dombrowskiAPphoto.jpg

Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski.

(AP file photo)

DETROIT -- Shin-Soo Choo?

Not so fast.

Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski always leaves his options open. But he all but ruled out the idea that the Tigers could wade into the deep-salary end of the free-pool from this point forward this offseason.

"I would think not," Dombrowski said Wednesday afternoon when asked if he anticipated that the Tigers would be interested in the high-priced free agents who remain on the market.

The New York Daily News reported Tuesday that

, a free-agent outfielder who hits left-handed and would fit in nicely as a leadoff hitter for the Tigers.

Choo hit .285 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, 107 runs scored, 20 stolen bases and an .885 OPS in 2013 for the Cincinnati Reds. He is a career .288 hitter with 427 RBIs and 105 stolen bases in 853 games spanning nine seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians and Reds.

Both of the trades the Tigers have made this offseason -- involving Prince Fielder and Doug Fister -- have trimmed salary over the long term. The Tigers signed Nathan to a deal that has been reported to be worth $20 million for two seasons. They also have six players due raises through the arbitration process, including Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Austin Jackson.

Anibal Sanchez will make $7 million more in 2014 than he did in 2013 after re-signing with the Tigers a year ago.

"There's a difference between signing a player for a year at some dollars and then signing guys for six or seven years, and where you think they may be in their careers," Dombrowski said. "We just were in a situation where we created some flexibility and all of a sudden you have to be careful that you don't tie your hands in regards to flexibility, too."

The Tigers will still have one of the largest payrolls in the league. But it would be a surprise if they were to go out and sign another player to a long-term deal worth $20 million or so per season, which is what Choo is reportedly seeking.

The Tigers might still add a left fielder to the mix through a trade or free agency, but it sounds like they're out of the running for guys like Choo.

"We'll just wait and see what takes place," Dombrowski said. "We'll have conversations with clubs. There are some free agents out there. Again, it's Dec. 4, but I don't anticipate any of the major names that are being thrown out there."

The winter meetings begin Monday in Orlando, so Dombrowski's work is far from finished.

"There's no perfect club," he said. "You can always address your next spot. I don't have what I would say is a glaring, 'OK, this is going to be our next step.' We'll go to the winter meetings and we'll see if we can improve our ballclub in various ways."

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