Tigers righty Michael Fulmer appears to be making nice progress in his attempt to rehabilitate following Tommy John surgery. As Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports, the team finds itself trying to hold him back.
Fulmer is working out at the team’s Florida complex, so it’s not implausible that he could face live hitters. But pitching coach Rick Anderson says there’s “no chance” of that at the moment.
Though it seems Fulmer is fully on track from a physical perspective, the team understandably wishes to proceed in a measured and cautious manner. Anderson suggests that the team would like to build Fulmer up slowly from live bullpen sessions into sim game action.
It’s tempting to think that moving ahead now could set Fulmer up to be ready at the start of the season. But the team is understandably concerned with unleashing Fulmer without full oversight and structure in place. The 27-year-old was once and could again be a key asset for a Detroit organization that is firmly in rebuilding mode at present.
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Fulmer is controllable through the 2022 season, so the team is wisely taking the long view. That’s probably best for him as well. Fulmer battled knee and other health issues even before blowing out his ulnar collateral ligament. If he’s to return to the quality pitching he provided in 2016-17, Fulmer will need to return to and remain at full health.
This feels like an especially long return from TJ.
It is not. He had surgery at the end of spring last year. He is just barely over a year since the surgery.
No reason not to be cautious. Tigers were never going to be a threat this season (though better than last year). And most who return from TJ surgery struggle that first year out. So little to be gained my forcing the issue with the season already delayed.
cue the revisionist “should have traded him” talk
Fulmer and Boyd surprised us all but now we know they could both be solid number 3 guys on a contender. I’ve always said keep them because it’s so hard to develop young pitchers.
The Tigers need to start spending on development staff. Physical therapy, sports psychology, nutritionist
No need to trade either for “low ball” offers
Half of these armchair GMs would have traded both for a bucket of balls.
Contending teams need to pay up to get them or the Tigers need to just hold on to them. There is no value in giving them away.
How about by April 2021 the rotation comprises the best from among Fulmer Mize Manning Faedo Skubal Burrows Turnbull Norris Perez? Let them all battle it out (and we know quite a few of these decisions ultimately are made based on how many options a player has remaining). Maybe by then Boyd will have been packaged for a slugger of some sort and housecleaning will have been made based on decisions regarding the infield and outfield.
Coïncidently, you mentioned my wishful-thinking scenario almost completely. I assume (obviously like you) that extending Fulmer might not be too expensive. Boyd and Norris I’d rather see being traded for at least one future above-average position player (in the Paredes tier).
The best five pitchers should comprise the rotation, albeit with rather short outings up to 6.0 IP. The second tier of pitchers should become swingmen and/or multi-inning relievers (a role in which someone like Tyler Alexander could also be able to contribute). F. Perez will very likely not be ready for MLB duty next year, but hopefully he leads the next wave together with Wentz. Both might be part of a Tigers team whose window of contention starts in 2022. But as I said, this is wishful thinking – at least right now…
Gruß,
BSHH
At least we know that the future will be brighter than the recent past with 20 AAAA players on the roster!
Fulmer and Boyd 2 #1 Starters!! The Tigers will have a great rotation in 2020 and 2021!
Tigers could either trade each player separately for a 2 boatloads of young talent.
OR Extend them both and watch them be the horses leading the 4-5 other top young starters being promoted from the Farm in ’21 and ’22.
Great problem to have too much dominant, young pitching.
Now draft, trade for foundational position players/hitters.
Greene, Torkelson and others…
Turnbull Norris, Alexander, Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Manning, Faedo, Franklin Perez the list is long for Tigers rotation.
Some will go to the pen.
Some will be traded for bats and position players.
Tigers will be ready for a few free agents in ’21 or ’22.
Could be on the way back to contending by then
Boyd doesn’t have the value to get a large package of young talent. I know there is a lot of respect for his talent and maybe that’s true. I imagine professional talent evaluators know the job better than I do but to get what you want with him, he had to produce better.
Boyd has the talent to return a package of great young players and top 50 prospects to a contender needing an ace for the top of its rotation.
When there is a season, ’20 or ’21, Boyd is a lock for the All Star team in the new season.
OR, Just extend Boyd and Fulmer and build an unstoppable rotation and bullpen..
Now, add more hitters.
Then add a few free agent hitters/position players.
Then, New 8-10 year run of contention.
Boyd and Fulmer aren’t aces.
Mize
Manning
Skubal
Boyd
Fulmer
Imagine if the top 3 hit and Fulmer returns to form? That has the promise to be a potentially lethal rotation.
No fair looking it up – which is more, all Tommy John Surgeries performed v. present number of positive coronavirus tests?
2020 or 2021 Tigers Rotation
Boyd
Fulmer
Norris
Spencer Turnbull
Tyler Alexander
Mize
Manning
Skubul
Wentz (’22 or ’23 Tommy John)
Too much great pitching….
Good problem to have
They need to let Fuller rebuild value by showing he’s at least close to his old self and teams want to see a little longer stretch of top rotation stuff before they give up a return worth taking. Detroit isn’t close they need to be patient and restock the system with good prospects that fit their timeline better.