Tigers avoid arbitration with Scherzer, Young, Kelly

By REED NelsonFOXSportsDetroit.com The Detroit Tigers announced on Monday that they have agreed to one-year deals with their three remaining arbitration-eligible players. Outfielder Delmon Young, starting pitcher Max Scherzer and utility infielder Don Kelly all agreed to new contracts marking it the 10th straight year GM Dave Dombrowski has avoided salary arbitration. The three signings came on the heels of two other Monday signings; a 3.1 million deal that starter Rick Porcello agreed to and a 1.1 million deal with reliever Phil Coke. Tuesday's deals all bring back key contributors from last season's playoff run. Delmon Young - who hit .274 (46-168) with five doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 32 RBI in 40 games with the Tigers last season - added a lot of pop in the postseason, where he slugged five home runs in 11 games. Young's future with the ballclub was uncertain after being acquired from Minnesota in a three-player deal on August 15, 2011. His settlement was worth a reported 6.75 million, according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. Max Scherzer completed his third straight season as a starter last season -- his last two with the Tigers -- compiling a 15-9 record with a 4.43 ERA (195.0IP96ER) and 174 strikeouts in 33 appearances. Don Kelly, the Tigers' super-utility player, reached an agreement worth a reported 900,000, according to Heyman. Now that the Tigers have shored up local any free agent uncertainty, they may switch their efforts into acquiring Yoennis Cespedes, who the Tigers have shown interested in. The Cuban centerfielder is currently playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Pitchers and catchers report to camp on Feb. 19, while the rest of the team has to report by Feb. 24 in order to prep for their Spring Training opener on Mar. 2 against Florida Southern University.