The Brewers, Mets, Reds and Cardinals have also been involved in negotiations for veteran reliever Octavio Dotel at this week’s Winter Meetings, but it sounds like Detroit might come out on top.
According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Tigers are currently considered the “front-runner” for Dotel, who is expected to decide on a team soon.
Dotel registered a solid 3.50 ERA in 54 regular-season innings between the Blue Jays and Cardinals this past season before catching fire in the playoffs and helping St. Louis to a World Series title. The 38-year-old still has a hard fastball and is capable of dominating right-handed hitters with his slider and curve.
UPDATE: FOX Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Tigers have made an “aggressive” offer to Dotel.
UPDATE II: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says it’s down to the Tigers and Cardinals.
UPDATE III: According to CBS Sports’ Danny Knobler, the Tigers are now “closing in” on a deal.
