News came in earlier today that the Tigers have signed catcher Victor Martinez to a four year 50 million dollar deal. VMart will fill the role of catcher and fill-in at first base for Cabrera. Primarily, Martinez will serve as the Tigers desginated hitter batting behind Cabrera in the batting order.
Signing Martinez was an extremely smart move by the Tigers for many reasons. First, Martinez provides protection for Cabrera. The big cat was walked an American League high 34 times last season. This prevents pitchers from pitching around him or walking him as frequently. Second, Cabrera is a switch-hitter, which neutralizes any kind of pitching advantages oppononents may seek during games. I am not a big fan of Avila and think he is going to underperform offensively and defensively. When this happens, the Tigers will at least have an experienced catcher to assume that position. I realize that Martinez isn't masterful with his glove, but he makes up for it with his consistent offensive production.
I do have some concerns about the terms of the deal. Four years for a 32 year old ball player who is no longer in his prime is a bit much. But, I understand it. With the Orioles, Red Sox, and White Sox each making offers, that fourth year may have been the deciding factor. Also, the Tigers have several Latino and Venezuelan players (Cabrera, Guillen, Mags, Peralta, Gallaraga, and Valverde) on their roster. Surely Martinez will feel at home in the D.
If the season were to start tomorrow, this is what the batting order would look like:
C Jackson
2B Rhymes/Sizemore
RF Raburn
1B Cabrera
DH Martinez
SS Peralta
LF Boesch/Kelly/Wells (as far as I'm concerned, put their names in a hat and pick one)
3B Inge
C Avila
As you can see, this lineup has several holes in it leading me to believe that the Tigers will add another bat before the start of spring training. An outfield of Boesch, Jackson, and Raburn isn't going to get it done. Ideally, signing Jason Werth or Carl Crawford would propel this team instantly into World Series contention. But Werth and Crawford will command a hefty contract and I don't think the Tigers are going to even try to make a run at them. While there have been rumors that the Tigers are talking to Dunn, I really don't want his bat at the expense of his shaky defense.
What's Next?
The Tigers are finished making big free agent splashes. Any addition to the roster from here to spring training will be a lower profile move. Crawford will head to the Halos. Werth will ink a deal with the Red Sox. Dunn will sign with a National League team, which will leave us making a serious push for Magglio Ordonez. The Tigers have spent around 30 million dollars on Inge, Peralta, Benoit, and newly acquired Martinez. It should be interesting to see how much more money the Tigers are willing to spend in the free agent market this offseason!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Moving On
Finally there is light at the end of the tunnel for all the gaudy contracts Dombrowski is responsible for over the last five years! With over 60 million dollars coming off the Tigers books after the 2010 season, this should be a very exciting offseason. Being on the cusp of the hotstove season, I'd like to make a few predictions, comment on personel moves, and offer some expert analysis on what should come next for the Tigers. First, here's what the Tigers should do this offseason:
Catcher: Alex Avila is not ready for a full time role unless a .200 Batting avg. is okay with you. Make a play for John Buck (signed by Florida) or Victor Martinez and have Avila catch part time. Yes, he strunggles behind the dish, but after the dismal offensive production from this position, i'd really welcome this addition. A switch hitter that can catch, dh, and play first base. You're probably going to have to offer 4-5 years and overpay for him however (the Rangers are interested to).
1b: Miguel Cabrera
2b: Sizemore/Rhymes- Let's try to save some face here and have our farmsystem give us one infield position. There are rumors about a possible trade for the Marlin's Dan Uggla, but getting Uggla will take Turner, Oliver, and whatever little talent we have in our farm system. Assuming we do sign a type A free agent, that will leave us without a first round pick and a very thin farmsystem. The only way I would consider dealing Oliver or Turner would be if Hanley Ramirez was involved. Update: it appears the Braves have saved the Tigers from making a desperate and outragious mistake by acquiring Uggla. Well done Braves!
SS: Jhonny Peralta: Well done DD, you bought out the option and got Peralta for a little cheaper. I don't think he's worth 5.25 mil/yr but the SS market is thin and he has a better bat than what we're used to at that position.
3b: I've had enough of Brandon Inge's strikeouts. I think DD should have at least looked for a cheaper, short term third basemen.
Outfield
We have one of the best all around centerfielders in the game. In July, I would've said that an OF of Jackson, Magglio, and Boesch was pretty automatic for next season, but Boesch did us all a favor and came back down to earth. Here's where we take a huge chunk of that 70 million dollars that came off the books and go after Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth. Regarding Magglio, it was a no-brainer to decline Magglio's option. Go after the big dogs first and if they don't work out, get Mags. I'd be fine with 2 years 14 mil with an option for a third year. If things don't workout with Magglio, Ryan Raburn's time has come to assume a full time role.
LF Crawford (5-6 year, 100 million contract)
CF Jackson
RF Magglio or Raburn
DH- Adam Dunn- can't argue with his bat (4 year $90 million)
Lineup: (this is a fantasy Tiger lineup)
CF Jackson
LF Crawford
1B Cabrera
DH Dunn
SS Peralta
3B Someone other than Inge
2B Sizemore or Rhymes
Bullpen: Valverde, Benoit, Zumaya, Perry, Schlereth, Thomas, Weinhardt
Rotation: Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, Delarosa (free agent acquisition), Gallaraga
REALITY- Not nearly as starstudded as the fantasy lineup.
C- Avila - Hope everyone is ready for another subpar offensive performance out of the catching position next season!
1B Cabrera: The Big Cat needs to get on the phone and start recruiting!
2B Sizemore or Rhymes
3B Inge- I understand that the market is thin on free agent 3B but this is a mistake- another ridiculus contract for a mediocre player
SS Peralta
LF Raburn- I really don't think Crawford or Werth are going to come here. They will land in New York, L.A., Boston, Philladelphia, San Fransisco, or Texas.
CF Jackson
RF Magglio A deal will get done
DH Martinez I don't think free agency is going to work out quite as well as all of us Tiger fans hope, but they will bring in a bat. If Martinez or Dunn, think Pena, LaRoche, Huff, Ramirez, or Buck.
Bullpen:
Schlereth, Thomas, Zumaya, Miner, Free agent acquisition (Benoit), Perry, Weinhardt, Valverde
Rotation:
Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, the Phil Coke experiment, (free agent innings eater)
As we can see, I think we can expect to have only one bat added to the lineup. Boras will make it tough to sign Magglio to a contract of anything less than $7 million a year, which is too bad seeing that it takes older players to take less money to help the team overall to sign other talent (see Nick Lidstrom). The reality is that Detroit is not a free agent destination. Big name free agents would rather go to New York, LA, Boston, San Fransisco, or Texas than play in Detroit. Expect one bat to sign and a bullpen arm but not much more. Bottom line, the Tigers are not in a position of strength. They simply do not have the lure of Boston, New York, L.A., Philladelphia, Texas, and San Fransisco.
Catcher: Alex Avila is not ready for a full time role unless a .200 Batting avg. is okay with you. Make a play for John Buck (signed by Florida) or Victor Martinez and have Avila catch part time. Yes, he strunggles behind the dish, but after the dismal offensive production from this position, i'd really welcome this addition. A switch hitter that can catch, dh, and play first base. You're probably going to have to offer 4-5 years and overpay for him however (the Rangers are interested to).
1b: Miguel Cabrera
2b: Sizemore/Rhymes- Let's try to save some face here and have our farmsystem give us one infield position. There are rumors about a possible trade for the Marlin's Dan Uggla, but getting Uggla will take Turner, Oliver, and whatever little talent we have in our farm system. Assuming we do sign a type A free agent, that will leave us without a first round pick and a very thin farmsystem. The only way I would consider dealing Oliver or Turner would be if Hanley Ramirez was involved. Update: it appears the Braves have saved the Tigers from making a desperate and outragious mistake by acquiring Uggla. Well done Braves!
SS: Jhonny Peralta: Well done DD, you bought out the option and got Peralta for a little cheaper. I don't think he's worth 5.25 mil/yr but the SS market is thin and he has a better bat than what we're used to at that position.
3b: I've had enough of Brandon Inge's strikeouts. I think DD should have at least looked for a cheaper, short term third basemen.
Outfield
We have one of the best all around centerfielders in the game. In July, I would've said that an OF of Jackson, Magglio, and Boesch was pretty automatic for next season, but Boesch did us all a favor and came back down to earth. Here's where we take a huge chunk of that 70 million dollars that came off the books and go after Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth. Regarding Magglio, it was a no-brainer to decline Magglio's option. Go after the big dogs first and if they don't work out, get Mags. I'd be fine with 2 years 14 mil with an option for a third year. If things don't workout with Magglio, Ryan Raburn's time has come to assume a full time role.
LF Crawford (5-6 year, 100 million contract)
CF Jackson
RF Magglio or Raburn
DH- Adam Dunn- can't argue with his bat (4 year $90 million)
Lineup: (this is a fantasy Tiger lineup)
CF Jackson
LF Crawford
C Martinez
1B Cabrera
DH Dunn
RF Ordonez (2 yr 15 mill range would be awesome)
SS Peralta
3B Someone other than Inge
2B Sizemore or Rhymes
Bullpen: Valverde, Benoit, Zumaya, Perry, Schlereth, Thomas, Weinhardt
Rotation: Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, Delarosa (free agent acquisition), Gallaraga
REALITY- Not nearly as starstudded as the fantasy lineup.
C- Avila - Hope everyone is ready for another subpar offensive performance out of the catching position next season!
1B Cabrera: The Big Cat needs to get on the phone and start recruiting!
2B Sizemore or Rhymes
3B Inge- I understand that the market is thin on free agent 3B but this is a mistake- another ridiculus contract for a mediocre player
SS Peralta
LF Raburn- I really don't think Crawford or Werth are going to come here. They will land in New York, L.A., Boston, Philladelphia, San Fransisco, or Texas.
CF Jackson
RF Magglio A deal will get done
DH Martinez I don't think free agency is going to work out quite as well as all of us Tiger fans hope, but they will bring in a bat. If Martinez or Dunn, think Pena, LaRoche, Huff, Ramirez, or Buck.
Bullpen:
Schlereth, Thomas, Zumaya, Miner, Free agent acquisition (Benoit), Perry, Weinhardt, Valverde
Rotation:
Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, the Phil Coke experiment, (free agent innings eater)
As we can see, I think we can expect to have only one bat added to the lineup. Boras will make it tough to sign Magglio to a contract of anything less than $7 million a year, which is too bad seeing that it takes older players to take less money to help the team overall to sign other talent (see Nick Lidstrom). The reality is that Detroit is not a free agent destination. Big name free agents would rather go to New York, LA, Boston, San Fransisco, or Texas than play in Detroit. Expect one bat to sign and a bullpen arm but not much more. Bottom line, the Tigers are not in a position of strength. They simply do not have the lure of Boston, New York, L.A., Philladelphia, Texas, and San Fransisco.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)