Let’s get one thing straight: The Tigers’ stunning decision in December of 2007 to trade six players, including the organization’s top two  minor league prospects, to the Florida Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis was --  and still is -- a no-brainer.
        Cabrera alone was worth the six players, including Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, that the Tigers had to part with in order to make the deal.
        But it was the decision to immediately bestow that three-year, $29 million contract on Willis, before he had thrown a pitch on behalf of the Tigers  that may rank as the biggest blunder of Dave Dombrowski’s career.
        On Sunday, the Tigers made the best that they could of a hopelessly bad situation, placing Willis on the 15-day disabled list with what was diagnosed as “anxiety disorder.”
        The Tigers’ only other options were to restore Willis to the starting rotation (that was not going to happen), put him in the bullpen (highly unlikely), send him to Toledo (first he would have to agree) or simply release him and eat the $22 million remaining on his contract (Ouch!).
        Not surprisingly, Sunday’s convenient, face-saving decision to place Willis on the DL raised more than few eyebrows among members of the Tigers’ press corps.
        “The Commissioner’s Office accepted the diagnosis as grounds for the disabled list,” Tigers president/GM Dave Dombrowski said, perhaps anticipating the inevitable question. “They always need documentation.”
        Willis’ anxiety disorder could explain his loss of rhythm and control last season when he walked 35 big league batters in 24 innings, posted an 0-2 record with a 9.38 ERA and spent most of the year in the minor leagues, trying to find himself.
        Dombrowski said Sunday he believes Willis’ problem finding the play may have been caused, at least in part, by his current condition.
        According to the National Institute of Mental Health web site, people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) “can’t seem to shake their concerns.”
        Dombrowski also said he is “fairly optimistic” Willis will pitch for the Tigers at some point this season.
        “I’ve been told it’s correctible,” Dombowski added.
        “I want to pitch for this team again,” Willis said Sunday.
        We’ll see.