Hot Stove roundup: Tigers may try to extend Scherzer

The Hot Stove tends to focus on what teams can add. But sometimes, a team's best move could be to prevent one of its players from joining next offseason's Hot Stove discussion.

The Tigers might be one of those clubs, writes MLB.com's Jason Beck. While Detroit is no stranger to making significant trades or signings after Jan. 1, general manager Dave Dombrowski could choose to focus on a contract extension for reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. It will take a sizable offer to lock up the right-hander for the long term, but that might prove preferable to letting Scherzer hit the open market next winter.

In other news from around the league on Thursday:

• After turning the calendar to 2014, MLB.com's Doug Miller surveys the Hot Stove scene and takes stock of who remains available.

• Baseball America's Ben Badler made a list of the 10 teams most likely to sign Japanese righty Masahiro Tanaka and put the Mariners at No. 1, followed by the Yankees and Dodgers. Wherever he goes, Tanaka is likely to have plenty of success, writes our Mike Bauman.

• The Twins are "kicking tires" on another free-agent righty, Matt Garza, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com.

• The Phillies and Tigers are among at least six teams that have tried to trade for Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner this offseason, according to Peter Gammons of Gammonsdaily.com. However, Yankees GM Brian Cashman will only part with Gardner if he has to do so in order to acquire starting pitching, Gammons writes.

• The White Sox announced their one-year deal with free-agent left-handed reliever Scott Downs, who will make $4 million and have a club option for 2015.

• The Rays claimed left-handed reliever Pedro Figueroa off waivers from the A's, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

• The Mariners signed a trio of players to Minor League deals, including veteran reliever Ramon Ramirez.