Tigers' Venezuelan summer team shut down

DETROIT -- The Tigers have enjoyed a scouting and developmental strength in Venezuela as one of the few Major League teams left with both an academy in the country and a team in the Venezuelan Summer League. They'll still have the academy, but the VSL is done, postponed for the upcoming season. The Cubs reportedly are pulling their club, which would have left just three teams.

The decision did not catch the Tigers by surprise, given the situation in Venezuela.

"It is disappointing, because it was a good league and it served a real important purpose," general manager Al Avila said Saturday at TigerFest. "But because of the political situation, a lot of teams have moved out. You can't have a…