December 3 in Tigers and mlb history:

1933 - Philadelphia Athletics owner Connie Mack sells catcher Mickey Cochrane to the Detroit Tigers for $100,000. Cochrane is named Detroit manager.
Nine days later, Mack sells Lefty Grove, Max Bishop, and Rube Walberg to the Boston Red Sox for $125,000, and George Earnshaw goes to the Chicago White Sox for $20,000 and another player.

1956 - Once again, the Detroit Tigers trade pitcher Virgil Trucks. This time, Trucks will go along with Ned Garver, Gene Host, Wayne Belardi and $20,000 to the Kansas City Athletics for Bill Harrington, Jack Crimian, Eddie Robinson and Jim Finigan.

1958: American League President Will Harridge announces his retirement.

1962 - Former players Frank Crosetti and Johnny Schulte file a suit to halt any increased Major League Baseball pension benefits that fail to include old-time players.

1968: The MLB Rules Committee adopts a series of changes designed to increase the amount of offensive run production in both leagues. In the most significant alterations, the committee agrees to decrease the size of the strike zone and lower the height of the pitcher's mound from 15 inches to 10 inches. The rules changes will result in increased run-scoring in 1969.

December 3, 2013: The Detroit Tigers sign reliever Joe Nathan, who moves to the Tigers on a two-year contract.

Tigers players birthdays:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drakede01.shtml
Delos Drake 1911.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/durbich01.shtml
Chad Durbin 2006-2007.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/glovega01.shtml
Gary Glover 2008.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Andy_Oliver
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/olivean01.shtml
Andy Oliver 2010-2011.

Tigers players who passed away:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Earl_Johnson
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsea01.shtml?redir
Earl Johnson 1951.

from baseball reference

http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/210095794/detroit-tigers-vacation-packages-on-sale-now/
Detroit Tigers Vacation Packages On Sale Now.
Vacations include various packages to Tigers Spring Training in Lakeland, Florida; Exclusive road trip to watch the Tigers in San Diego, California.
Press Release Tigers official site

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...-national-team-manager-world-baseball-classic
Omar Vizquel named Venezuela manager after players threatened boycott.
espn

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2016/12/tigers_keep_andrew_romine_tend.html#incart_river_index
Tigers keep Andrew Romine, tender contracts to all arbitration-eligible players.
Mlive

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2016/12/tigers_winter_meetings_ideas.html#0
MLB Winter Meetings: A to-do list for the Tigers.
Mlive

https://www.detroitathletic.com/blo...resence-still-helping-tigers-55-years-signed/
Horton?s presence is still helping the Tigers 55 years after they signed him.
Detroit Athletic

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2016/12...on-tender-washington-nationals-detroit-tigers
MLB trade rumors: Nationals non-tender Ben Revere, who is now a prime buy-low candidate.
Revere wouldn?t be a flashy signing, but he brings a lot of speed to the table.
bybtb

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2016/12...ellanos-jose-iglesias-mlb-non-tender-deadline
Tigers tender contracts to Nick Castellanos, Jose Iglesias for 2017 season.
Of note: Andrew Romine will be a Tiger again next season.
bybtb

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18191692/tyson-ross-ben-revere-cody-asche-35-new-free-agents
35 new free agents.
espn

http://www.espn.com/blog/mlb/rumors...d-in-j-d-martinez-but-talks-arent-progressing
MLB Rumor Central: Phillies, Giants have shown interest in J.D. Martinez.
espn

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2016/12/miguel_cabrera_on_possible_tra.html#incart_river_index
Miguel Cabrera on possible trade: "I love Detroit, but the doors are open'.
Mlive

Miggy: al principio los rumores me cayeron mal. Me gusta jugar en Detroit, me gusta la ciudad. Pero las puertas est?n abiertas" Ya ocurri? la primera llamada, ojal? no ocurra la segunda. Ojal? no se d? y si se da que sea a un buen equipo". Si es una buena negociaci?n aceptar? el cambio. Si el equipo y Detroit no se ven beneficiados prefiero quedarme en Detroit"
at the beginning I wrong fell rumors. I like to play in Detroit, I like the city. "But the doors are open" already took place the first call, hopefully not occur the second. "Hopefully not be given and if that it is a good team". Si es una buena negociaci?n aceptar? el cambio. Si el equipo y Detroit no se ven beneficiados prefiero quedarme en Detroit".
translation;
at the beginning the rumors I fell badly. I like to play in Detroit, I like the city. But the doors are open"already took place the first call, I hope does not happen the second. "Hopefully not be give and if is da that is to a good team" If is a good negotiating will accept the change. If the team and Detroit beneficiaries are not I prefer to stay in Detroit"

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2016/12/3/13154460/mlb-winter-meetings-trade-rumors-detroit-tigers
MLB trade rumors: Tigers don?t have to rebuild yet.
Gradual changes can keep the window of contention open longer.
bybtb

http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/210179442/tigers-miguel-cabrera-open-to-offseason-trade/
Miggy open to trade but wants to be in Detroit.
Tigers will listen to offers for star players at Winter Meetings.
Tigers official site

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/12/03/report-cabrera-likely-wont-be-traded/
Cabrera Likely Won?t Be Traded.
CBSDetroit

December 4 in Tigers and mlb history:

1952 - Detroit trades P Virgil Trucks, who tossed two no-hitters during the year, along with P Hal White and OF Johnny Groth, to the Browns in exchange for 2B Owen Friend, OF Bob Nieman, and OF/C J.W. Porter.

1957: The major league owners raise the minimum salary to $7,000 and eliminate the bonus rule.

1963: The Tigers trade pitcher Jim Bunning to the Phillies for catcher Gus Triandos, pitcher Jack Hamilton and outfielder Don Demeter. Bunning will go on and win 19 games four times and over another 100 games in the NL with over 1000 strikeouts becoming just the second pitcher in MLB history to accomplish the feat, along with Cy Young. Bunning will also gain entry into the Hall of Fame.

1964: The major leagues restore to the commissioner's office all powers rescinded after Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis's death in 1944. Principally, they waive their right to take legal action in the event of disagreements with the commissioner and grant him authority to judge whether actions taken by the owners in concert are, automatically "in the best interests of baseball." Voting for the annual All-Star teams is turned back to the fans.

1964: The owners decide to use a free agent draft beginning next month. The inverse order of the previous year's standings will be used to select players every four months. This will eventually be scaled back to a twice yearly and then to an annual event.

1979: Detroit trades Rusty Staub back to the Expos, where he was the most popular player in franchise history during his first stint with the team.

1990: The Tigers signs free agent pitcher Bill Gullickson, who will win 20 games for them in 1991.

2007 - The Florida Marlins and the Detroit Tigers pull of a blockbuster deal. Florida sends 3B Miguel Cabrera (an All-Star in four of his five seasons) and 2-time All-Star P Dontrelle Willis for prospects Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and Dallas Trahern. The Marlins also get Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop in the deal. Maybin and Miller had been Detroit's first-round picks in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Tigers players birthdays:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/conkwal01.shtml
Allen Conkwright 1920.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Harvey_Kuenn
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kuennha01.shtml?redir
Harvey Kuenn 1952-1959.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Barbaro_Garbey
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/garbeba01.shtml?redir
Barbaro Garbey 1984-1985.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pat_Sheridan
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sheripa01.shtml?redir
Pat Sheridan 1986-1989.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Angel_Nesbitt
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nesbian01.shtml
Angel Nesbitt 2015.

Tigers players who passed away:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jack_Smith_(smithja02)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithja02.shtml?redir
Jack Smith 1912.

from baseball reference

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/m...oit-tigers-casey-mcgehee-japan-2017/94929464/
Tigers third baseman Casey McGehee heading back to Japan for 2017.
Freep

Omar Vizquel will be on Hall of Fame ballots for the first time in 2017. In all likelihood, he?ll still be there when I become eligible to vote a few years later (This is my sixth year in the BBWAA, so I have four to go). The defensive whiz will receive some support, but his odds of reaching the 75% mark aren?t great. There?s a pretty decent chance he?ll eventually end up an Eras Committee candidate.

The arguments against Vizquel are valid. His .688 OPS and 82 adjusted OPS are clearly inferior, and he was an All-Star just three times in 24 seasons.
His 42.6 WAR pales in comparison to Alan Trammell?s 63.7, and the Tigers? great was (inexplicably) snubbed by the BBWAA.

I plan to vote for Vizquel.

In some respects, he is the shortstop version of Tim Raines. Much as the latter was overshadowed by Rickey Henderson, Vizquel was overshadowed by Ozzie Smith. Were it not for The Wizard, Vizquel would have been regarded by many as the best defensive shortstop of his generation. As it is, he?s among the best ever.

Vizquel played 2,709 games at shortstop, the most all-time. He turned more double plays than anyone at that position, and he has the fifth-most assists. He was charged with 183 errors in 11, 961 chances. (Ozzie Smith had 281 errors in 12,905 chances.)

With the bat, Vizquel logged 2,877 hits, which is sixth-most among shortstops, and 42nd overall. His 2,968 games played (at any position) are more than all but 11 players in history.

Will Vizquel be one of the 10 most-deserving candidates when I have the honor of filling out my first ballot? Some of that depends on what happens in the next few years, but I expect that he will. Despite lackluster numbers in some meaningful offensive categories, Vizquel was an elite defensive shortstop for a very long time.

Fangraphs

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/m...s-heading-into-mlbs-winter-meetings/94969166/
Six observations on the Tigers heading into MLB's winter meetings.
Freep

http://www.blessyouboys.com/2016/12...ra-won-t-stand-in-the-way-of-a-sensible-trade
MLB Trade Rumors: Miguel Cabrera won?t stand in the way of a sensible trade.
The Tigers? star doesn?t want to be traded, but is willing to listen to proposals.
bybtb

http://motorcitybengals.com/2016/12/04/detroit-tigers-predicting-few-changes-to-the-2017-team/
Detroit Tigers: Predicting Few Changes to the 2017 Team.
mcbtb