Here’s a lttle secret about the three Detroit Tigers GM and President Dave Dombrowski has let go this winter. First, Placido Polanco is getting old. The Tigers have the youthful, broken ankled, 24-year old, Scott Sizemore, ready to step in. Polanco batted .285 with 10 homers and 72 RBI. His bat control will be missed and he was a gold glove defender who is losing a step at 34. Sizemore hit 17 home runs last year in the minors, provides more range, speed, energy and power and will cost much less than Polanco.

For our second discarded Tiger, we have Curtis Granderson. He was the face and personality of the Tigers. Drafted and bred within the Tiger system. Most popular player and destined to be a broadcaster. AL All-Star centerfielder, 30 home runs, 20 steals, solid glove and top-of-the-order hitter. What’s not to like? Balls that bounced off his golden glove. Strikeouts. Pathetic success against lefthanders. And a second half tailspin/slump that coupled with Edwin Jackson’s second half pitching slump, probably cost the Tigers a Central Division title.

As the third shipped out All Star, we have the aforementioned Mr. Edwin Jackson. A star-to-be in Los Angeles, peddled to Tampa Bay where he pitched in a World Series, then traded to Detroit for next to nothing (Matt Joyce), where he won 13 and lost 9. Jackson faded dramatically in the second half and was headed toward a hefty raise in arbitration and free agency after 2011.

For Tigers fans who looked at the 2009 team as only a player or two away from causing playoff mayhem, the removal of three All Star caliber players spells more doom for Detroit. Actually, the Tigers could be improved in 2010, if not, at the very least, more efficient. More likely, they will have to wait for the youthful new players to develop. Dombrowski’s skills will be judged on how well the Tigers compare to the 86 win mark they put up in ’09.

The move to younger and more cost efficient players boils down to how Dombrowski replaces the stars. Granderson’s spot will have at least three candidates…Tiger prospects Wilkin Ramirez and Casper Wells or Yankee top prospect Austin Jackson. All rookies with the aging Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez at their wings. Polanco will be replaced by Sizemore or, if he fails, veteran Ramon Santiago. Justin Verlander will head the rotation with Jeremy Bonderman, returning from IR, and sophomore Rick Porcello making the three-man rotation. Jackson’s replacement currently will come from a crowd including Armando Gallaragga, the doubtful Dontrelle Willis, lefty Nate Robertson, righthanded 25-year old Max Scherzer, who was 9-11 with 174 strikeouts in 170 innings (which also makes him a closer candidate) in 2009 with the Diamondbacks, or a Porcello-like longshot in 2009 top draft pick, Jake Turner.

Dombrowski still has to focus on a replacement as his closer. Lefties Phil Coke and Daniel Schlereth (son of ESPN’s Mark) join a host of set- up guys in the bullpen that include Bobby Seay, a returning-from-injury Joel Zumaya, sophomore and former #1 choice Ryan Perry, hard throwing farm hand Jay Sborz and swingmen Zack Miner and Eddie Bonine.

The biggest flaw Detroit had in 2009 was a general lack of timely hitting. The loss of Polanco and Granderson won’t effect that much. How Dombrowski replaces them, shores up his roster and addresses his bullpen will dictate how well Detroit competes in 2010.