[bulldogg]

LF options: Zumaya's prognosis good; Tigers' reliever says, 'I believe a miracle happened'

Luis Gonzalez, 40, batted .278 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers this past season. The Tigers have budgeted considerably less for leftfield than the $7.35 million Gonzalez earned in 2007.


"He liked it there," Bross said, in a telephone interview. "He has good memories in Detroit, with his kids being born there. Detroit could be a very good fit."


The Tigers also have expressed interest in free agents Cliff Floyd and Shannon Stewart, two veteran outfielders who have battled injuries in recent years.


Stewart, a right-handed batter, reestablished himself with a solid 2007 season in Oakland. Floyd would like to be an everyday player in 2008, but it's unclear if the Tigers would offer him that opportunity.


Floyd played for the Dombrowski-led 1997 Florida Marlins -- along with current Tigers Edgar Renteria and Gary Sheffield -- and was drafted by the Montreal Expos when Dombrowski was the GM there.

The Tigers previously have shown interest in Seattle first baseman/outfielder Ben Broussard, but the Tigers would be reluctant to trade for a leftfielder after sending prospects Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez to Atlanta in the Renteria deal.