For anyone who cares, the Reds signed former Tigers center fielder Alex Sanchez to a minor-league contract this weekend. He’ll report to minor-league camp, not the major league version. We’ll see if that starts Sanchez on the path of Triple-A veteran so many other ex-Tigers have followed or if he can salvage something out of a career that has plummeted in the last 12 months and 10 days.

By the way, former Mud Hen Dewayne Wise looked like he had a chance to win a spot on the Reds roster as a backup outfielder, but he sprained his ankle Friday night.

Take a good look at the lineup from Saturday, because Jim Leyland said he’d use it if the opener was today:

1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Ivan Rodriguez, C
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
5. Dmitri Young, DH
6. Craig Monroe, LF
7. Carlos Guillen, SS
8. Chris Shelton, 1B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B

Having Guillen and Shelton batting seventh and eighth is a pretty good sign of balance in the lineup if everyone stays healthy. Batting Pudge back in the third spot will probably spark some debate. Leyland is staying true to his statement that he believes last season was an off year for someone he considers a pretty good hitter.

"I just think he’s been a professional hitter his whole career. Hopefully he can be that way this year," Leyland said.

Before debating whether Dmitri should be batting fifth, keep in mind that he’s a switch-hitter coming after three consecutive right-handed batters. Monroe and Shelton are both righties, so the only other non-righty to put in there would be Guillen.