Scott Harris enters his first year in charge of baseball operations in Detroit. Hired as president of baseball ops shortly before the end of the season, he and his staff set to work on fortifying a roster coming off a 66-96 showing.
Harris spoke with reporters at the GM Meetings this evening and addressed a wide range of topics (via Evan Woodbery of MLive.com and Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic). In broad terms, the executive expressed a general openness to any way of improving the roster, including the possibility of trading prospects for immediate big league talent. Yet Harris also highlighted a few specific areas the front office would like to address. On the position player side, he suggested the club could use a left-handed hitting infielder and a right-handed hitting outfielder. He also expressed an unsurprising desire for pitching help.
As far as the lineup goes, Detroit’s present infield indeed skews right-handed. Spencer Torkelson, Jonathan Schoop and Javier Báez all hit from that side of the dish, as do Miguel Cabrera and rookie Ryan Kreidler. Jeimer Candelario and Willi Castro are switch-hitters, but each could plausibly be non-tendered next week. That’s also true of lefty-swinging Harold Castro. Harris didn’t address the status of either Castro, but he did note the team had still yet to decide how to proceed with Candelario (via Woodbery). After two straight well above-average showings in 2020-21, the third baseman stumbled to a .217/.272/.361 line through 467 plate appearances this year. With a projected salary around $7MM for his final season of arbitration eligibility, he could well be let go after that down year.
Schoop and Báez are the in-house favorites for middle infield work, with both under contract for next season. Schoop had a terrible offensive season but played Gold Glove caliber defense at second base; he triggered a $7.5MM player option last week. Báez still has five years remaining on the $140MM free agent deal he inked last winter. He only managed a .238/.278/.393 line with mediocre defensive marks during his first season in Detroit, but there’s never been much question the two-time All-Star would get another crack as the everyday shortstop in 2023. Harris confirmed as much this evening, adding that he considered the dip in Báez’s typically strong defense an anomaly (via Chris McCosky of the Detroit News).
Perhaps the most interesting infield decision for Detroit comes at first base. Torkelson, a former first overall pick and top prospect, didn’t hit the ground running at the big league level. He managed just a .203/.285/.319 line through his first 404 MLB plate appearances, a supremely disappointing showing for a player who’d mashed at every stop before reaching the majors. At age 23, Torkelson still has plenty of time to figure things out at the highest level, but it remains to be seen if the Tigers will give him the Opening Day job again in 2023. Harris implied the organization still considers Torkelson the first baseman of the future but seemed to leave open the possibility of him starting the year back at Triple-A Toledo, saying “at (first base) and every other position, we’re going to look for ways to get better.”
Free agency doesn’t offer a whole lot in the way of left-handed hitting second or third base options. Adam Frazier could be a bounceback target after a down year in Seattle, while Jace Peterson looks to have a shot at a two-year deal after a solid couple seasons in Milwaukee. That could point to the trade market or waiver wire being the clearer path for additions, but the desire for a right-handed outfielder is easier to fill via free agency. Players like Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham, Chad Pinder and AJ Pollock are available corner players. None is a great fit for center field, but the Tigers seem likely to let Riley Greene get most of the work up the middle regardless.
While Harris didn’t specify pitching targets, it seems likely the front office will prioritize rotation additions. Casey Mize will miss most or all of the year recovering from Tommy John surgery, and it looks as if Tarik Skubal may not be ready for Opening Day after undergoing flexor surgery in August. Detroit could be without arguably their two best arms, although they did provide a favorable update on their other top young pitcher, Matt Manning. After a forearm strain ended Manning’s season a few days early, he was sent for a second opinion last month. That sounded ominous, but the Tigers maintained confidence he wouldn’t need to go under the knife and things appear to be progressing smoothly. In an update this evening, Detroit called Manning “symptom-free” and suggested he was in line for a normal offseason (via Stavenhagen).
That’s obviously welcome news that should position him to join Eduardo Rodríguez and Spencer Turnbull in the season-opening rotation. There’s still enough uncertainty at the back end the Tigers figure to dip into the lower tiers of free agency and/or turn to trades to add some stable innings behind that trio.
1st
Pour champagne over yourself.
Life is all downhill for you from here, so go ahead. Bask in your epic life achievement.
Why do people insist on doing this?
They should definitely add some pitching. Just incase manning or Turnbull get hurt again
19th
There’s plenty of options that the Tigers could sign for the rotation. Jordan Lyles sounds like someone they’d potentially go after or someone in the lower tier of the pitching market.
Baez or Corrrea, I’m glad Detroit got Baez., for 5 less homer’s it was a steal. Miguel is so injured that it makes it tough in Detroit. Detroit is a long way away from the Astros. Although Little Caesars does have an winning pizza in the old world pepperoni, an a great calzone thing. So the Mike Ilitch family does have that going for them.
The new guy has a lot to do, and it’s not going to be done in a year. The infield the outfield both need work, the pitching is banged up, so that’s hard to get a real handle. They played better at the end of the year, so maybe they aren’t as far away from .500 team, but a .500 team goes nowhere. I think the Astros will be a dynasty team for the next few years so Detroit has time to develop a plan for going forward.
Agreed. SP pitching seems to be too banged up to be competitive next year. That said, looks like good news about Manning. Fingers crossed ⚔️ Wish Mr. Harris and staff well.
The upside is signing anybody to a short term deal who can be league average after last season will help a lot. Also, Cabrera cannot be full time dh if they are serious.
It would have been nice to get an update on Meadows. He is a potential 25-30 HR bat. He could platoon with Cabrera at DH. If Baddoo, Schoop, Candelario, and Baez all return to 2021 form, they will be closer to contending. Lets hope new hitting instruction helps, though they seem slow to replace last years culprits.
Tigers just released and update on all of their injured players. Sorry don’t have the link yet. But Meadows is progressing well according to the release.
OK now have the link: mlb.com/tigers/news/tigers-injuries-and-roster-mov…
That’s a lot of ifs there, Stymee. But then again, if they can all go down in one year, there isn’t a reason why they couldn’t return to form in the same season. Logic says they all won’t bounce back, but some should.
Thanks for the update!
Morosi has us linked to Willson Contreras and yet Harris doesn’t say catching is a need. Morosi wrong, or is Harris being cagey? Hmmm.
Otherwise no surprises so far. Cut down day is tomorrow. Should be interesting.
Tigers aren’t signing Contreras. There are too many other teams needing catching that can win now. Contreras will be another two years older by the time the Tigers have even a shot at the playoffs. There is no reason why they should be the high bidder for him. But they do need some catching help in case Rogers struggles in his return. Haase is not a full-time catcher and Dingler is not MLB-ready.
Just let everyone go who will cost like Jeimer Candelario and Willi Castro. The club has no chance of making .500 this season. The offense doesn’t care if it’s an IF or OF who bats left or right at their current state. More empty talking points. Since the offense is so poor, put plus defenders at every position. The Tigers are not in good hands.
“The offense doesn’t care if it’s an IF or OF who bats left or right”
It’s about splits. Very few players play every single game in the MLB. Therefore you get to choose which days players rest, and platoons help with that. If your giving your 2nd baseman a day off and he’s a righty that hits lefties better, you want a bench lefty to be able to fill in on a day where he’s going against a tough RHP.
It’s just about building a roster in a smart way. Making the most of every dollar by having your bench bats complement the rest of your roster.
My point is worry about splits when there’s MLB caliber players on the entire roster. They don’t have a core of position players to practice splits or a single full batting lineup.
GarryHarris;
I understand what you’re written. Many fans here think MLB is rotisserie baseball and every year there’s a player draft a la free agency.
The Tigers are as big a mess as any team in MLB.
It’s nice to talk about 2023. But the fact is that the Tigers will do well to finish in 4th place in the ALC, and if they finish in 3rd place it’s champagne cork popping time.
They don’t have anything approximating a young core that can be a contender. In fact, if they develop a player or two in 2023 they’d do well to sell high and get multiple bona fide prospects.
If you’re going to quote me, use the entire sentence and don’t edit out the part of the sentence That doesn’t fit your own narrative.
@garyharris
Obviously you’re no relation to the Harris with actual knowledge of the team happenings. Going into 2022, they were expected to be .500 and were a sleeper to contend for a WC. The only change is they had a one year set back due to injuries. And people got fired. A rotation of Rodriguez, Turnbull, Manning, Faedo, Brieske, and Wentz doesn’t have star power but does have depth. Their bullpen was a bright spot last year. On offense, players just need to rebound to average years, not even career years, and they will be much improved. As to young players, who on the team is old? Do they even have a 30 yr old on the team?(other than Cabrera)
Sure GarryHarris;
I won’t quote you in the future.
In fact, I didn’t quote you above.
When I quote people I put “‘s around the quote.
Exactly GarryHarris. Swapping lh or rh makes no difference their position. I didn’t get that at all. Made me lose a little confidence with that priority.
The AL Central is winnable. They have that going for them. The Pennant? Odds go down significantly.
Interesting he didn’t mention Austin Meadows when talking about a right handed hitting outfielder. He’s definitely a bounce back candidate and if he can hit anywhere in 2023 like he has previously he should be the player they need. Time, of course will tell!
Meadows is LH
Goes to show you how much he played this year while I was watching!!!
Let me some it up for those who don’t like to read full articles –
They are going to over pay the guy most likely to be a bust bc no one wants to play in Detroit.
Well Mr. Harris, nor Mr. Illich have called…Don’t they know….I’m the idea guy…… I can help. I seem to be one of the few who believe we can do it. I read, when others don’t have time to….. I am.an asset.
Mr. ILLICH, you would be doing the whole country a favor by hiring me and getting me the double hockey sticks out of here……
The idea man, IS available.
Disappointed.
LH Bat Infield- Josh Bell
RH Bat Outfield Whit Merrifield plus Gabriel Moreno to triple A in trade for Eduardo Rodriguez and Joe Jimenez or/plus other relief pitcher/pitchers.
The only other Free Agent Signings I would hope for are Carlos Rodon & Willson Contreras.
Platoon Jeimer Candelario & Spencer Torkelson at third for one season.
Use the young pitchers to fill in the rest of the staff.
Tender candy this is ur 2023 lineup
Badoo LF
Javy SS
Green Cf
Contreras C
Meadowns DH
Myers RF
Candy 3B
Schoop 2B
Tokelson 1B
They should outbid everyone and sign Aaron Judge so the team has a foundation player to build around. It’s going to take a bold move like that to turn this franchise around.
A clown landed in Detroit and said this core was 5 years away: Lance Parrish, Jason Thompson, Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell, Aurelio Rodriguez, Steve Kemp, Ron LeFlore, Rusty Staub, Jack Morris, Dan Petry, Milt Wilcox, Aurelio Lopez, John Hiller.
Those were the days. Loved those names. I hated when they traded LeFlore. Dan Schatzeder?? Seriously? I liked Chet Lemon, but I didn’t like seeing Kemp go, either. (Or Horton).. Sad that freak injuries curtailed Kemp’s career so much, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Like Rozema & Fidrych.
Ron LeFlore was my favorite player. He came from diversity then ruined it allowing his posse into the Detroit and Montreal clubhouse.
I made a long study of “what ifs”. Before the study, I thought the same thing about Dan Schatzedder you do. However, I discovered he would’ve been an exceptional pitcher if he had remained in Detroit.
Stymedome, You obviously have no point .
This might be helpful to look at how Farham Zaidi (Pres Baseball Ops) and
Scott Harris (General Manager) built the 2021 SF Giants that, surprisingly, went 107-51
SF Giants records:
2019 77-85 missed playoffs
2020 29-31 missed playoffs
2021 107-51 playoffs made playoffs/eliminated in 2nd round Dodgers
2022 81-81
Had a veteran core to work with Posey, Belt etc..
Added players thru trades, lower level free agents on short term contracts, minor league free agents, trades etc.
Had some young players promoted from the farm.
Most of the team had “banner years”” and just about every move worked out.
Don’t know if Harris could duplicate this in Detroit
OR if he should just work on back filling Detroit’s farm system
for long term contention.
I wonder who’s going to gamble on Cody Bellinger bouncing back? Huge reward if he does. Huge risk if he doesn’t, although an incentive-laden deal could make it more doable from a team’s perspective.
Phillies maybe.