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Howie115
'Tis but a scratch...
Just some thoughts and opinions looking ahead to what will likely be just as bad of a season as 2018. The list could of course change with trade and/or FA announcements.
RETURNING:
C James McCann – Didn’t have a good year at the plate, but threw out almost 40% of potential base stealers and the Tigers don’t have any studs waiting in the wings. Jake Rogers (.219, 17 HR in AA) is at least another year away.
1B Miguel Cabrera – Hopefully healthy. Ridiculous contract means he will finish his career in Detroit.
3B Jeimer Candelario – No-brainer. Good power and defense and under team control for a few more years.
OF Christin Stewart – He will be given every opportunity to be the team’s regular LF.
OF Nicholas Castellanos – He is arbitration eligible for one more season, and becomes an unrestricted FA in 2020. Possible July trade fodder.
OF JaCoby Jones – Badly needs to learn strike zone discipline, but his speed and defense (league-leading 24 Defensive Runs Saved in OF) will be essential with Stewart and Castellanos in the corner positions.
IF/OF Niko Goodrum – Showed decent power in his rookie season. Speed and position versatility brings him back.
C/1B John Hicks – Good enough at the plate that his ability to spell both McCann at catcher and Cabrera at 1B brings him back.
IF Ronny Rodriguez – Appears to be a defensive liability, but he can hit with some power. Likely just keeping the seat warm for Isaac Paredes.
SP Jordan Zimmermann – No one will take on his contract.
SP Michael Fulmer – Will be returning from another injury, making other teams gun-shy when it comes to a trade.
SP Matthew Boyd – He’s still under team control, and had a good-enough season in 2018.
SP Daniel Norris – I don’t see any other teams having interest, given his injury history. It's still possible he doesn’t even make the team out of spring training.
RP Joe Jimenez – Wore down after the All-Star break, but The Tigers will do everything they can to give him the full-time closer role.
RP Blaine Hardy – Can come out of the bullpen and get both lefties and righties out, and proved he can handle a spot-start.
RP Drew VerHagen – Solid second half. One of very few candidates for a long relief role.
RP Alex Wilson – Arbitration eligible for one more year. Probably gets another one-year deal, and is gone as an FA in 2020.
RP Louis Coleman – He’s a fairly reliable bullpen arm and shouldn’t cost too much to re-sign.
RP Victor Alcantara – Had a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings. He will be given a chance in spring to prove it was real.
GONE:
2B Dixon Machado – Was not called up in September, and he declared free agency on October 3.
SS Jose Iglesias – He’s an unrestricted free agent this offseason. I don’t see the Tigers re-signing him with Isaac Paredes coming up in a year or two.
1B/OF Jim Adduci – Will be 34 in May. Doesn’t fit into the team’s long-term plans.
SP Francisco Liriano – Was only signed to a one-year deal. Nothing to be gained by bringing him back.
RP Shane Greene – Struggled mightily in the second half. He’s still arbitration-eligible for 2019, but I think the Tigers will opt to cut bait and develop Jimenez as the closer.
RP Buck Farmer – His 4.15 ERA looks okay on the surface, but his 1.56 WHIP and 5.3/9 walk rate were pretty much in line with his (crummy) career numbers, suggesting there was a lot of luck involved in the ERA. He’ll be 28 in the 2019 season, and I think we’ve seen his ceiling.
SPRING BATTLES:
Victor Reyes or Mikie Mahtook – Competing for fourth outfielder spot. IMO, Mahtook didn’t do enough to take a spot from the younger and slightly cheaper Reyes.
Dawel Lugo, Harold Castro, Pete Kozma or Willi Castro – One will be the team’s extra middle infielder.
Spencer Turnbull, Ryan Carpenter, Blaine Hardy or Alex Faedo – Possible fifth starter candidates. Faedo will be 23 and likely starts the season in Toledo, but he appears to be the better long-term candidate. Tigers may opt for another one-year FA, as they did with Fiers and Liriano.
RETURNING:
C James McCann – Didn’t have a good year at the plate, but threw out almost 40% of potential base stealers and the Tigers don’t have any studs waiting in the wings. Jake Rogers (.219, 17 HR in AA) is at least another year away.
1B Miguel Cabrera – Hopefully healthy. Ridiculous contract means he will finish his career in Detroit.
3B Jeimer Candelario – No-brainer. Good power and defense and under team control for a few more years.
OF Christin Stewart – He will be given every opportunity to be the team’s regular LF.
OF Nicholas Castellanos – He is arbitration eligible for one more season, and becomes an unrestricted FA in 2020. Possible July trade fodder.
OF JaCoby Jones – Badly needs to learn strike zone discipline, but his speed and defense (league-leading 24 Defensive Runs Saved in OF) will be essential with Stewart and Castellanos in the corner positions.
IF/OF Niko Goodrum – Showed decent power in his rookie season. Speed and position versatility brings him back.
C/1B John Hicks – Good enough at the plate that his ability to spell both McCann at catcher and Cabrera at 1B brings him back.
IF Ronny Rodriguez – Appears to be a defensive liability, but he can hit with some power. Likely just keeping the seat warm for Isaac Paredes.
SP Jordan Zimmermann – No one will take on his contract.
SP Michael Fulmer – Will be returning from another injury, making other teams gun-shy when it comes to a trade.
SP Matthew Boyd – He’s still under team control, and had a good-enough season in 2018.
SP Daniel Norris – I don’t see any other teams having interest, given his injury history. It's still possible he doesn’t even make the team out of spring training.
RP Joe Jimenez – Wore down after the All-Star break, but The Tigers will do everything they can to give him the full-time closer role.
RP Blaine Hardy – Can come out of the bullpen and get both lefties and righties out, and proved he can handle a spot-start.
RP Drew VerHagen – Solid second half. One of very few candidates for a long relief role.
RP Alex Wilson – Arbitration eligible for one more year. Probably gets another one-year deal, and is gone as an FA in 2020.
RP Louis Coleman – He’s a fairly reliable bullpen arm and shouldn’t cost too much to re-sign.
RP Victor Alcantara – Had a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings. He will be given a chance in spring to prove it was real.
GONE:
2B Dixon Machado – Was not called up in September, and he declared free agency on October 3.
SS Jose Iglesias – He’s an unrestricted free agent this offseason. I don’t see the Tigers re-signing him with Isaac Paredes coming up in a year or two.
1B/OF Jim Adduci – Will be 34 in May. Doesn’t fit into the team’s long-term plans.
SP Francisco Liriano – Was only signed to a one-year deal. Nothing to be gained by bringing him back.
RP Shane Greene – Struggled mightily in the second half. He’s still arbitration-eligible for 2019, but I think the Tigers will opt to cut bait and develop Jimenez as the closer.
RP Buck Farmer – His 4.15 ERA looks okay on the surface, but his 1.56 WHIP and 5.3/9 walk rate were pretty much in line with his (crummy) career numbers, suggesting there was a lot of luck involved in the ERA. He’ll be 28 in the 2019 season, and I think we’ve seen his ceiling.
SPRING BATTLES:
Victor Reyes or Mikie Mahtook – Competing for fourth outfielder spot. IMO, Mahtook didn’t do enough to take a spot from the younger and slightly cheaper Reyes.
Dawel Lugo, Harold Castro, Pete Kozma or Willi Castro – One will be the team’s extra middle infielder.
Spencer Turnbull, Ryan Carpenter, Blaine Hardy or Alex Faedo – Possible fifth starter candidates. Faedo will be 23 and likely starts the season in Toledo, but he appears to be the better long-term candidate. Tigers may opt for another one-year FA, as they did with Fiers and Liriano.
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