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T-Bacon77
Any one but Raburn. Aside from his lack of plate discipline he can’t play the field.
CCS34
Raburn is not a bad platoon option at all. Last year he hit .325 with 8 HR and a .415 OBP against lefties in 176 PAs. If the Tigers don’t get a big name bat he seems like a decent option.
stymeedone
I’d rather take my chances with Aviles in LF, than Raburn.
Kyle 12
What’s the point of adding a platoon bat such as Raburn when it’s not an upgrade over Tyler Collins?
Stuart Brown
Collins is a lefty, Gose is a lefty. Raburn is a righty that has a significant platoon advantage against LHP. It remains to be seen whether Collins will struggle against LHP, but Gose certainly has in his time in the majors. That said, Raburn provides a significant offensive boost against LHP even if Collins doesn’t present platoon splits.
stymeedone
The Tigers have worked hard to become a decent defensive team. Raburn does not fit that move. Besides, since he had a decent year last year, that means Raburn WON’T hit this year. Avoid this move!
CCS34
How does his success last year mean he won’t hit well this year? That doesn’t make any sense.
stymeedone
Look at his history. Every other year.
CCS34
If you actually look at his stats from year to year you’ll find that isn’t the case.
CCS34
Using your logic do you also believe that the Giants will win the WS this year because it happens every other year? There are more important factors to consider than a small sample size trend.
seamaholic 2
Hoynes is correct. Indians are blowing a real opportunity here. I realize they don’t have a huge budget, and I also realize they don’t want to trade their primary asset, their current starting rotation. However, they have a solid farm system and they could easily go get themselves a solid run producing outfielder in a trade. Cargo comes to mind, but there are others available as well.
ASapsFables
If the Tribe were willing to take on the $17M and $20M still owed Carlos Gonzalez in 2016 and 2017, while also having to part with some combination of young MLB ready talent or high level prospects in return, they might as well just wait out the FA market (like everyone else, lol) and hope they can ink a Yoenis Cespedes or Justin Upton to a comparable annual salaried contract for less years than what was originally predicted for the two remaining premium FA outfielders.
seamaholic 2
That dog won’t hunt. If Cespedes or Upton get to the point where they’re signing a two year contract or less, there will be a dozen or more teams offering, and you know neither will pick Cleveland. Not unless the Indians bid higher in AAV, which of course they won’t do either. No, the only way they’re pulling in a power hitting OF is if they trade. Even someone like Ethier wouldn’t be horrible (if the Dodgers cover some salary) but they can do better than that.
ASapsFables
There will be more teams vying for the services of Cespedes or Upton if either opted for a one year “pillow” contract or a two year deal, but not the “dozen or more teams” you suggest. Between all the clubs in rebuild mode or as non-contenders, those facing luxury tax penalties or teams that simply don’t need a power hitting corner outfielder, the number figures to be significantly less, especially since we are still talking about an average salary in the vicinity of $2oM.
My point was that “Cargo” is already owed $37M for just two more years of team control, so why would the Indians or any other team want to pony up some package of quality young MLB ready talent and/or prospects that the Rockies would demand back in a trade for him on top of that financial commitment.
Besides, the Indians are a solid contender in the A.L. Central, the favorites at this point of the offseason per many sites that make predictions based on WAR. Why would a premium player discount the notion of being a key player for a possible World Series run in a contract scenario that might be for 1-2 years with a chance to take home some hardware as well.
basquiat
Upton had the Indians on his no=trade list. Not sure if that is still the case.
SoCalShu
I’m sensing a common theme w/ remaining FA OF….teams don’t want to pay them long contracts….I wonder if this is back lash from agents/players requesting/demanding opt outs….
No Soup For Yu!
May had very strong numbers out of the bullpen for the Twins, (2.87 ERA, 37 K in 31.1 IP), so I think that’s where he stays. Milone was mediocre (3.92 ERA; 4.30 FIP; 4.22 xFIP) but he was much better than Nolasco. Still, the Twins have to hope they get more out of the Nolasco contract than a very expensive reliever, so he’ll get every shot to make the rotation.
crazy Jawa
First time I have heard Chris Davis mentioned outside of Baltimore rumors.
kbarr888
It just says that the Tigers talked about him…..not that Davis’ agent had any conversations with the Tigers. But if Davis doesn’t do something very soon, I think he will be “looking for some new offers” cause the O’s are going to pull theirs for good, and sign somebody else!
MLBTRS
What the hell is a “Cultural Development Coordinator”?
basquiat
Water balloon coach? Tito sidekick?
stymeedone
He’s the guy who can’t speak English.
Sky14
May had a 3.35 FIP as a starter last year. The Twins would be making a big mistake putting him in the bullpen because they don’t know what to do with Nolasco or Milone. Nolasco is a sunk cost, they would be better off cutting him than miniminzing Mays value to fit him on the roster.
zheath17
I think a one or two year deal would be perfect for Detroit in the sense that they were to acquire Cespedes or Upton. Upton is only 28 and would still carry a ton of value after that contract expires. Plus, can you imagine that lineup?!
stymeedone
If Fowler takes a similar contract to Span, it would fill the need for a lead off hitter, I do hate that he would cost a draft pick, tho.
tuner49
I agree he would fill the need for a lead off hitter but the Tigers don’t seems to worry about getting a lead off hitter . There has been little to no talk all winter about going after a lead off hitter except from us fans who feel they need one,(and they do!). They were not in on Aoki, Span,Parra or Fowler (except for rumors lately). They traded for Maybin, who has hit best in the 2nd or 8th spot. The only common threads between Maybin and Aviles joining the Tigers seems to be low cost and short contracts.
It seems they are making moves on the fly with no sense of plan.
Aviles is really an infielder who can also play corner outfield. Maybin is a center fielder and we had one in Gose. He hits RHP better than LHP but has the most even splits. His offensive numbers look more like an average CF and Gose’s numbers scream platoon. So Gose would have to move to LF since Collins cannot play CF, but both are LH.
A Fowler signing would give us 3 CF and no one who hits well enough or far enough to be called a Left Fielder. Either Gose or Collins would have to be moved or sent down and they started all of this with “saying” they need RHH to compliment Gose or Collins. Now I have a headache!
luvbeisbol
Gose is a below average player. The Tigers were going nowhere in 2015 so that didn’t matter.
Maybin is a bit better.
Cespedes likes Detroit. No draft pick so the “bottom five” farm system can slowly rebuild..
VMart has (gulp) three years left, but in 2016 with uninjured lower body he could be a force at the plate. What a lineup with Kinsler, Miggy, Cespedes, and an improving Castellanos. McCann may even avoid the sophomore slump. Where are the easy outs? Iglesias? Maybin? This team could score a lot of runs.
So….sign Cespedes (not Upton), hope to limit the term to four years with generous AAV, dispose of either Gose or Collins ( I vote for demoting Collins but let spring training decide), use Romine and Avila as utility players, let Salty and Doc Holilday duke it out for backup catcher and….
Do not even consider Raburn.
Mr. I doesn’t care about 2020.We Tiger fans are fortunate.
rhiatt
Tigers have enough veteran bit players that are 1 year players. Raburn doesn’t help. A real LF is what the Tigers need. Start with Cespedes and get a starter that isn’t a veteran low price fill in.
alexjwdj
Imagine a healthy 2016 team including Cespedes:
Maybin
Kinsler
Cabrera
Cespedes
Martinez
Martinez
Castellanos
McCann
Igglesias
No holes offensively and very good defense. Anyway even without Cespedes its nice that our 8 and 9 hitters can hit .265 and .300 respectively.
hook316
Don’t forget about Steven Moya who is murdering the ball in Winter ball.