Cruceta finally gets visa approved

Francisco Cruceta finally had his visa approved and will report to Lakeland later this week. The Tigers now have 30 days to decide what to do with him. Because he is out of options, they have to either put him on the 25 man roster or place him on outright waivers. He has been throwing in the Dominican all along so he may be able to make the Tigers before the 30 days are up. Before that, I would guess he would pitch for the Mud Hens.

The 26 year old right-hander was signed as a minor league free agent out of the Rangers system where he struck out 70 and compiled a 3.02 ERA in 65 2/3 innings for AAA Oklahoma City in 2007. He also had a strong Dominican Winter League season posting a 1.14 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. He pitched briefly for the Indians in 2004 and the Mariners in 2006. I'm not convinced he'll live up to his off-season hype but if he's got anything at all you can be sure he'll get an opportunity with this staff.

In other news, the Tigers signed veteran left-hander Casey Fossum to a minor league contract. The 30 year old righty has a lifetime ERA of 5.46 in 203 games over seven seasons with the Red Sox, Diamondbacks and Rays. He was released by Tampa Bay after compiling a 7.70 ERA in 40 games as a starter and reliever last year. He was invited to spring training by the Pirates but was then released. He will join Aaron Fultz, another lefty trying to salvage his career, in Toledo.