We can stop speculating about life after Pudge. The Tigers pick up his contract option

In what was pretty much a no-brainer for the Detroit Tigers, a decision I heartily agree with, they picked up the $13 million option year on Pudge Rodriguez's contract.

"That's it, just a little more to the left...THERE!
I want my statue right next to Kaline's!"

Why call it a no-brainer? Because keeping Pudge was the only realistic option for a team that plans on being a playoff contender. Let alone there was no one available that would have been significantly better than Pudge Rodriguez. Even as his skills decline, he is still a legitimate major league catcher.

All in all, there were more than a few reasons for keeping Pudge behind the plate for at least 1 more year...

1. Mike Ilitch's loyalty. We all know that the Pizza Man loves his superstars, and having big name players on the roster of both the Red Wings and Tigers. Despite his decline, Pudge is still a very big "Name."

Then there's the fact that Pudge took a leap of faith (Admittedly, into a big $40+ million pile of cash) when he signed with the Tigers in 2004. Ilitch isn't the type to forget that sort of faith. Picking up the final year of the contract could very well be the Tigers owner's way of saying "Thank you."

You had to believe that picking up Pudge's option was a done deal when Ilitch was quoted as saying, "He's made a lot of contributions. I don't think it'll be a tough call, but we'll see." That's as close to Ilitch saying, "I have the final say, and I want him to stay" as you are going to get.

2. The free agent catchers on the market are, to put it mildly, underwhelming. Once you get past Jorge Posada and Paul LoDuca, a pair of catchers the same age, and about as expensive, as Pudge Rodriguez, what catching options are left? Your options are jack and shit. Asmus? Barrett? Kendall? Torrealba? I'd rather take my chances on another year of Pudge, than a group of never-were's and used-to-be's, thank you.

3. The cost in players/prospects to acquire a good young catcher via trade is prohibitive. There was a single young catcher available at the 2007 trade deadline, Jarrod Saltalamacchia. For the Rangers to pry him away from Atlanta, they had to give up one of the best 1st basemen in baseball, all-star Mark Teixeira, and a solid big league relief pitcher in Ron Mahay. That's a hefty price to pay for a catcher who has all the tools, but had never proven himself at the big league level.

f you look at the offensive numbers Salty put up in Texas, they were quite Pudge-like. So if the Tigers were able to get their hands on a young catcher, there's no guarantee that he would be worth the hefty damn price you'd have to pay. Sure, Saltalamacchia may ultimately live up to his potential, but so far, he's been average, at best. At least you know what you are getting in Pudge, and you can plan accordingly. The Tigers will have to be on the prowl for a young catcher over the next 18 months, but keeping Pudge around allows them to have that 18 month window.

4. The Tigers are already in the market for a top tier shortstop, a veteran starter, a closer, and a left hand hitting left fielder, there was no reason to have to plug another lineup hole by declining Pudge's option. In other words, a bird Pudge in the hand is worth 2 in the bush dugout...Or something like that.

5. Pudge is the face of the Tiger franchise. As I said above, in the eye of the public, Pudge is still a very big name. He's a first ballot lock for Cooperstown. He'll continue to be elected to the all-star team on name value alone. If the Tigers let Pudge walk, there would be a backlash from the casual fans, the young fans, the fans who aren't into sabermetrics, and fans who value star players.

That's a good sized chunk of the Tigers fanbase, so you know there was some thought as to the public relations side of retaining Pudge's services. Keeping Pudge is good for the box office. I'm not saying it's correct in a baseball sense, but the need for good PR is a fact in doing business. And when it comes down to it, the Tigers are a business.

The only caveat I have in regard to the option pickup is this... The money the Tigers give Pudge best not prevent them from making other personnel moves. I doubt that will be the case, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on.