Contingent on a physical, the Tigers have signed Fernando Vina to a two year contract for $3 million a year. While many have complained about this deal, I don’t mind it…yet. I don’t think you can really evaluate this signing until you see the other moves that the team makes this winter. If the Tigers compliment this signing with 2-3 other signings at key positions like shortstop, catcher and pitcher, then this could be worthwhile. If Vina is it, then it is a horrible move.
What this does signal is that the Tigers are willing to bring people here even if it means overspending. I know they’ve said they’d do it all along, but now they are actually doing it. It also means that free agents are willing to not only consider Detroit, but actually sign here. For that Dombrowski should be applauded.
While the Tigers did overpay, and while Vina might not be a significant offensive upgrade over Warren Morris, it is only a two year contract. I would consider signing to be a step forward (albeit a pretty darn small one). Let’s just hope there is more on the way.
While Vina won’t help the Tigers win any more games, he has a name fans recognize. More importantly, hopefully this will make other free agents more Tiger-friendly. I’d imagine it’s hard to get a star player to Detroit right now (even with a willingness to overpay), but if he sees other names he’s heard of coming here, maybe he’ll be more willing to check out Detroit.
I think Vina is a huge upgrade offensively over Morris, if he is healthy. Vina is much more of a OBP guy, taking walks, and doing what it takes to get on base, something the Tigers have needed desperately for a while.