After a surprisingly quiet offseason, the Tigers enter the 2017 season with a veteran roster that leaves little doubt when it comes to roles around the roster. There are still a few unsettled spots that will be determined over the next five to six weeks, however. Here’s a look at the roster battles set to take place in Tigers’ camp this spring…
Center Field
Mikie Mahtook
Age: 27
Bats: R
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become free agent until at least the 2021-22 offseason
Options Remaining: 1
Tyler Collins
Age: 26
Bats: L
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2021-22 offseason
Options Remaining: Out of options
JaCoby Jones
Age: 24
Bats: R
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options Remaining: 3
Anthony Gose
Age: 26
Bats: L
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2020-21 offseason
Options Remaining: Out of options
For much of the offseason, center field was billed as a likely competition between Gose, Collins and Jones. The fact that the former two are out of minor league options and Jones’ relative lack of experience in center gave Collins and Gose an apparent edge, but the narrative shifted on Jan. 18. That’s the date on which Detroit acquired Mahtook from Tampa Bay and designated Gose for assignment. The speedy Gose would clear waivers and remain in the organization, but he’s now a long shot to make the team as he’s not on the 40-man roster.
A platoon scenario seems like a perfectly plausible option for the Tigers, who could deploy the left-handed-hitting Collins against right-handed starters (career .265/.331/.424 against righties) and the righty-swinging Mahtook against opposing southpaws (.276/.322/.537 career against lefties). Jones has scarcely played above the Double-A level, but GM Al Avila has mentioned him on multiple occasions this winter, so a huge spring could get him a look. And while Gose never hit with the Tigers (or the Blue Jays prior to being traded to Detroit), the 26-year-old could potentially force his way back into the mix with a big performance.
Prediction: A platoon of Collins and Mahtook wins the job and patrols center for the bulk of the regular season.
Starting Rotation (One spot)
Anibal Sanchez
Age: 32
Throws: R
Contract Status: One year, $16MM; club option worth $16MM in 2018 ($5MM buyout)
Options Remaining: Can’t be optioned without consent
Mike Pelfrey
Age: 33
Throws: R
Contract Status: One year, $8MM
Options Remaining: Can’t be optioned without consent
Matt Boyd
Age: 26
Bats: L
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options Remaining: 1
Other potential candidates: Buck Farmer, Shane Greene, Drew VerHagen
There’s little doubt about the top four in the Tigers’ rotation. A resurgent Justin Verlander will lead the way and be followed by 2016 Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer. Jordan Zimmermann will hope for better health in the second season of a five-year, $110MM contract. Daniel Norris’ 3.38 ERA in 13 starts (plus one relief appearance) and 69 1/3 innings last season should land him in the starting five as well.
The Tigers would probably have loved to jettison either Sanchez or Pelfrey this winter, as neither veteran lived up to his salary in 2016. Sanchez is owed $16MM this season plus a $5MM buyout on a 2018 option, while Pelfrey is owed $8MM in the second season of a two-year deal that to this day is still surprising. Neither pitcher’s struggles are confined to the 2016 campaign, though, as Sanchez is toting a 5.42 ERA over his past 310 1/3 innings (two seasons), while Pelfrey carries a 4.97 ERA in 460 innings since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2013.
Boyd is the younger option here and a hopeful long-term piece for the Tigers. Acquired alongside Norris in the 2015 David Price blockbuster with the Blue Jays, the 26-year-old Boyd has excelled in Triple-A but struggled in the Majors to date. In 105 innings at the minor leagues’ top level, Boyd boasts an exceptional 2.40 ERA with 8.1 K/9 against 2.3 BB/9. His big league ERA is well north of the 5.00 mark, but he did improve in 2016, tossing 97 1/3 innings with a 4.53 ERA, 7.6 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and a 38.1 percent ground-ball rate. That he has an option remaining and is not playing on a significant multi-year deal like Sanchez and Pelfrey works against him.
Prediction: Sanchez wins the rotation spot, with Pelfrey headed to the bullpen to work in a long relief role. (That assumes health among the Tigers’ top four starters, of course.)
Bullpen (One spot)
Daniel Stumpf
Age: 26
Throws: L
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options Remaining: 3
Blaine Hardy
Age: 30
Throws: L
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2021-22 offseason
Options Remaining: 2
Kyle Ryan
Age: 25
Throws: L
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2021-22 offseason
Options Remaining: 2
Joe Jimenez
Age: 22
Throws: R
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2022-23 offseason
Options Remaining: 3
Shane Greene
Age: 28
Throws: R
Contract Status: Pre-arbitration; cannot become a free agent until at least the 2021-22 offseason
Options Remaining: 1
Other potential candidates: Edward Mujica, A.J. Achter, Logan Kensing
Francisco Rodriguez, Justin Wilson, Alex Wilson, Bruce Rondon, Mark Lowe and whichever of Pelfrey/Sanchez loses a rotation spot this spring figure to be locks for the bullpen, assuming the Tigers don’t simply cut bait on a well-compensated veteran like Lowe or Pelfrey. That leaves one vacant spot in manager Brad Ausmus’ relief corps — assuming the Tigers go with a traditional 12-man pitching staff to open the season.
Hardy has been quite good in the Majors when healthy, but he battled shoulder troubles early last year and spent much of the 2016 campaign shuttling between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit. Ryan could give Detroit a second lefty option behind Justin Wilson. He’s logged 112 frames in the Tigers’ bullpen across the past two years and performed reasonably well in that stretch, but he doesn’t suppress left-handed hitters as well as Hardy (career .703 OPS against for Ryan compared to a .609 mark for Hardy).
Stumpf represents another southpaw option and, as a Rule 5 pick, must remain on the roster in order to stay in the organization (barring a minor trade to fully acquire his rights). He’s been rocked in his only five innings of MLB experience and comes with a previous 80-game PED suspension, but Stumpf was impressive last season in the Phillies’ minor league ranks.
As for right-handed options, Jimenez entered 2016 as one of the better-regarded relief prospects in baseball and furthered that reputation with a sensational 1.51 ERA, 13.1 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 across three minor league levels. He tossed just 15 2/3 innings in Triple-A, though, so the Tigers may be wary of rushing him to the bigs too quickly — especially with limited bullpen space and others options from which to choose.
Greene’s 5.82 ERA from last season looks disastrous, but he posted solid strikeout, walk and ground-ball rates in 60 1/3 innings with the Tigers. ERA alternatives FIP, xFIP and SIERA all liked him for a sub-4.00 mark, with FIP the most bullish at 3.13.
Mujica, Achter and Kensing are among Detroit’s non-roster invites to Spring Training. Each would give Ausmus an experienced arm, with Mujica offering the lengthiest track record of Major League success. Given the number of internal options on the 40-man roster, any of the bunch strikes me as a long shot, barring numerous injuries and/or underperformances.
Prediction: Had the Tigers moved Justin Wilson this offseason — and they were rumored to have many talks involving him — it’d be easier to envision Stumpf sticking on the roster. But Hardy has achieved repeated success in the Majors in recent years and has had the most success against left-handed hitters out of any of the team’s options for a second southpaw. He’s my pick for their remaining bullpen spot.
Hopefully Boyd in the 5th spot. I don’t want to see Sanchez or Pelfrey ever pitch again for the Tigers.
It looks like a complete mess in CF right now. It looks like a platoon of a righty and a lefty. I don’t want to see Collins or Gose make it. Jones probably needs more time in Triple A. Mahtook is an unknown for me but does not have much upside.
First round picks always have upside. TB, however, didn’t feel he would achieve it.
That’s kind of what I meant by Mahtook not having upside. I see a very ordinary player.
He was a first round pick. He has upside. That’s what I meant. How much have you actually seen of Mahtook? Scouts thought he was worthy of the First round.. Obviously he was a buy low acquisition. I thought JD was rather ordinary when he was acquired. Just another average right handed bat, when they needed a lefty and speed. (actually, they still need a lefty and speed). Maybe Mahtook wont develop, Maybe he will surprise. He is, however, the only acquisition Avila made this offseason with any tools.
I saw a bit of Mahtook while playing for the Rays. He looks the part of a ball player. As a Tigers fan I’m hopeful he does surprise. It’s just a little frustrating because they had a CF in Maybin but the Tigers wanted to save some money. Now they have 4 question marks. Not that Maybin didn’t have any question marks and injury concerns.
Hardy had the better numbers last year, also. Kyle Ryan was their choice. Detroit just seems to like him better. I am expecting either Pelfrey or Sanchez to be jettisoned from the team. For Mr I’s sake, I hope they do what’s right for the team based on the performance and not on the contract.
Stumpf is a Royals prospect so he couldn’t have pitched in the Phillies minor league
I’m not sure, but I believe he was a rule 5 pick last year by the Phils. Since they didn’t keep him, he was returned to KC. He did pitch for the Phils, but it was in the majors.
What do you think pelfreys reaction was when his agent told him he had a 16 million dollar offer?
Maniacal laughter
I hope they cut Lowe, and bring in Hardy and Jimenez. I’m fine with Greene taking a spot as well. I kind of just want Jones to play CF and let him develop in the majors. He has 20/20 potential later on in his career, I could see a 15/25 year this year with a low BA. Mahtook is my second choice, he showed a lot of potential a couple years ago in TB and puts everything into the game. I would be fine with Collins. I want Boyd to take the last rotation spot, he seemed to turn the corner last year in august. I would like the team to be JV, MF, JZ, DN, Boyd in the rotation. Krod, Jimenez, Hardy, Rondon, Wilsonx2 in the BP. Then Miggy, Jones, Ian, Vmart, JD, Jup, Nick, Iggy, McCann in the starting lineup with Romine, Avila, Machado and Mahtook or Collins in the OF. I think I missed a reliever so also Greene in the BP and I believe that is 25. Sorry for the bad format of my post.
Jimenez will probably start the year in Triple A and be called up at some time during the year. Still very young and I don’t see the Tigers needing to rush him.
I am hoping Lowe finds his fastball and pitches like they were expecting him to.
Don’t understand why Tampa gave up on Mahtook like that. Slugged 619 in 115 PA, and then slumped last year…I’d say he deserved one more shot this year…
I think the Tigers will make a few minor trades before season starts as teams begin to evaluate what they still need. Boyd probably starts the season at AAA to give Sanchez and Pelfrey to vie for 5th spot and long relief. By late May or early June one or both might be gone. Mahtook will surprise people defensively and he can hit more than people give him credit for. Maybin hit better in Comerica because of the dimensions so Mahtook, who is a gap hitter, may have found the perfect place to hit his style. Whether he does it, remains to be seen. No one thought Maybin was going to do much when they traded for him either. JD was even less thought of and he turned out just fine.