As everybody know by now (I guess I have to start writing on the weekends so it’s not old news on Monday) Brandon Inge was placed on the 15 day DL with a broken finger. It’s disappointing for Tiger fans, as well as Inge because he’s been playing so well this season at so many key positions. Compounding this bad news is the fact that Alex Sanchez is day to day with a tight hamstring. So in one weekend the Tigers lost their top 2 centerfielders, there starting third basemen, and their backup catcher.

Mike DiFelice took Brandon’s spot on the big league roster, and to clear room on the 40 man roster, Nate Cornejo was moved to the 60 day DL.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Between July 3rd and July 12th the Tigers will have 5 players eligible to come off the disabled list. Greg Norton is able to be activated on July 3rd. I haven’t heard much about Norton’s injury or how’s it is progressing so I don’t know whether or not he’ll be ready.

Next up is Cornejo who despite being recently moved to the 60 day DL, will be eligible to be activated on July 5th. Cornejo has thrown some simulated games and appears to be finally progressing. I imagine the Tigers will take full advantage of the ability to assign Cornejo to a 30 day rehab assignment to find out if he can find the “stuff” that he had last year. I’d imagine that we would see Cornejo in late July or early August. He is probably destined for a bullpen role unless the Tigers deal Jason Johnson, or another of the starters falters or is injured. A 40 man roster spot would need to be cleared for Cornejo, and if it were up to me, that spot would be Levine’s (assuming that Cornejo isn’t awful on his rehab assignment).

Rule 5 pick Chris Shelton is in the midst of a rehab assignment at Toledo (where he’s hitting .429 in 8 games) and his 20 day assignment will be up on July 8th. If Inge is healing as expected, Mike DiFelice will probably be DFA’d to make room for Shelton. The Tigers would then rely on Shelton/Munson as the back up catchers for the last 4 games before the All Star break with the expectation that Brandon Inge would be able to rejoin the team following the break.

Last is Fernando Vina, who like Inge is eligible to come of the DL on July 12th. Whenever Vina is healed and able to return, a spot on the 40 man roster will need to be cleared. Jason Smith will most likely be sent to the minors, but I’m not sure who the Tigers would DFA/release at that point.