Detroit — Tigers general manager Al Avila expected the questions and he stood his ground Wednesday when asked about the signing of veteran catcher Derek Norris, who is coming off a Major League Baseball suspension stemming from domestic-abuse allegations.
Avila said the Tigers spoke to MLB as well as to Norris, and were satisfied enough to sign him to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Tigers assistant general manager David Chadd has known Norris from high school. He’s a Kansas native; Chadd has deep Kansas ties.
“When we consulted with (MLB), they were like, ‘The guy served his penalty, he should be able to sign, that’s the way the process works,’” Avila told The News.