While the Tigers added an infielder Tuesday with the signing of free-agent util ityman Ramon Martinez, they're ready to move on without another. Fernando Vina, Detroit's Opening Day second baseman last season before hamstrin g and knee injuries ended his season in May, continues to be bothered by patell a tendinitis in his left knee and is expected to at least miss Spring Training, if not more. And at this point, the Tigers are ready to move into the 2005 sea son without his services. "We're not counting on him from a health standpoint," president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday. "In all likelihood, I know he is not going to be ready [for the start of the season]." This wasn't really a surprise, since Vina's rehab was a risky proposition at be st. After his tendon woes were diagnosed last summer, Vina had a tough choice: major surgery that would sideline him almost a year and wasn't guaranteed to so lve the problem, or try to strengthen the knee through rehab and risk a complet e tear of the tendon. Vina chose the latter, working out near his Nevada home with Sacramento Kings p hysical therapist Al Biancani. While he hasn't blown out his knee, he hasn't st rengthened it enough, either. "He's still not responding [to rehab]," manager Alan Trammell said. "There's be en some slight progress. Really, it's not been any significant change." Vina was the first of several free agents to sign with the Tigers last offseaso n, agreeing to a two-year, $6 million contract in December 2003 that helped ope n the path for Detroit to attract other respected players. The Gold Glove winne r was viewed as one half of a veteran upgrade to the middle infield along with shortstop Carlos Guillen. Vina got off to a slow start but showed hustle in the season's opening month, w hich in an odd way led to his injury. He strained his right hamstring trying to lunge at first base and beat out a single May 8 at Texas. He came back for one game a few days later before going on the disabled list. While trying to rehab his hamstring, which cost him significant playing time wi th a tear in 2003, he was diagnosed with the injury to the opposite knee. That effectively ended his season. By then, the Tigers had moved on. The Tigers filled the void at second base wit h young shortstop prospect Omar Infante, who enjoyed a career breakout season i n the role. The 23-year-old batted .264 with 16 home runs, nine triples and 55 RBIs in 503 at-bats and teamed with Guillen to form a flashy double-play duo. H e played so well that Trammell named him the starting second baseman going into 2005, whether or not Vina came back. With that in mind, Vina posed a potential roster quandary should he return to h ealth. Whether he would accept a utility role wasn't known. For now, that's not a pressing matter. Dombrowski declined to go into detail much further as to whether he'd be expect ed back at all. While Vina has one more year left on his contract, that deal is insured, meaning the team can recoup a portion of Vina's salary if he's unable to come back from injury. -- 意者可回信 正式交易時請用ATM轉帳 --

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