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By Steve Adams | at
Email a copy of 'Offseason Outlook: Detroit Tigers' to a friend
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derekbellstutu
What would it cost the Tigers to acquire Mark Melancon?
Kershawshank Redemption 2
The Pirates really need a first baseman… 😉
stymeedone
Are you suggesting Cabrera for one year of Melancon?
Steve Adams
I have a tough time valuing him, because I’d probably steer clear of him in a trade. (Expensive, one-year rental, K/BB rates went in wrong direction this year, velocity declined.) Teams will have interest as long as they don’t think there’s an injury, though.
The Pirates need some infield depth and a first base option. They’d probably be interested in anyone that could be a cheap-ish rotation option. I’d think Dixon Machado would be one piece that interests Pittsburgh, since they could use the big-league ready infield depth, but you’d need to add a pretty decent arm into the mix as well, as Detroit doesn’t really have a first base option to send to Pittsburgh.
Conely4
Jefry Marte replaced Cabrera when he was out with a calf injury. He shows some power and not a half bad glove. If the Pirates wanted to take a chance on a few kids, maybe Melancon for Marte (or Machado, whoever they would like) and an arm such as Kyle Ryan or Drew VerHage
bobbleheadguru
JD Martinez could be traded for two young pitchers the caliber of Norris and Fulmer.
The money could then be used to get Heyward.
AAV of 2 young pitchers and Heyward would be less than JD Martinez and two mid level SP free agents over the next 5 years.
Heyward’s contract could be structured for 10 years with an opt out after 4. Win/Win. He is only 26.
TSertich
10 YEARS!!! Never
bobbleheadguru
Take a look at MLB TR take on it. A team can get the Average Annual Value Down by giving him more years. Even after 10 years, he will only be Nelson Cruz’s age, for some perspective.
rct
You would be getting probably 6 or so years of prime Heyward. He’s much younger than the other huge deals. 10 and $200MM would be a bargain.
stymeedone
JD Martinez and 2 mid level SP will produce more than two pitching prospects and Heyward. This is not a rebuild situation. Why not just sign Heyward and 2 mid level SP? I would rather see JD and O’Day and Sipp. AAV doesn’t mean much to Illitch.
Conely4
This is probably the worst idea ever.
bradthebluefish
Good news for the Tigers is they just need stopgaps and solid players rather than big-named, star-caliber players. They have a good amount of talent that they could shuffle around if necessary and if all goes to hell mid-season, they can always trade JD Martinez and others for a BIG overhaul.
stymeedone
The Tigers have too many young players for a Big overhaul. Though I hope it wont become necessary to move JD, they currently don’t really have much else to move. Everyone is either young and cost controllable, or have big contracts that really can’t be moved. maybe Kinsler?
stymeedone
I can see the Tigers looking for a younger version of Raja, before they resort to signing him. Jackson is a potential replacement, but there is no way he would move Gose to LF if they were to sign him. Like Davis, he could spell him against tough lefties, but while he can play CF, he can’t play it as well as Gose. Jackson and Collins could share LF. I would shy away from Stubbs.
The Main area to concentrate on is the bullpen. Please don’t sign any more Jobas. Look for more Benoit types. O’Day and Lowe are possible RH help, and Sipp would be my choice for my LH. Latos would be one of my choices for SP.
mrnatewalter
Would Detroit really pay Jackson the type of money he wants to be a platoon player?
stymeedone
I just don’t see a lot of interest in Jackson this offseason. The Tigers paid 8MM to Raja. How much more do you think it would take to get Jackson and his .240 average?
pedruhc
In your considerations about the bullpen, you didn’t talk about Blaine Hardy. What’s his contract situation? I think that him and Wilson were the only relievers that played well this year. Besides Soria, of course.
mrnatewalter
What do people see in Ian Kennedy? He hasn’t been a great player since ’12… from 2013-2015, he’s got a 84 ERA+, 4.06 FIP, a .255 BAA, and a -0.4 WAR… Is there something I’m missing in why any team would be interested in him at the money he will likely ask for?
RedRooster
Those stats are weighted down by a REALLY bad 2013 and he’s really just as good as Jeff Samardzija.
stymeedone
A pitcher who can be expected to reach 200 innings has value. Look at the option that R.A. Dickey is expect to receive from Toronto for simply being able to provide innings and you’ll understand.
andrewgauldin
Sign Sipp for 2 years, O’Day for 3, Span 1, and Fister for 1. Sign Sean Rodriguez as Defensive replacement off the bench, great versatility, and cheap, for 1 year. Start Fister as a starter. If he struggles move him to pen and use an in-house prospect. If the tigers don’t look to be in the hunt by july, Trade Span, use: Moya, Marte, Collins. Trade Martinez in offseason. Try and trade Martinez, Kinsler, and Sanchez. If the tigers aren’t any where close to contention by July. I am not saying they are similar to the phillies, because the tigers have better young controllable MLB players, however, I wouldn’t want a repeat of contracts like ryan howard compared to V-Mart. A. Sanchez to C.Lee. Trade these guys ASAP and rebuild. If not 2016, 2017 may look bright with the right return and the expected development and continuation of guys like: Iglesias, McCann, Machado, Castellanos, Gose, Norris, Rondon, Boyd. etc. and prospects received in the fire sale. And don’t forget, vets like Verlander, Cabrera will be back, as well as great flexibility with payroll for 2017.
HOWEVER, LETS GO HALOS
bobbleheadguru
You know a lot about the Tigers for a Halos fan!
Fister for one year is intriguing. I think he could bounce back.
Mr Pike
We sold high on him. Let him go. Try someone else. We need less risk,
stymeedone
I just cant see Span accepting a one year contract. Sean Rodriguez has little value for Detroit. They already have defensive players on the Bench. Marte, whos already on the team, has more offensive upside than S-Rod. Who the Tigers get to replace Jones as pitching coach will go a long way towards the type of pitchers the Tigers go after in FA. A proven miracle worker will go a long way towards allowing them to sign rehab projects, like Fister. Promoting a minor league coach to fill the position probably will preclude that option.
oncearoundthebases
I’ll post the Tigers team stats below so we can through them together.
The Detroit Tigers rank 15th in batting, yet the team AVG (.270) is highest in the league. They had 151 homers, which lands them on the 18th spot (Toronto leads with 232 and Houston is on second place with 230). They get on base second most in the league, with a .328. Toronto leads there too, with a solid .340.
The Detroit Tigers rank 28th in overall pitching with a 4.64 ERA.
Their starting pitching ranks at 27th with a 4.78 ERA.
As relievers the Detroit Tigers also land on the 27th spot, with a 4.38 ERA.
They rank 7 on fielding, with 86 errors.
So what do we see here and where do we start? We see an uneven offense and EXTREMELY poor pitching. I think even though the offense is uneven, the Tigers are in a spot where every dollar and every drop of effort should go towards pitching. Should we go 50/50 on starters/relievers(closer) or just leave the starting rotation be and pray that Verlander and Sanchez both stays healthy and able to put up numbers and go 100% on the bullpen?
Last I’d like to say I’ve used this site for years but never posted anything until now and I’m Swedish which means that English is my second language – so grammar and stuff might be screwed up.
Post thoughts and theories – what do you guys think? Thanks!