TIGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH ELEVEN PLAYERS ON MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS FOR 2008 SEASON

DETROIT --- The Detroit Tigers announced today the club has agreed to terms on a minor league contract for the 2008 season with righthanded pitchers Francis

DETROIT --- The Detroit Tigers announced today the club has agreed to terms on a minor league contract for the 2008 season with righthanded pitchers Francis Beltran, Jeremy Johnson, Anastacio Martinez and Marcelo Perez, lefthanded pitchers Jon Connolly and Ian Ostlund, catchers Dane Sardinha and Max St. Pierre, infielders Caonabo Cosme and Henry Mateo and outfielder Jackson Melian.
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Beltran appeared in 47 games for Triple A Norfolk in the Baltimore Orioles organization in 2007, compiling a 4.70 ERA (59.1IP/31ER) and eight saves. He saw action in 56 games at the major league level with the Chicago Cubs (2002, 2004) and Montreal Expos (2004).
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Connolly spent time with both Triple A Toledo and Double A Erie in 2007, compiling an 8-8 record and 4.47 ERA (135.0IP/67ER) in 25 outings (23 starts).
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Johnson spent the majority of the 2007 season with Triple A Toledo, posting a 3-3 record and 3.44 ERA (68.0IP/26ER) in 39 appearances. Additionally, he won both of his outings with Double A Erie, posting a 3.38 ERA (5.1IP/2ER).
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Martinez appeared in 14 games (six starts) this past season for Triple A Toledo, compiling a 4-4 record and 4.24 ERA (40.1IP/19ER).
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Perez appeared in 47 games with Double A Binghamton in the New York Mets organization in 2007, posting a 5.53 ERA (70.0IP/43ER) and 69 strikeouts.
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Ostlund split the 2007 season between Triple A Toledo and Double A Erie. In 29 outings between the two stops, he posted a 2-1 record and 3.26 ERA (38.2IP/14ER).
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Sardinha spent the entire 2007 season with Triple A Toledo, hitting .202 (77x381) with 10 home runs and 47 RBI in 117 games.
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St. Pierre returns to the Tigers organization after seeing limited action with Double A Huntsville in the Milwaukee Brewers organization in 2007. In 10 seasons in the Tigers organization (1997-2006), St. Pierre batted .254 (654x2579) in 762 games at the minor league level.
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Cosme hit .276 (81x293) with 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 53 RBI in 92 games for Double A Chattanooga in the Cincinnati Reds organization during the 2007 season.
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Mateo saw action in 96 games with Triple A Toledo in 2007, batting .257 (80x311) with 16 doubles, three home runs and 20 RBI.
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Melian was named to the Eastern League’s mid-season all-star squad in 2007 with Double A Erie. He batted .310 (99x319) with 15 doubles, 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 88 games for the SeaWolves.
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