Atomic RoadRunners

The Detroit Tigers signed RHP Brandon Lyon, who had been with the Diamondbacks, to a one-year, $4.25 million contract. He can earn an extra $500,000 in incentives. Lyon becomes the favorite to close for the Tigers over Fernando Rodney. The Cardinals will have to keep looking elsewhere after losing out on another target. Perhaps they’ll re-sign Jason Isringhausen or take a chance on a rehabbing Akinori Otsuka.

Lyon should be the clear favorite to close over Fernando Rodney. Neither was really any good last year, but Lyon has the better track record and is the more durable of the two. Ideally, Joel Zumaya would step up and push both into setup roles by June or July.

Agent Barry Meister said previously that Lyon had a two-year, $9 million deal on the table. If he indeed signs with Detroit, Lyon will compete with Fernando Rodney for closing duties. The Cardinals are said to be the other finalists for his services. (Rotowire)

Lyon will have a chance to earn the closing role in Detroit this spring. “He was not promised the closer’s job,” GM Dave Dombrowski said. “He thinks he’s going to win the job and that’s why he wanted to come here.” (Rotoworld)

It was thought that if Lyon signed with the Cardinals to be the closer in 2009, the Atomic Roadrunners would protect him as the 15th man – and fourth closer on the staff, joining the Braves’ Mike Gonzalez, the Marlins’ Matt Lindstrom, and the Giants’ Brian Wilson.