Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski seemed doubtful at his end-of-season address that the club would add another $20 million player this offseason.

Dombrowski also said in early November that it was unlikely the Tigers would shift shortstop Jhonny Peralta to third next season.

It appears he could have changed his mind.

the Tigers are viewed as an “outside late threat” for free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes. Reyes, 28, is reportedly seeking a long-term contract worth approximately $100 million-plus.

An unidentified team that has inquired about Reyes this offseason

that the Tigers "are good poker players" -- referring to Dombrowski's canny ability to remain out of the media spotlight during preliminary discussions with free agents.

The Tigers are among only a few teams that have expressed interest in Reyes, joining the Miami Marlins, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers in a market that Heyman described as “slow to develop.”

The Marlins reportedly extended an initial offer of six years, $90 million to Reyes in early November and are considering an increase in their bid “to try for a quick resolution,”

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If the Tigers are interested in luring the high-risk speedster to Detroit, they would likely need to extend a six-year, $100 million-plus offer, with a possible vesting option for a seventh year.

Acquiring Reyes would be a financial risk, considering his long-lasting bout with hamstring injuries, but the would-be leadoff hitter could seemingly become the Tigers first base-stealing threat since Alex Sanchez swiped 43 bases in 2003 and Roger Cedeno stole 55 in 2001. The move would also result in shifting Peralta back to third -- a position Peralta held for multiple years in Cleveland.

Detroit already has two $20 million-type-players in Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, but Tigers owner Mike Ilitch didn’t dismiss the possibility of adding another big-time player when asked in mid-October.

“I’m already thinking about that,” Ilitch told the Detroit News. “Can you imagine another big bat in our lineup?"

Only 14 players have earned as much as $20 million in a season -- and Verlander will add to the list in 2012 as he is set to earn $20 million each year for the remainder of the five-year deal he signed in 2010.

The Tigers entered 2011 carrying an opening day payroll of about $106 million -- the team’s smallest payroll since 2007. They have more than $84 million committed to 10 players under contract already, but should have $23 million-plus of wiggle room to try and acquire one or two big bats with the departures of high-paid veterans Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen.

The Winter Meetings are open Monday and the Tigers are expected to be active in Dallas. To what extend, who knows? Starting pitching, middle relief and infield help are all areas of concern that could be of higher priority.

Regardless, Reyes’ representatives at Peter Greenberg & Associates are expected to be in attendance and will likely engage in talks -- but a decision probably won’t be made until after the week-long junket.