The 2007 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 107th season and its eighth at Comerica Park. The season ended with the 88–74 Tigers finishing runner-up in the American League Central, eight games in back of the Cleveland Indians. They failed in winning the Wild Card.
As of July 18, the Tigers had sold 2,712,393 tickets at Comerica Park for the 2007 season, setting a new single-season home attendance record for the team. The previous record had been 2,704,794 customers at Tiger Stadium in 1984. At the end of the season, the Tigers had sold over 3,000,000 tickets for 2007.
On July 6, Neifi Pérez was suspended 25 games by MLB for a second positive test for a banned stimulant. He subsequently tested positive for a third time and was suspended on August 3 for 80 games.
On August 7, 2007, Granderson became only the second player in franchise history to have at least 30 doubles, 15 triples, 15 home runs, and 10 stolen bases in a single season when he hit a double in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The other Tiger to accomplish this feat was Charlie Gehringer in 1930. Granderson hit his second inside-the-park home run in his first at bat against the Yankees on August 26, 2007.
On September 7, 2007, Granderson became the 6th member all-time of baseball's exclusive 20–20–20 club. Granderson joined the 20–20–20 club with Kansas City's George Brett (1979), Willie Mays of the New York Giants (1957), Cleveland's Jeff Heath (1941), St. Louis' Jim Bottomley (1928), and Frank Schulte of the Chicago Cubs (1911).
On September 9, 2007 Granderson stole his 20th base of the season and joined Willie Mays and Frank "Wildfire" Schulte as the only players in major league history to reach 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in a season.[1] Schulte was the first to accomplish the feat in 1911 while playing for the Chicago Cubs and Mays did it in 1957 with the New York Giants. Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies would later that year accomplish the same feat.
Magglio Ordóñez had one of the best season by a Detroit Tiger batter in the past 60 years.[citation needed] Magglio's records and accomplishments in 2007 include:
His .363 batting average was the highest in Major League Baseball. He finished the season as the AL batting champion, and is the first Tiger player to accomplish the feat since Norm Cash in 1961. The last Tiger to hit for a higher average was Charlie Gehringer in 1937.
His 139 RBIs was the highest by a Tiger since Rocky Colavito had 140 in 1961. Colavito is the only Tiger batter with more RBIs than Ordóñez in the past 60 years.
On August 12, 2007, Magglio hit two home runs in an eight-run second-inning of an 11-6 win over the Oakland Athletics, becoming the second batter in Tigers' history to achieve this feat; Al Kaline had done so on April 17, 1955, in a 16-0 win over the then-Kansas City Athletics.
Ordóñez had an on-base percentage of .434. Only two other Tiger batters in the past 60 years have hit for a higher on-base percentage: Tony Phillips in 1993 (.443) and Norm Cash in 1961 (.487).
Only one Tiger in the past 60 years has had a higher slugging percentage than Magglio's .595: Norm Cash in 1961 had a slugging percentage of .662.
The one Tiger hitting season in the past 60 years that exceeds Ordonez's 2007 season is that of Norm Cash in 1961. In 1961, the AL MVP award was given to New York Yankee slugger Roger Maris who hit 61 home runs.
2007–08 offseason events
On October 9, 2007, the Tigers announced that they were picking up the $13 million, fifth-year option on Iván Rodríguez's contract, keeping him on the roster through at least the 2008 season. The Tigers could have bought out the option for $3 million and allowed him to become a free agent.
Relief pitcher Joel Zumaya was injured while at his off-season home in California. While moving boxes during the October 2007 California wildfires, a large box fell on Zumaya, separating his shoulder. Zumaya had surgery to correct the problem and is currently rehabilitating the shoulder.
On October 29, first baseman Sean Casey filed for free agency, on the first day players could do so. The team's management had already informed Casey that he would not return to the lineup the following season. The same day, the Tigers acquired shortstopÉdgar Rentería from the Atlanta Braves, in exchange for pitching prospect Jair Jurrjens and outfielding prospect Gorkys Hernández. The move paves the way for current shortstop Carlos Guillén to move to the vacant spot at first base.
On October 30, utility infielder Neifi Pérez filed for free agency. He had not played since July 5 after being suspended for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.
On November 12, veteran closer Todd Jones was re-signed to a one-year, $7 million contract. The same day, the Tigers received outfielder Jacque Jones in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for utility man Omar Infante.
On November 30, Kenny Rogers agreed to a one-year, 8-million contract to return to the Tigers. Rogers represented himself in contract negotiations after firing agent Scott Boras on November 17. The contract contains performance bonuses based on how many innings Rogers pitches in 2008. The team also signed free-agent pitcher Francisco Cruceta to a one-year deal.
The Cabrera trade would make current third-baseman Brandon Inge expendable. Inge asked management for a trade, but the team was unable to make a deal. Inge's four-year, $24 million contract, signed before the 2007 season, was partly to blame. Inge would eventually drop the matter and accept the role as a utilityman.
On December 29, the Tigers and Dontrelle Willis signed a three-year, $29 million contract extension.
On January 16, 2008, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Nate Robertson and signed him to a three-year, $21.25 million contract. He would have been a free agent after the 2009 season. The following day, the Tigers avoided arbitration with outfielder Marcus Thames, signing him to a one-year, $1,275,000 contract. On the 18th, the team was able to avoid arbitration with all of their eligible players by signing Miguel Cabrera to a one-year, $11.3 million contract. Reliever Bobby Seay was given a one-year, $780,000 contract.
On February 4, center fielder Curtis Granderson signed a 5-year, $30.25 million contract extension, keeping the speedy lead-off man on the roster through at least 2012. There is a team option for 2013.
On February 5, the Tigers completed another trade with the Texas Rangers, sending Class A Lakeland and Class AA Erie outfielder Michael Hernandez in exchange for minor league right-hander Armando Galarraga.
On March 25, the Tigers finalized a long-term contract for Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera signed an eight-year, $152.3 million deal, which is the biggest in Detroit Tigers history.[3]
