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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 12:18 p.m., Friday, March 30, 2007

Tigers' Rogers out until July; Guillen signs extension

Associated Press

LAKELAND, Fla. — Kenny Rogers had surgery today to remove a blood clot from his left shoulder and repair arteries, and the Detroit Tigers pitcher likely will be sidelined for the first half of the season.

The 42-year-old left-hander had the operation in Dallas. He is expected to start throwing in six-to-eight weeks, and Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said the earliest Rogers would return to the rotation is July.

Detroit placed Rogers on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday. Chad Durbin, who made the team as a reliever, will move into the Tigers' rotation.

Rogers is on the DL for the first time since 2001.

Rogers has gone from a hard-throwing pitcher to a crafty one during a career that began in 1989 with the Texas Rangers and included stops with Oakland, Minnesota and both teams in New York.

He went 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA last year during his first season with the Tigers, then gained notoriety during the postseason when he had a patch of dirt on his pitching hand. He won all three of his postseason starts and didn't allow a run in 23 innings.

Rogers was 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA in five exhibition starts. With Rogers out of the rotation, Nate Robertson will pitch in place of Rogers on Wednesday in Detroit's second game. Jeremy Bonderman starts Monday's opener against Toronto. Justin Verlander goes to third in the rotation, followed by Mike Maroth and Durbin.

Guillen and Tigers agree to $48 million, 4-year extension

Shortstop Carlos Guillen and the Detroit Tigers agreed Friday to a $48 million, four-year contract extension through the 2011 season.

Guillen is making $5 million this season, the last of a $14 million, three-year deal. He hit .320 last year with 19 homers, 85 RBIs, 41 doubles and 100 runs scored.

Detroit acquired Guillen from Seattle in 2004. He has a .320 batting average with 44 homers and 205 RBIs with the Tigers.