

Why doesn't Fernando Rodney add another pitch to his two-pitch arsenal? It seems like players are just sitting on that changeup because his fastball control has been dismal. Why not add a slider or cutter ... something? I don't believe he can be effective or counted on with his control issues and lack of pitch options.
-- Andy P., Watervliet, Mich.

Actually, Rodney has a slider, and a pretty effective one at times. It was a bigger part of his repertoire before he had Tommy John surgery in 2004, and he's used it only sparingly since -- in some stretches, not at all. One of the challenges that the coaching staff tried to tackle with Rodney last year was to build up his confidence in the slider and encourage him to at least throw it enough to keep it in hitters' minds, rather than simply allow them to focus on the change of speeds.

Bullpen coach Jeff Jones remembers Rodney's slider from his days at Triple-A Toledo, but he also knows that the slider can be a tough pitch to believe in once a pitcher has gone through that kind of surgery. If Jones and new pitching coach Rick Knapp can get Rodney through that, he'll be a more effective pitcher for it. His fastball command will still be critical to everything, though.

My family and I are wanting to plan a Florida vacation to see the Tigers in Spring Training, but we want to see some of our favorite players, such as Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Curtis Granderson. I read that these guys may be going to the World Baseball Classic, and that would change when we would want to plan our trip. When will it be announced who is going to play in the World Baseball Classic?
-- Shawna, Kalamazoo, Mich.

World Baseball Classic rosters are expected to be announced in January. If it makes a difference in your plans, though, the Venezuelan team will be working out at the Tigertown complex in Lakeland in late February and early March leading up to the opening round games. They'll also play a Spring Training game against the Tigers on March 3 at Joker Marchant Stadium.