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

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.