Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris and manager A.J. Hinch addressed the media on Monday (including Evan Woodberry of MLive Media Group) to discuss the offseason ahead. Topics on the table included Eduardo Rodriguez and Javier Baez, each of whom has an opt-out after the 2023 season; Carson Kelly, who has a club option for 2024; and Austin Meadows and Spencer Turnbull, who will both be eligible for arbitration this winter. Harris also touched on how much the team plans to spend in free agency, while Hinch praised his coaching staff without promising that everyone would be back next season.
Rodriguez has three years and $49MM remaining on his contract, but he is likely to exercise his opt-out clause after the World Series. The lefty won’t turn 31 until next April, and he’s coming off a strong season in which he pitched to a 3.30 ERA in 26 starts. While he spent June on the injured list and wasn’t quite as imposing upon his return (4.24 ERA in 15 starts), he still looked like a solid mid-rotation pitcher throughout the second half of the season. That being the case, he should be able to command significantly more than $49MM this winter.
Speaking on Rodriguez, Harris said he isn’t planning to negotiate an extension with the veteran starter. The team will wait and see if he chooses to exercise his opt-out.
On the one hand, if the Tigers want Rodriguez back in the rotation next season, now would be the perfect time to discuss a new deal. The club has exclusive negotiating rights until he elects free agency, giving them a head start on other potential suitors. As a dependable left-handed starter, Rodriguez will certainly draw plenty of interest – especially because he is ineligible to receive the qualifying offer, having already received one in 2021. On the other hand, perhaps the team is hoping Rodriguez will decide not to exercise his opt-out after all. He chose to stay in Detroit at the trade deadline instead of accepting a trade to the Dodgers, citing a desire to stay closer to his family. It’s more than possible he’s content to stay in a location he likes and avoid the hassle of free agency altogether.
Harris also mentioned Báez, who has the chance to opt out of his contract after the season. The Tigers president isn’t planning to negotiate with the shortstop either, although that comes as less of a surprise. The two-time All-Star has four years and $98MM remaining on his deal, and coming off a season with an OPS below .600, he’s not going to beat that number on the open market. Thus, the chances of him opting out are slim to none.
While Harris is choosing to let Rodriguez and Báez make their decisions before deciding his next move, he will have to make a call about Kelly. The Tigers signed the backstop in August after he was released by the Diamondbacks. Over the final few weeks of the season, he caught 16 games for Detroit, allowing only a single passed ball and throwing out six of 12 would-be base stealers. He slashed .173/.271/.269. The 29-year-old has a $3.5MM club option for the 2024 campaign.
Given Kelly’s unimpressive offensive numbers, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Tigers cut ties with him following the season. After all, they only paid him a prorated portion of the league minimum in 2023, while the D-backs were on the hook for the rest of his $4.275MM guaranteed salary. Then again, Detroit wouldn’t have put the option in his contract if they weren’t going to consider it. Indeed, Harris suggested the team is seriously thinking about keeping Kelly in the fold. “That’s very much an open question for us,” he explained. “We’re going to spend a lot of time on it.”
The Tigers have a capable starting catcher in Jake Rogers, so Kelly would continue to serve as a backup if he returned in 2024. While he isn’t a threat with the bat, he’s a solid defensive catcher with several years of experience in the big leagues. He also comes with a bit more potential than most backup catchers, considering he was once a top-100 prospect.
Two more players Harris discussed were Meadows and Turnbull, both of whom missed the majority of the 2023 campaign. Meadows has been out since early April battling anxiety, while Turnbull hit the IL in May with a neck injury and never made it back to the big league club. The club could non-tender either player this offseason. However, Harris told reporters that he expects Turnbull to compete for a role in the starting rotation next year, which certainly suggests that he is planning to tender the righty a contract. When Turnbull was last fully healthy, he looked like a great starting pitcher, making nine starts and posting a 2.88 ERA in 2021. Harris hopes he can rediscover some of that success in 2024.
Regarding Meadows, the situation is a little more complicated. Without further comment from Meadows or his representatives, there’s no way to know when he could return to the field. Harris says he hasn’t spoken to Meadows in a few months, so he will need to have a conversation with the outfielder before making any further decisions. The executive called such a conversation a “priority.” If the former top prospect remains uncertain about his status for next season, it’s more than possible he could be non-tendered, although as Woodberry notes on Twitter, the team could leave the door open for him to return someday on a minor league deal.
As for potential spending in free agency, Harris didn’t promise any big moves, but he didn’t rule out making some acquisitions. Most importantly, he emphasized that the Tigers aren’t going to buy a core, and any transactions he makes in free agency or on the trade market will be to complement the young players already on the roster. In other words, he isn’t going to try to accelerate his team’s rebuild with a huge signing or a blockbuster trade. Therefore, if the Tigers are to contend in the AL Central next season, it will be thanks to young players like Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson, and Tarik Skubal taking a step forward. Most likely, this means the team’s competitive window won’t open until at least 2025.
In non-player news, Harris spoke about various infrastructure improvements in the works, including new dorms and a covered field, batting cages, and pitching mounds at Lakeland, the spring training locale for the Tigers and the regular season home of team’s Single-A and Rookie Ball affiliates. The team is also building a new training complex in the Dominican Republic and renovating the clubhouse at Comerica Park.
Meanwhile, Hinch reflected on the work his coaching staff did this season, praising their performance. However, he would not say if everyone would return in 2024. This doesn’t mean the Tigers are planning to replace any coaches, but it suggests they’re evaluating the staff and considering various possibilities.
Some guys just can’t hit after they get paid.
Feel bad for Detroit fans. They need 2-3 good off seasons in a row to even get to the point where the league takes them seriously. In my opinion.
I think they are close… they beat out the Guardians and White Sox this year. They ended up in 2nd and that’s with quite a few huge holes in the lineup and rotation. If they make a couple good deals… sign a couple players… they can be right there.
I like Spencer and Carpenter and they have a couple more really impressive kids almost ready in Keith and Jung. I’m not ready to give up on Akil, he has some great talent. The rest of the lineup and the pitching is nothing but questions to me.
The Tigers had one of the top starting staffs in the last couple months of the season despite trading Lorenzen and losing Manning to a broken foot.
Great stat. I can’t argue that Eddie, Reese Manning and Skubal could be a formidable 1-4. Looks like you might have a closer. You feeling good about the depth at pitcher behind them?
Absolutely. Look at the starting staff at Erie (AA). Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, Brant Hurter, and Wilmer Flores. Hurter might end up being a closer, but I could see the other three as MLB starters in the next couple of years. There’s also a sleeper named Troy Melton.
Next year the Tigers also get MIze back, and I’ve heard good things about his velo (hitting 96) and secondary pitches.
What about Mize?
Jake Rogers is solid as hell back there as well.
If tigers had freedie freeman and mookie betts on the team they’d have 92 or more wins rights now just by adding their war total up. Wonder if they’ll go sign chapman?
Rogers was borderline All star this yr at the break and all the media members were pushing for him to be the tigers rep this yr. Front runner for ASG next yr. Best player on team according to FG pound for pound and should be getting some DH time next yr.
Chapman is fading at the bat, and strikes out too much. Do you you want two Javy Baez on the team? The problem is he will want 5 years.
There is little available in FA, other than a LH bullpen arm, that can fill the needs the Tigers have. Trades will have to provide what they need, and a starting P will probably be the bait. They need a 3B, as it seems they don’t want to let Keith develop at that position. Vierling looked passable, but his best position is OF and with Baddoo, Greene, Meadows, and Carpenter all being LH, he is needed in the OF. Malloy is likely to get first crack at Miggy’s DH opening. Baddoo is likely going to be traded, or non-tendered, especially if the other Meadows is going to be ready to play. St. Louis has Jordan Walker playing out of position, and needs starters. He could be the answer to the Tigers 3B problem.
They could also hack the pitch com like orioles & rangers have this year and go from 78 wins to 100 wins next yr
I think the tigers need to get a hitter and a pitcher, solid hitter and pitcher starting one. Theres trades and free agents and maybe a little bullpen help. Young players come though and a little help there’s a chance in the central.
Detroit Tigers October plans: Rent out parking lot to Spirit Halloween stores
Is that what’s going on at Busch?
Yep Cards are doing their best Tigers impression this year. Hopefully it doesn’t become a habit
Harris isn’t being very proactive… maybe he doesn’t know what he has?
Sitting back, waiting to see what ERod does? That is silly. I can see Harris walking by ERod in the hallway, avoiding eye contact… “don’t look at him, don’t look at him.”
Starting the year with Schoop at 2B and no 3B.
The draft fiasco with taking Clark instead of Langford…
Then the trade deadline blunders.
I hope someone steps up and does Harris’ job soon.
A little soon to call Clark a draft fiasco isn’t it? This isn’t the NFL…
Don’t forget that Tork is a bust too lol
Tork isn’t a bust… just rushed through the system. Clark isn’t terrible, but what he offers is what you could get from Harrison Bader. Wyatt Langford is a Jim Rice.
It was hard to pass up Langford, but I can’t argue against passing over a corner outfielder at #3 overall.
Max Clark is the best propsect in draft. Legit star. Langfords done well but positionless.
Thought the same thing on Erod…….why is Erod not already agree too. He’ll let Erod walk over 15$MM and then go sign a matt boyd or lorenzen type for 10. Makes no sense.
I read that Erod turned down the trade becasue the dodgers were wanting him to Opt-in….why the heck would he do that? lol And now today he’s making it sound like its Erods choice so the fans will hate erod when he opts out and he can save face….no its the opposite its the tigers choice do you want him or not? step up to the plate
I heard EROD wanted one additional year added in order for him to opt in. The Dodgers would not add the additional year and the deal was dead. The Tigers should have had a deal ready with one of the teams not on the no trade list.
I hope Kelly, Meadows and Turnbull are gone. Plus EROD opting out. We use their money plus the savings from Cabrera retiring to add a couple of good hitters. Scoring runs was the problem.
100% agree. If thats true about Erod, then we know his asking price is just 1 more year…..that should be a done deal by Scott Harris. No brainer.
If Erod opts out Tigers will have over 60 $MM to spend this season just to get back to the same payroll they had this year which was tiny already even with those guys like Miggy. Payroll needs to be 200+ in next few years if theyre going to be in championship series
That story was reported by the Athletic. Just that he wanted one more year. No dollar figures were mentioned and players considered weren’t mentioned either.
There are no hitters at the positions the Tigers need in FA. Having money to spend won’t help this year.
Why was Harris even talking to the Dodgers about ERod who had them on his no trade list? Why not offer them Lorenzen and maybe another arm? Send ERod to a team not on the no trade list.
Harris is stupid.
Kevin McGonigle only ended up with the Tigers because they drafted Clark and used the extra cash to sign him. McGonigle has looked great, even if Clark didnt immediatelybset the world on fire, but just like Langford you can’t judge them for a small part of a season. They all have long careers ahead of them. No “fiasco” there dude.
Great point MCBB.
Clark + McGonigle > Langford
STOP!!!! McGonigle is a singles hitting 2B that can’t play 2B. He’s nothing special. I would trade McGonigle and Clark and the third round pick for Wyatt Langford. The guy is a hitting machine. There is always a position for a guy that hits like that.
McGonigle was very impressive for Lakeland, he looks to be quite special.
Melchez…you are forecasting greatness based on under 100 at bats. They could all flop. A recent article said they may leave McGonigle at SS since there is an organizational need. If he does a Luiz Arraez and hits singles to the tune of .350 who cares! Significantly more walks than strikeouts. Small samples for all 3 players mean absolutely nothing in the short term. Check back in 2-3 years with your Langford argument and we’ll see.
You can always go back and forth on things like this. Before Landford-Clark it was Mayer-Jobe. These guys are young, it will take years before we know anything for sure.
Holy Toledo!
Should a hired, you know who…..could a had a V-8….would a made all the difference in the world (series)…..
Ageists….
@m17 you’re assuming a lot here. First on e-rod you don’t know the nature of the dialogue between e-rod and/or his agent and the org. If e-rod’s camp has communicated that they are not interested in negotiating while they consider the opt out it would be foolish to push that boundary. Also, if they have any reason to think e-rod might opt in why try to just throw more money if you might not have to. Bottom line if e-rod wants to test free agency he’s gonna do it and if he wants to leverage his opt out to a better deal it’s not in his interest to cut Detroit a discount with no competition from other bidders. Either he wants in or he wants out and pressing him to negotiate before he makes that decision could damage the relationship if Detroit does want to bring him back on a new deal.
And it is way too soon to judge whether taking Clark over Langford was a good call. Clark has true multi tool Cf upside. The risk may be greater than Langford (who isnt a lock for stardom either btw) but the ceiling is potentially greater.
By embarrassing HARRIS at the deadline, E-Rod either opts in or he’s gone. Same for why Candelario won’t be considered. It would make HARRIS look bad to pay market for a player he gave away for nothing.
Taking Clark, a 5 tool player over Langford a 1 tool player, was smart, shrewd & looks to be an invaluable investment to the future! Only short sited TV fans wanted Langford over Clark. Without getting Wyatt to take a below slot deal, they aren’t able to sign their 2nd round pick. It will be the move that the uneducated will slam now but be the first to buy their jerseys! In three years, this team will be incredibly stacked!
Why no Bauer update after recent news???
Because the update would be pointless.
Pointless??? The entire world trashed him without proof and going based off the word of some girl that was trying to ruin his life. He literally has proof that she lied. This should be front page news all over the place, but it doesn’t fit the narrative of media outlets. They want bad news. This is amazing news. Nobody was assaulted, harmed or anything. It’s pathetic that ppl wanted it to be true.
Doesn’t matter. From a story last year: “Bauer’s penchant for legal retaliation has been a central concern of MLB during its investigation and the arbitration hearing. It is against MLB’s domestic violence policy to “engage in conduct which is aimed at, or has the effect of, intimidating or tampering with” a witness or alleged victim in an investigation.”
His problem has nothing to do with innocence or guilt of anything but because he has the anger management skills of a four year old. He’s a risk most teams probably wouldn’t take.
To be fair, someone tried to take away the game he loves, millions of dollars, his career, his image and probably even trust from ppl close to him… and he knew he was innocent. I feel like many of us would have handled it a lot worse than he did.
Bauer was given the longest non permanent suspension in MLB history by an independent arbitrator who actually heard all the facts from both parties. Plus, there were multiple complaints, not just one. As the public never got all the facts, I will trust the arbitor’s judgement.
Bro she admitted to deliberately setting him up. No need to white knight for her.
I posted his Twitter statement below. To me, he is completely exonerated. Worth a minor league deal with a bonus for making the opening day roster.
What does this have to do with tigers off-season plans? Plenty of other places for you to stan for Bauer and his multiple reported sexual assaults. Why don’t you go find em?
Well for whatever reason, there was no Bauer update on this page, and I’d say it’s very relevant news to potential happenings next season.
Maybe MLBTR disagrees with your interpretation. Maybe they are working on an article and it isn’t ready yet. The fact that a legal settlement was reached in one of the current lawsuits against bauer does not mean that his name is cleared or whatever you are taking from it. People drop and settle lawsuits for a variety of reasons and since there is still at least one other ongoing similar suit against bauer I don’t think it adds up that this news significantly changes the picture re: his employability in mlb.
Regardless of all that, spamming unrelated articles isn’t the way dude. And tbh I have a hard time believing that you and others spamming about bauer in comments today are doing it just because u think it’s newsworthy. In my experience people taking the time for this kind of stuff tend to be apologists for his behavior.
It is newsworthy and relevant to all MLB teams who wish to acquire pitching. Say what you will about Bauer in the clubhouse. I’ve read those reports, and I get that. That’s a worthy position. But, it is completely unfair to say he’s a rapist when this was clearly an attempted money grab by the purported victim. CLEARLY.
Hopefully Bauer has learned from all of this and will bounce back to become a serviceable MLB pitcher and a better teammate.
The Tigers have plenty of pitching. Find an appropriate article.
Tigers won’t be good until they quit playing guys out of position. The day the tigers quit playing Vierling at 3b , ibanez at 2b and all these utility guys …..then you know they are a contender. Too many plug and play out of position guys with no pop right now.
Actually, Ibanez looked a lot better at 2B than he did at 3B, which is what he played when first up with the Rangers. Vierling was better defensively than anyone else they played at 3B, but that’s not saying much. He’s better in the OF.
Is the best case scenario that Harris is going to turn the tigers into the Giants? Then blame the manager when it doesnt work?
Not going to lie, as a Giants fan, reading Scott Harris’s drivel and plan for the offseason sounds very Farhan-like. He was groomed well, which unfortunately means the Tigers are prime for a ton of platoons, openers, and maybe .500 baseball for the foreseeable with no real stars getting drafted or signed.
Hinch was platooning long before HARRIS was hired. Tigers had an excellent record in bullpen days, so don’t see that as being a negative.
Tigers as a team are 25th in Offensive War per Fangraphs. They are also 25th in HRs as a team as well. What a coincidence.
If they want to be a top hitting team they drastically need to have more guys that slug. There is no bigger correlation to higher WRC+ than slugging.
Right now they have 4 legit position guys that could start for any team in MLB (Tork, Greene, Rogers, Carpenter)…..then the rest of guys are utility 4th OFer types that hit singles and largely play out of position.
That’s a lack of quality position player talent issue which he inherited. Maybe Parker Meadows is a player and then you have Jung. But there’s not much on the doorstep to fix this.
Keith, Malloy and even Eddys Leonard and Justice Bigbie look like they will have value as well on the hitting side. There are some good looking players making their way through the minors.
Imagine how stoked Tiger fans would be if they had a guy like Wyatt Langford destroying minor league pitching. Heck, they are excited about a guy hitting under .200 in A ball. Striking out more than he walks.
Langford hit .368 in AAA. And Tiger fans like .158 hitting Maxwell Clark. LOL
Imagine if this site was around in 2011 & @malchez was an Angel fan: “another #1 draft pick BUST. Guy has 3x as many strikeouts as walks, .220 average – Trout needs to be DFA’d”
Only after he failed 2 team physicals. Maybe they knew he wouldn’t pass the team physical
That would be four more than they had the year before, so I would call that progress. Next year you will see more development from Tork, Greene, and Carpenter, plus the arrival of Colt Keith. Justyn-Henry Malloy and Justice Bigbie look like real hitters. This team is getting better. The pitching is decent, and will get better. Look at the starting staff of AA Erie Seawolves – Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, Brant Hurter, and Wilmer Flores. The talent is bubbling to the top. In a weak division, that might be all it takes.
Malloy and Keith will he up from AAA to add to that core.
I really like the tigers next year ! Tigers been drafting at top of draft for a long time and these guys should finally be coming together. The AL Central is always up for the taking and these young players have a chance to come together kinda like reds and o’s over past couple seasons.
Not that big of a stretch to see them as central champs next season
I like Hyun Jin Ryu as a FA starter on a one or two year deal.
I hope Austin Meadows can right the mental ship but am not optimistic.
I don’t see any reason to trade away Turnbull, he has shown flashes of brilliance, and it would be selling low.
I like that they’re not going to do anything dumb like overpay to sign a guy like Chapman or Bellinger.
I could see them trade a young player or two from strength for a needs-based deal. I love the idea of acquiring Nolan Gorman from STL and giving up a young SP to make the deal. Reese Olsen strikes me as a great trade candidate this winter, he has such tremendous value right now and could be used to acquire a young infielder with similar team control to fill 2B or 3B for potentially 5 more seasons.
Harris pretty much used a lot of words to say very little. As far as E-Rod, I agree with Harris, let him make the first move. Why negotiate against yourself? Let E-Rod opt in or out. Can always pursue him in the off season if he does opt out. Only thing I would say is if E-Rod’s agent comes wiling to discuss an extension, be willing to listen.
Tigers improved 12 games this year over last. Will take another 10-12 game improvement in 2024 to be a serious playoff threat. Certainly doable if the young Tigers players continue to improve along with a key signing or two. Should be an interesting off season.
If Tigers had Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman this year they’d have 92 wins right now for 2nd or 3rd best team in MLB. Those 2 guys have combined 15 war. Harris needs to get 2 legit stars this offseason.
My guess is Austin Meadows will tell Harris he’s good to go and if he offers him another ML contract he’ll be there in the Spring.
As a SF giants fan I wish Harris would plan on quitting and taking over for the dumpster fire that is Farhan Zahdi
I think it’s odd that Harris hasn’t talked to Austin Meadows in months. If I were in charge and knew my organization was paying like a couple million dollars a month, I’d be on the phone every week.
In other news, Trevor Bauer has released a video statement. If he’s a free agent, he might be a bounce back candidate available for little money.
Here’s his statement:
twitter.com/BauerOutage/status/1708904525724270659
Keep him far away from Detroit.
Would love bauer!
A.J Hinch discussing brining in trash cans with ScottHarris. That’s what they’re discussing according to ESPN.
The Opt-Outs have to go.
Eduardo Rodriguez is a decent MLB starting pitcher. He gave the Tigers 17 starts and 91 innings in 2022, then 26 starts and 152 innings in 2023. When the Tigers tried to trade him at the 2023 deadline he blocked that exercising a No-Trade Clause. Now he can either reup for 3 years at $49m, or leave for a better offer.
What is going on here?
The man got paid $28m over 2 years to make 43 starts for a mid-market, rebuilding team. He was decent at times, but nothing like a TOR pitcher. He had personal problems – the team backed him and paid him in full to straighten those out. Then when it was to the teams advantage to trade him – where he could have pitched for a contender – he blocked that.
I realize that Harris didn’t give out the contract, and that the Tigers were hardly a prime landing spot when he signed in the 2021-22 offseason so they had to overpay. But there’s a point where a team – AND THEIR FANS – have rights as well, and a player eating up a portion of a payroll that can best be used elsewhere hurts the team.
MLB cannot ban Opt-Outs. But the individual FO’s need to rethink their policy in giving out contracts with them. Basically it comes down to:
o If the player has a decent or good or very good year, he can leave for more money. If he sucks or gets injured, now the team is an insurance company that is paying him benefits for sub-standard or no performance.
Kudos to Scott Boras for coming up with this no-lose rider in contracts for his clients. But again, it’s not the “greedy” owners that pay the cost – it’s the fans of the local team that get penalized when the player goes south. And truth be told – very few of those Opt-Out contracts work out well for the teams and their fans.
Relying on young hitters to carry the load is asking too much. Tigers tried to add a veteran bat in Correa and got outbid…Panicked and signed Baez to a bad contract. They need to add a couple of quality players who know how to win. Add a few more arms to bullpen and they easily win their division.
Actually, no one outbid the Tigers for Correa. He took a lesser package from the Twins, after the Tigers moved on by signing Baez.
The Tigers need to get a third baseman, move Baez to second and rent a shortstop that can hit.
What is the difference between Baez producing a sub-.600 OPS as a 2B instead of SS? His only value currently come from him playing SS quite well, actually. Why would the Tigers – who just found a decent 2B in Ibañez – want to change that?
Gruß,
BSHH
Would it have something to do with the lack of arm accuracy on his part?
Looks like Scotty “Beamer” (ie StarTrek) may need.to get a new nickname…like Harris.the Hedgehog…..because he didn’t say nothin’ man”…despite rhyming with “muffin man”, he is a very, very cautious citizen…..
Tim Anderson is hedging,because.he wants to play for.the Superfifes’ Tigers. He’ll do 2nd base. I know you guys totally disagree but he is a good man.and a great baseball player…..
I’ve always said, keep guys off the 26 man roster until they have to be on it from the start of the season, fill the MlB team with tradables, trade them early, bring up the younger guys from the wings to finish off the WS run…..it is a good strategy.
But there appears to be very little room for that now…..maybe a couple guys.
Very little in FA this year or next….Beamer, the Hedgehog has an ill timed entrance to the stage…..
And he appears to be an ageist….
Sir, this is a Wendy’s.
Tigers should start by signing some bullpen help…
Wandy Peralta, a lefty setup guy
Aroldis Chapman a late inning closer that strikes guys out.
Team them up with Lange, Foley, Holton and Vest and you have a solid bullpen.
If ERod leaves, try and pick up a TOR starter… Stroman, Nola and Snell would be a huge upgrade. Keep some young guys like Olson and Skubal.
Deal Manning, Faedo, Turnbull, Gipson-Long for some bats.
Trade for Nolan Gorman and Tommy Edman.
Trade for Lane Thomas of the Nationals.
Sign Caratini for backup catcher.
LF Greene (he can play CF if needed)
2B Edman (SS)
3B Gorman (2B/1B)
1B Tork
DH Carp (OF)
RF Thomas (he can play CF if needed)
SS Baez (2B)
C Rogers
CF P Meadows
Bench: Lipcius (3B/2B), Caratini (C), Vierling (OF/3B), Malloy (he can DH and Carp can rotate in the outfield.
If Baez starts out slow, call up Keith to play 2B and move Edman to SS.
Nola, Snell, Stroman, Skubal, Olson
Lange, Chapman, Foley, Holton, Peralta, Vest, Magno
Mize, Brieske, Hill Wentz all give the rotation depth
The Tigers don’t need any bullpen arms, except maybe a bona fide closer. Expect Faedo to remain in the bullpen. They are well stocked with arms with another wave ready to compete for MLB opportunities next season.
They could use a 2nd Lefty in the pen. Alexander may be back for long relief, but I’d love to a second Lefty to go with Holton at crunch time. Is Hader asking too much?
First move of the offseason…..Matt Shepard, the worst play by play announcer of all time, will not be back for 2024! Thank you Scott Harris for the early Christmas gift for all Tigers fans!
Is there any other reason than sheer stupidity that Harris publicly declares he does not want to negotiate with Rodriguez? Even if the Tigers want him gone, Harris had better kept his mouth shut on that matter. Good executives make their players feel appreciated; Harris does the opposite without having anything to gain.
Unfortunately, the Tigers absolutely should try and negotiate with Rodriguez. He is a solid pitcher, a rare left-handed starter on their roster, and he will certainly have a limited market. Harris should try and mske the Tigers take advantage from this situation and their ability to negotiate with Rodriguez exclusively – to at least limit Harris’ failure in not trading Rodriguez at the deadline. However, he not only wants to forgo this opportunity, but he even announces it candidly to the press – that’s something, for sure!
Gruß,
BSHH
I am sure they will see what he wants, however maybe they have dealt with him enough to know that this thing is not going to work out. Would you give ERod another contract with a no trade clause?
“Most likely, this means the team’s competitive window won’t open until at least 2025.” I hope this isn’t true. To keep kicking the ‘competitive team’ can down the road, has got to stop.
Tigers baseball and the MLB in general, is quickly becoming irrelevant. The MLB playoffs are hardly getting any mentions in the daily sports headlines. Most of the sports coverage from media outlets go to NFL, the ‘new’ Americas Pastime.
Can hardly.be called a past time, when the rules get changed at.the drop of a hat, on a whim
…hardly demonstrates respect.
Also,.everyone know MLB is.more.interested in money rather than integrity. This is demonstrated in the playoffs who’s participants include teams almost 20.games.out of.first place.