Tigers owner Mike Ilitch said a month and a half ago that he didn’t care about the money, that he wanted the best players. General manager Al Avila told a Detroit radio station last month that a long-term deal with a top free-agent outfielder “would be pretty ugly” for the team’s payroll situation. If there was a balance to be found between the two, the structure of the Tigers’ agreement with Justin Upton might be in the ballpark.

Had the Braves taken the risk of jeopardizing their future by keeping both Justin Upton and Jason Heyward for the 2015 season, they certainly could have avoided some of the disappointment that was experienced last summer. They could have delayed their massive rebuilding process another year, and in the process, they could have possibly overcome what would have been a suspect rotation en route to reaching the playoffs.

The Rockies’ signing of outfielder Gerardo Parra signals that the team values productive at-bats and on-base percentage. But even Parra realizes that Coors Field rewards a powerful swing.

The Yankees and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi have agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract to avoid arbitration.

That’s what teammates are for.

The Dodgers reportedly reached agreement on Tuesday with free-agent right-hander Joe Blanton, signing him to a 2016 contract for $4 million.

It was approximately a year ago when the Nationals swooped into the free-agent market to sign ace right-hander Max Scherzer last offseason. Now they could be setting themselves up to make a similar move.

With four left-handed-hitting outfielders on his club, Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said during an appearance on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove” show Tuesday morning that he is dealing from a position of depth.

The Blue Jays have yet to make any firm decisions on Aaron Sanchez’s role for the upcoming season, but the 23-year-old right-hander made his preference very clear Tuesday morning: He wants to start.

On Tuesday, as it was announced that Pete Rose would be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame this summer, CEO Bob Castellini revealed that Rose’s No. 14 would formally be retired the same weekend, June 24-26, at Great American Ball Park.

Are Jason Varitek and Pedro Martinez on track to be uniformed coaches for the Red Sox? Ian Browne answers this question and more in the latest Inbox.

It will all begin on April 3 at 1:05 p.m. ET, when the Pirates will host the Cardinals at PNC Park on ESPN. It will culminate on Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. ET, when every final-day game will once again have a simultaneous start.

Here’s to you, Mike Ilitch. We offer a tip of the hat. You made a promise. You delivered. That’s what Justin Upton agreeing to a six-year, $132.75 million contract represents.

All-time hits leader Pete Rose is unlikely to gain entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown due to his lifetime ban for betting on games. But later this year, Rose’s achievements in baseball will be acknowledged in Cincinnati.

Didi Gregorius and the Yankees have come to terms on a $2.425 million deal and thus avoided arbitration.

The Marlins will hold a 3:30 p.m. ET news conference at Marlins Park on Tuesday to officially introduce free-agent left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. The deal, which was first reported last week, includes a five-year contract, worth a reported $80 million, that includes a vesting player option for a sixth year and a reported opt-out clause after the second year.

Go down every roster in the American League East, and you’ll come up with some very good reasons that team can win. You’ll also come up with a string of large questions.