"We're really not in a position to just make a trade," Dombrowski said. "We feel we've made some strides this year. We want to continue to play well the rest of the season. And as we've said all along, we're in a position where none of the integral parts of our club are free agents at the end of the year. So for us, we're in a position where the majority of these players, they come back and they're the core of our club next year and you can build around those players."

"Right now, if he [Urbina] keeps pitching the way he's pitching, we're very happy to have him as our closer next year," he said. "There's no question one of the things ... we need to do is rebuild our bullpen. It's nice to start from the back end with somebody that you like that can close the games and build around that.

They [The Giants] are still eyeing Detroit closer Ugueth Urbina, despite earlier reporters that their interest had cooled.

Giants scout Paul Turco watched Urbina earn saves the past two nights in Detroit. Turco was seen taking detailed notes as Urbina preserved Friday night's 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Here's the interesting twist: One player the Tigers are targeting is Giants pitcher Jerome Williams, who held the Cardinals scoreless for three innings Friday night. Williams abruptly left the game in the fourth with tightness in his elbow.

The Phillies made what they thought was a generous offer to Detroit for Tigers closer Ugueth Urbina but were rebuffed.

Don't look for Wilfredo Ledezma to reach 100 pitches in his start Friday night. Since he hasn't started since before the All-Star break, and for Double-A Erie at that, Trammell wants to limit his workload until he can build his endurance back up. As a side effect, it'll also send him into August with a decent amount of innings left before hitting his season limit of 150.

However, Trammell plans to send him out as a regular member of the rotation. With off-days coming each of the next three Mondays, they could skip his spot in the rotation at least twice. Right now, that's not an option they're considering.

One American League scout familiar with the Giants' situation said he heard discussions with the Detroit Tigers for closer Ugueth Urbina had evaporated. The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs now appear to be the front-runners to acquire Urbina, the scout said.

Fernando Vina still isn’t close to return to the Tigers’ active roster. He’s been on the disabled list since May 12 because of a right hamstring strain — and it’s not unheard of for players his age (35) with a condition that severe to wonder if their careers are over. Vina also missed much of last year for the same reason.

“I’m told it’s just not responding,” Trammel said. “I would have to think that an athlete, and it’s been this long, those things probably cross your mind. At this point, I can’t say I’m counting on him.

"To me, Infante is a better second baseman, and I'm not afraid to say that in the paper," Guillen said before Thursday night's game. "Infante has more range and a better arm," Guillen said when asked to compare the two. "I feel more comfortable with him out there."

[Manger Alan] Trammell said it’s not likely Pudge Rodriguez will play tonight, because of the back spasms that forced him out of Thursday night’s game.

But Rodriguez said, “If I feel O.K., I’ll play. This happens to a lot of catchers.”

Stay tuned.

Ugueth Urbina: The Cubs and Giants have had some interest. The Tigers keep telling teams they would need to be "overwhelmed" to deal him.

Mike Maroth: The Twins could have interest after apparently losing Benson to the Mets. The Rangers also are in the market for pitchers they can keep beyond this year. But the price is probably too high.

Novoa, 24, will make his Major League debut as a middle to long reliever in the bullpen. Working setup at Erie, he went 5-0 with four saves and a 2.93 ERA for the Seawolves. He racked up 67 2/3 innings in 36 appearances in his first full season as a reliever.

Tigers closer Ugueth Urbina threw a 1-2-3 inning in Detroit on Tuesday night, and one of the interested observers was Giants general manager Brian Sabean. His presence, along with a top San Francisco scout, lends credence to the belief that the Giants have serious interest in Urbina, whom they discussed signing as a free agent over the winter.

Another Giants scout was spotted at a game involving Detroit's Double-A affiliate this week. That could be nothing more than an area scout in his normal coverage, but also could signify the teams are discussing a larger deal.

"I didn't try to hit it that way, but when I did, I thought it was over his head," said Blake. "He was running away from the ball and it was slicing. Then he turned around and went like this."

Blake, at that moment, stopped talking and stretched his arms in the air like a receiver about to catch a Hail Mary pass.

Which is exactly what Higginson did. He didn't even need a glove. When he reached the warning track, the ball hit his wrist and rolled up his arm before he finally hugged the ball to his body for the second out.

"After Higgy made the catch, I told Dmitri Young, 'Tell Higgy, I want to meet him after the game and fight him,' " said Blake, laughing. "Later in the game Higgy was at third and told me, 'I'm not hitting. I've got to do something.'

Alex Sanchez is looking at a two-game rehabilitation assignment with Toledo starting tonight and then probably being activated by the Tigers in time for Thursday night’s game at Comerica Park against the White Sox. On the disabled list because of a strained right hamstring since July 8, Sanchez will join the Mud Hens for two games in Buffalo.

Left-handed hitters Carlos Pena and Eric Munson have become part-time players for now. Neither has started any of the past four games against a left-handed starter. Manager Alan Trammell didn't say "platoon" in regard to Pena and Munson on Monday, but he did say they "would not play as much as earlier."

Tigers officials began intensifying their phone contacts with other teams Monday about possible deals. There were signs that the level of clubs' interest in closer Ugueth Urbina had lessened; a deal involving Urbina might now have to include a Tigers prospect. The Giants' interest in Urbina is said to have cooled in the wake of his two losses last week.

''It was an accumulation of things that I think Bonderman took offense to,'' said Kelley, a vacation-replacement umpire from Class AAA. ''[Rowand] kind of put his shoulder up, and it was way up and in.''

''I think he blew it all out of proportion,'' Bonderman said, adding there was no way he would try to hit a batter on a 2-0 count with something as soft as a slider. ''It blew my mind. I wasn't even mad. I was trying to plead my case, but it was already done.''

"I'm already sick of seeing Pudge Rodriguez. We have a weird schedule," Guillen said. "To be content, I think we should win 12 [of the remaining] games. I know it won't be easy."

RHP Jeremy Bonderman is still a work in progress. The latest facet of his talent that needs shoring up is allowing home runs. Bonderman has allowed six out-of-the-park shots in his last two starts, against New York and Minnesota. He allowed just nine hits total in both starts. Overall, Bonderman has given up 20 home runs in the 107 innings he's pitched. Many of the home runs come when he is throwing a fastball in an obvious fastball situation. He's expanded his pitch repertoire but like many young pitchers tries to blow the ball by hitters in too many situations.

Detroit doesn't have the minor league talent depth that it can go out and make a major acquisition, one to make it a player in the league power picture. Not that there's a major player out there Detroit would be able to acquire. The Tigers will probably be limited in what they can do for that reason.

"I'd say it's unlikely," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "But I don't know what's going to happen in the next couple of weeks. I don't want to say no and we go out the next two weeks and win a lot of games. We haven't had that type of discussion at this point, but you are analyzing what you can do all the time.

Alan Trammell needs to get Marcus Thames regular playing time. He can platoon, for now, with Higginson in right. Or, perhaps, Thames could move into left field should [Rondell] White be traded by Saturday’s deadline.

Thames offers the Tigers more RBI potential than exists with Craig Monroe. Thames has limitations, and he is probably not a long-term answer. But for now, he needs to play as Detroit prepares to add a big-hitting outfielder through free agency.

“I would like to have him,” [manager Alan] Trammell said, “and it’s unfortunate that it becomes a numbers game. I know he’s not been hitting there, but the fact is that even if he’d been tearing it up, I honestly don’t know what move we could make to have him here.

“To me, he’s a major-league role player, but we don’t have a spot for him right now.”

For a pitcher who didn't draw much interest in the offseason when he was a free agent, Urbina's name is now the center of speculation. Though he had somewhat of a disappointing first half with the Tigers, he's arguably the best available closer as the deadline draws near....Urbina has some value to teams looking for reinforcements in the back end of their bullpens. St. Louis and the Cubs are possibilities.

Instead of saying that he’s sure Norton will help them somewhere down the line, as he persistently has felt since the season began, Trammell toned down that optimism by saying only that, “I still think that Greg Norton is a major-league player.”

Trammell then acknowledged, however, “that’s one of the decisions we’ll have to make.”

But Sleeth’s secondary numbers are as scary as his record and ERA. In 22 2/3 innings with Erie, he has allowed 35 hits, 25 earned runs and 15 walks. He has struck out 13. His tattered walks-to-strikeouts ratio is indicative of a pitcher who is a long way from the big leagues.

“The basic problem is he’s overthrowing. He’s trying to do too much. The last two, three starts, it’s like he’s been trying to show us he’s ready to move (up the chain).
“I think his velocity will be better once he stops overthrowing. He should be touching 93 to 94. But I think you’ll see better velocity once his delivery smooths out.”

RHP Lino Urdaneta, the Rule 5 choice Detroit made from Cleveland last winter who has yet to pitch this year, is scheduled to throw a batting practice session soon at the Tigers' spring training facility. If all goes well, Urdaneta could begin a rehabilitation assignment early next month. He's been bothered by a sore elbow all year.

Even if Urdaneta is able to join the Tigers, possibly when rosters are expanded in September, it won't be enough to fulfill the requirement for Rule 5 choices to spend a season on a 25-man roster. Detroit would have to keep him all next season or offer him back to Cleveland.

“A month ago I told you, I believe this team is going to make the playoffs,” he said. “If you ask all the fans who were in the stands today, I think they might also say we have a good chance, and I believe so, too. Pitchers are the key. I know we’re going to hit.”

Nate Cornejo will visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., for more tests on his ailing right shoulder. Both Cornejo and the team are expecting he'll need season-ending arthroscopic surgery for a frayed labrum.

"The guy just doesn't have range of motion," pitching coach Bob Cluck said. "It's not a severe amount of pain, which is good news, but the range of motion is limited and he couldn't pitch like that."

"First time someone makes the team like that, you've got to find a way to play the guy, especially in a blowout," Tigers outfielder Bobby Higginson said. "I see he managed to get all his guys in, like (Hideki) Matsui."

They called me and said, 'We need a centerfielder, do you think you can play?' I said sure -- I wasn't about to turn that down." - Brandon Inge

“Sanchez has had some bleeding, I don’t know exactly the extent, but there’s been some draining on his hamstring,” said Trammell, “so he’s done some damage down there. We waited last week, hoping this (giving it time) would work, but we can’t wait any longer.

“I’d like to say he’s going to be ready in a week. There’s a real good chance he’ll be ready, but it won’t be in the next couple of days. This way Brandon can get back.

"He said it doesn't feel right," Trammell said. "We don't know if it's a dead arm or what it is. I can't say this is good news."

“There is no guarantee,” Trammell said about Vina playing again this season. “I can’t worry about Vina at this point. I don’t mean for it to sound like that, but it’s gone on this long, and he’s not close to (coming back). I’m just glad Omar Infante has been able to step up for us or else we would have been in trouble.”

He hit an anemic .235 with 14 HR and 52 RBI in 2003, and has shown slight improvement this season, having boosted his batting average to .259, but with just 5 HR and 37 RBI.

The Tigers have made a dramatic turnaround from their disastrous 2003 season, but Higginson hasn't led the charge. And don't expect his performance to improve significantly -- Higginson seems to have found his level at the plate after 2000, and that level is mediocre.

"Two days ago if you had asked me if I thought I could be back just after the All-Star break, I probably would have said no," Inge said on Sunday. "Right now, I feel like I'm definitely going to be back right after the All-Star break, so it's really no problem at all."

On Sunday, Trammell said that he was pleased with Inge's recovery but still didn't expect to return him to action the first day after the break.

"I don't think Thursday's going to be the day, I'm hoping it's this weekend," Trammell said. "We want him to heal."

"I'm not disappointed," he said. "In every game there has to be one guy [who sits]. That's the game. Four shortstops."

"It was a great experience for me, hopefully more to come," Guillen said. "I got to meet a lot of these guys, ask a lot of questions. To me, it's a great honor to be part of this team. I enjoyed every moment -- the Home Run Derby, the game. It's good."

Teams that have called the Tigers say Ugueth Urbina isn't available -- yet. But that could change in the next three weeks. And if it does, a number of teams would line up fast -- particularly if Urbina is as willing to be a setup man this time around as he was when he was dealt to Florida last summer.

An executive of another team in the bullpen market says: "To me, he's the most desirable guy out there, because he's done it."

"First of all, our starters have pitched well," [Tigers President Dave] Dombrowski said. "Second, we need help in the bullpen. And the third part is that he's pitched around 110 innings, and we really want him to pitch no more than 150 this year because he had never pitched more than 100 innings the last three years.


"We wouldn't hesitate to use him as a starter if we had to do that. But we want to be careful with the number of innings he pitches."

It was a seven-inning game, and Sleeth entered for what he said was his first lifetime save opportunity with the potential tying run at third and two out in the seventh.


Sleeth got a game-ending grounder from his first batter to clinch the 4-3 win -- and to certify Ledezma as the losing pitcher.

"When you play as badly as we did, and see how the team is going, you can see the writing on the wall," said Aurilia, who hit .241 with four home runs for the Mariners and suffered from fans' anger at Carlos Guillen's superb season after his trade to Detroit. "No player wants to hear words like 'designate' or 'release,' and ... I am sorry that I couldn't do more to prevent the club being in a place where they found this necessary."

"I know they were not happy with me over there (with the Mariners)," Guillen said. "I was happy when they traded me, because I did not want to be there. When they treat you like that, I do not want to be there."

Guillen is 28 years old and blossoming: He is hitting .329 with 12 homers and 62 RBI halfway into the season. The switch-hitter is batting .359 against right-handers, with a .432 on-base percentage and .599 slugging average. Guillen already has achieved career-highs in homers and triples (7) and needs only two doubles to surpass his career-high in that category (24, in 2002).

With the All-Star break starting Monday, Trammell believes the Tigers can get by with one fewer pitcher than usual tonight and Sunday. ... Jeremy Bonderman, who pitched Wednesday and won't start again before the break, could pitch relief Sunday, Trammell said. That's one way the Tigers could get by with one fewer pitcher.

Trammell had yet to, in his words, “digest” his options ahead of tonight's game against the Twins. Sanchez, who also has a tender hamstring, might, or might not, be back this weekend. Monroe said after Thursday's game that the hamstring appeared to be mildly strained. But he wasn't sure if he would be available tonight. Nor was White certain if he could play tonight.

The Tigers are light on qualified outfield replacements at Triple-A Toledo. Trammell suggested that Dmitri Young might play left field tonight, which would free Marcus Thames to play center field.

Sleeth [joined] an all-prospect rotation that also includes righthanders Kenny Baugh, Preston Larrison and Matt Roney, as well as lefty Wil Ledezma. The Tigers hope that two or three of the current Seawolves can become fixtures in Detroit in the near future.

The Seawolves rank third in the Eastern League with a 3.89 ERA and have a league-best nine shutouts, while also ranking last (in a good way) with just 207 walks allowed. Those numbers should improve as Sleeth, the third overall pick in the 2003 draft, gets acclimated to Double-A.

While Rodriguez could squander his lead, that cushion of 27 points could be even larger than it might appear. Last summer, I examined how often midseason leaders go on to win various categories and found that since 1976, the biggest lost lead (as of July 15) in a batting race was 29 points, by the Yankees' Dave Winfield to teammate Don Mattingly in 1984.

"When Kenny Lofton hit [a third-inning triple] to left-center," Sanchez said, "I couldn't run."

Sanchez has battled the hamstring for more than a week. He has played through pain at times, but the soreness Wednesday was enough that he's not his normal optimistic self about playing this weekend in Minnesota.

"What has to happen before he plays, he's going to have to get some X-rays," Trammell said. "And then if he goes to Minnesota [this weekend] and takes X-rays, another doctor looks at them. A few extra days are not going to hurt him."

Erie Seawolves right-hander Kyle Sleeth, the Tigers' top pick in the 2003 draft, has what's described as mild soreness in his pitching shoulder. Sleeth will miss his next scheduled start, but assistant general manager Al Avila said that was to work on mechanics more than because of the soreness. Sleeth last pitched June 30, allowing two runs in six innings for his first victory since a recent promotion to Double-A.

Detroit managed a meager 591 runs in going 43-119 in 2003. Through Thursday's games, the Tigers have scored 410 runs, putting them on pace for 862 runs for the season. That would represent a net gain of 271 runs, the second-best improvement in major league history.

In all, 43 players earned $2.05 million in bonuses. Six players will receive $100,000 each: San Francisco's Barry Bonds, Anaheim's Vladimir Guerrero, the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez, Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia and Schilling.

The Tigers showed a lot of faith in Rodriguez when they gave him a $40 million, four-year contract in February. The star catcher has been worth every penny...After the misery of last season, Detroit now has a chance in every game -- thanks in no small part to Rodriguez's bat, 10-time Gold Glove arm and fiery leadership.

"We are doing pretty good," he said.

Alex Sanchez said his sore right hamstring was "so-so" Saturday, and it was decidedly less when he aggravated it trying to run out a bunt Friday night. But both he and Trammell have decided to try to play him through it into the All-Star break, and he was back in the leadoff spot Saturday night.

"It's not hurting too much [in the field]," Sanchez said, "because I don't try to push [off the leg] too hard. When I'm bunting, I have to push hard to get to first base."

The Cubs are scouting Detroit Tigers closer Ugueth Urbina and have been in contact with Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers' president, general manager and CEO, about him.

Two players have been spectacular of late. Ivan Rodriguez should have clinched AL Player of the Month honors Wednesday with a 3-for-4 game that pushed his batting average to .500 in June.

Meanwhile, Nate Robertson, the Tigers' winning pitcher on Wednesday, has quietly emerged as one of the best young left-handed starters in the majors.