Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers reached an agreement Wednesday with second baseman Josh Harrison on a contract for 2019.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, Harrison will receive a one-year deal to be Detroit's starting second baseman. 

Harrison became the latest high-profile player to leave the Pittsburgh Pirates when they declined his 2019 option in October. The front office previously moved outfielder Andrew McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants and starting pitcher Gerrit Cole to the Houston Astros last offseason.

After those trades, which featured return packages headlined by prospects, Harrison told Rosenthal he preferred to play for a championship contender:

"Baseball is a business and I understand that trades are part of the business. While I love this game, the reality is that I just lost two of my closest friends in the game. Cole and Cutch were not just friends, they were the best pitcher and best position player on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now, I am the most tenured member of the Pirates, I want to win, I want to contend, I want to win championships in 2018, 2019 and beyond."

Harrison added: "If indeed the team does not expect to contend this year or next, perhaps it would be better for all involved, that I also am traded. I want what is best for the organization that gave me a chance to be a Big Leaguer."

He wasn't dealt, but the declined the option gave him a chance to test the open market.

The 31-year-old entered the 2018 campaign with a career .281/.321/.414 triple-slash line with 44 home runs, 141 doubles and 72 stolen bases in 745 games across seven years in the majors.

He struggled last season, however, posting a .293 OBP with eight homers and three steals in 97 games. He missed over a month with a fractured hand.

His most productive season at the plate came in 2014 when he posted a career-best .837 OPS with 13 homers and 18 steals in 143 appearances.

Harrison's value is bolstered by his versatility in the field. While he's played his most games at second base, he's also garnered plenty of playing time at third and has some experience at shortstop and the corner outfield spots.

Despite his desire to play for a title contender, Harrison is going to a Tigers squad in a rebuilding phase. The team lost 98 games in 2018, but things could get better if Miguel Cabrera can stay healthy, Nicholas Castellanos continues to hit at a high level and Michael Fulmer returns to his All-Star form.

While Harrison's not an elite offensive producer, his strong performance at multiple positions around the diamond paired with well-rounded numbers at the plate and on the basepaths make him a fine addition for a team trying to improve after back-to-back losing seasons. 

If the Detroit Tigers are going to trade Nicholas Castellanos, he would prefer they do it soon rather than wait until after this season begins. 

Per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press, Castellanos’ agent, David Meter, explained where his client stands with the Tigers less than three weeks away from spring training.

"He wants to win and understands the direction of the franchise right now is to procure prospects," Meter, said. "That being said, he would rather start with his new club going into spring training."

Castellanos is entering the final year of team control before hitting free agency next offseason. He's going to make $9.95 million in 2019 after agreeing to a one-year deal earlier this month. 

Trade rumors have swirled around Castellanos for the past 12 months. Fenech reported in January 2018 the Tigers were "open" to dealing the 26-year-old after the two sides were unable to agree on a long-term extension. 

If the Tigers want to maximize their return for Castellanos, dealing him before the start of the regular season would make the most sense. His low salary this season would likely make it easier for him to fit into the budget for most teams in need of a right fielder. 

Castellanos set career-highs with a .354 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage in 2018. He's also hit over 20 home runs in each of the past two seasons. 

Detroit is in the midst of a long-term rebuild after losing 98 games last season. The best move for the franchise in 2019 will be adding as many future assets to its farm system. 

Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera has been ordered to pay child support to his ex-mistress, Belkis Rodriguez, and pay off her house.

Per court documents obtained by Tresa Baldas of the Detroit Free Press, a Florida judge ordered Cabrera to pay $20,000 per month in child support for two children he fathered with Rodriguez. He will also be required to pay off her mansion valued at nearly $1 million by July. 

Cabrera will also pay for health care, private tuition, daycare, activities and vacations for the two children in addition to the $20,000 per month in child support.

The children will "get vacations equal to what the children Cabrera has with his marital wife, under the court order."

Rodriguez originally filed a lawsuit against Cabrera in August 2017 after he allegedly cut child support payments, per the Associated Press. 

After a legal battle that lasted nearly 10 months, a Florida judge announced last May a trial would be scheduled for Nov. 5-7 to determine how much Cabrera would pay per month for the two children he had with Rodriguez.