If it wasn't obvious already, we will be following to see which team Matt Treanor ends up with. As it stands right now the Detroit Tigers have the most interest.
The Tigers are close to signing backup catcher Matt Treanor to a one-year contract, one person with knowledge of the negotiations said tonight.
An announcement on the agreement could come as early as tomorrow. Treanor is expected to earn a little more than the $705,000 base salary he made with the Florida
Marlins this year.Treanor, 32, became a free agent after the Marlins released him last week. He batted .238 with two home runs and 23 RBIs in 65 games this year.
Treanor has a reputation for working well with pitchers and should be a reliable backup to the newly-acquired Gerald Laird.
Dusty Ryan is the only other catcher on the Tigers’ major-league roster, and team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said recently that he would prefer that Ryan gain additional experience in the minors.
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Treanor has a long-standing connection to another noteworthy Tiger: He made his big-league debut in a game started by Dontrelle Willis...
In fact for many years Treanor was the personal catcher for Dontrelle. He understands that unique pitching motion Willis uses and he isn't shy about calling a timeout to correct any flaws he sees. If the Tigers are planning on holding onto Willis, having Treanor work with him should pay dividends. It doesn't guarantee that Dontrelle will return to his 2005 form, but there is a chance. Treanor caught Willis for most of that year.
The other thing that Tiger fans need to know is that Treanor is part of the pitching staff. Hitting is something he does once every now and then. But working with the pitchers is something he does every inning and he takes it seriously.
As it turns out the Detroit Free Press has already bought the dream, publishing some really nifty pictures of Matty.
Photo Gallery: Best of Matt Treanor
But the Tigers aren't the only ones interested in Treanor's services.
Orioles president Andy MacPhail was expected to have another conversation today with agent Joel Wolfe, who represents catcher Matt Treanor.
If I were to guess, he will end up playing for Detroit since that is where most of the former Marlins end up.
If he does, the clubhouse introductions won't take long. It should be like old home week.