By John Dudley
john.dudley@...

Kurt Airoso is back with the Detroit Tigers. Sort of.

Airoso, the Erie SeaWolves' career home-run leader, signed a one-year
minor league contract with the Tigers on Monday.

Technically, Airoso never left the organization, although it was
widely reported in November that he had signed with the Colorado
Rockies.

Reached Thursday at home in Tulare, Calif., Airoso said he never
agreed to a contract with the Rockies, who declined to offer him
either a raise or an invitation to big league camp this spring.

He believes miscommunication between his agent and the Rockies led
Major League Baseball to report that he had signed. The mix-up tied
up his rights for nearly three months.

"By the time I got it straightened out a couple of weeks ago, I
really didn't have many options left," Airoso said. "But I'm back
with the Tigers, and that's fine."

Airoso, who turns 30 on Feb. 12, has spent three of the past four
seasons in Erie, hitting a franchise-record 34 home runs in 2004. He
has hit 68 career home runs with the SeaWolves.

The Tigers haven't told him where he will play in 2005, but a strong
indication could come from the fact the organization is loaded with
outfielders at Class AAA Toledo.

"I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if I ended up back in Erie,"
Airoso said.

JOHN DUDLEY can be reached at 870-1677 or by e-mail.