Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez are aiming to play baseball again in 2012 — though they won’t be doing so with the Detroit Tigers.
The 36 year-old Guillen is a free agent and the 38 year-old Ordonez had surgery last week to repair his ankle. President Dave Dombrowski announced earlier this month that they have in all likelihood played their final games with Detroit.
The Tigers won 43 games in 2003. Then Guillen came on board the next season, and the team won 72 games. Ordonez joined Detroit the next season, and by his second year, the Tigers won 95 games and went to the World Series. After almost reaching the World Series again last season, Guillen and Ordonez will be moving on.
“I have good memories from the Tigers — good friends, good guys, great fans, great town to play baseball,” Guillen said. “It’s part of the game. It’s part of your career. We have to understand the situation, our situation. But at the same time, if Magglio proves he can play, he’ll play. I can play.”
Like Ordonez, Guillen’s comeback ability lies largely in his ability to get healthy.
“I’m healthy,” Guillen said. “My knee’s good. My calf is good. I’m already working out in Miami, two weeks already.”