Tigers Rumors: 2nd Base Options, Playoff Free Agents, Verlander

No doubt eager to take another run at a World Series, don't be surprised to see some serious Detroit Tigers speculation over the coming weeks. Here's a first crack:

Should Tigers sign a second baseman? Look at who's out there and think again - Detroit Free Press
"What do the Tigers need to take the next step in 2012? Some would say it's a second baseman. The combination of Will Rhymes/Scott Sizemore/Ramon Santiago/Carlos Guillen/Ryan Raburn/Don Kelly/Danny Worth hit .260 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs and an OPS of .705 at 2B. (By the way, those numbers are better than last year's centerfielders and third basemen, but there's less of a question as to whom will patrol those positions next year.) So what will Detroit do? If they're looking outside of the organization, they may have to look long and hard for an impact player."

GMs eyeing World Series' standout free agents-to-be - The Detroit News
"For Albert Pujols, Edwin Jackson and C.J. Wilson, the future is now. Less than a week after the postseason’s final out, they’ll be on the free-agent market, and their performances under the highest pressure will help determine their worth."

Sensible Acquisition Thread - Bless You Boys
A completely sober thought piece from the guys over at BYB. This is how you do it!

Verlander, Avila on Sporting News AL all-star team - MLB.com
The first end-of-season test for Justin Verlander’s MVP candidacy comes out Friday, when Sporting News names its MLB Player of the Year. On Thursday, though, he received the more obvious honor of the starting pitching spot on the magazine’s AL All-Star team. He was the only unanimous selection on the AL side, according to the article on the Sporting News website.