The Tigers declined to offer arbitration on Monday to any of their free agents, a group that includes Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones, Freddy Garcia and, notably, Edgar Renteria. It’s not that Detroit wanted Renteria back so badly, just that for a while it looked like Edgar Renteria was close to a deal with the Giants. In that case, had the Tigers offered him arbitration, Detroit would have received a couple of draft picks. Instead, all we get are memories. That, and with the book now officially closed on the Jair Jurrjens/Gorkys Hernandez for Renteria deal, at least from Detroit’s perspective, we can begin comparing the trade to the John Smoltz/Doyle Alexander debacle of 21 years ago.

Speaking of bad trades: I was reminded over Thanksgiving (this is cruel irony) of the summer 1996 trade in which the Pistons, which at the time seemed poised to build through the draft around young Grant Hill, sent two first-rounders and two second-rounders to Atlanta for uninspiring veterans Stacey Augmon and Grant Long. How come we never talk about that trade? Doyle deserves a break. If it weren’t for Darko, he’d have turned into our version of Bill Buckner by the time Smoltz is inducted into Cooperstown.

Anyway, back to the Tigers: Kenny apparently may yet come back and pitch in ‘09, and the Tigers may re-sign Garcia as well. It’s unclear who will play shortstop next season as Detroit waits for Cale Iorg and Danny Worth to develop. The Tigers have been linked to everyone from Julio Lugo to Jack Wilson, whom Detroit has been pursuing off and on for pretty much the entire Dave Dombrowski era.