The Detroit Tigers have begun their offseason swiftly and decisively, filling several roster holes and beating the competition for a coveted reliever and starting pitcher. New general manager Al Avila moved quickly to get a new closer in Francisco Rodriguez, acquire Cameron Maybin to bolster the outfield and sign a top starter in Jordan Zimmermann before his GM colleagues convene at next week’s MLB winter meetings in Nashville.
How much money is left to spend after getting Zimmermann is a big question. And there is very little available to trade in terms of surplus major league talent or top minor league prospects that the team can afford to part with. But with a few holes remaining on the roster, the Tigers still have work to do this winter. Here are the top projects remaining on Avila’s desk:
Another Starter, Please
How much of an uncertainty (or mess) was the Tigers’ starting rotation? Even after signing Zimmermann, Detroit likely needs one more arm in its starting five. Justin Verlander, Zimmermann and Anibal Sanchez form the top three of the Tigers’ rotation, and the hope is that Daniel Norris will be sufficiently recovered from thyroid cancer surgery to take another spot. But Avila probably isn’t going to leave that remaining opening to Buck Farmer (7.36 ERA), Shane Greene (6.88), Kyle Lobstein (5.94) or Matt Boyd (6.57). At least not without some veteran insurance.
The big spending for the Tigers is over, having acquired one of the top starting pitchers on the free agent market. So that almost certainly means Detroit won’t be going after a second-tier starter like Mike Leake, Hisashi Iwakuma or Ian Kennedy. The argument could be made that the Tigers would have spent their money better by spreading it out between two arms, perhaps Scott Kazmir and Yovani Gallardo, rather than investing so heavily in one starter. That’s obviously a moot point now.
But there are still several veteran arms that could fill that fourth or fifth starter role, especially if Avila is willing to take a chance on some bargain injury risks like Justin Masterson, Josh Johnson or Brandon Beachy. One name that wouldn’t be an injury risk and has already been attached to Detroit is Doug Fister, who was traded to the Nationals before the 2014 season in what is widely considered to be Dave Dombrowski’s worst deal as former Tigers GM. Fister was tremendously successful in his two-plus seasons with Detroit, and while he can’t be expected to repeat that level of performance, the 31-year-old could provide 180 to 200 innings at the back of the rotation.
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 07: Antonio Bastardo #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the sixth inning during the National League Wild Card game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on October 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Rebuild That Bullpen
Getting an offseason closer was a priority for Avila and he got his man in Rodriguez. Even with concerns about diminished velocity and a heavy reliance on his changeup, Rodriguez was a less costly alternative to signing free agents Darren O’Day or Joakim Soria. That allowed the Tigers to allocate money to getting a starter like Zimmermann. And frankly, Detroit doesn’t have the resources in its minor league system to make a deal for a rock-star closer like Craig Kimbrel or Aroldis Chapman.
Yet as with the starting rotation, one arm doesn’t cover all of Detroit’s bullpen deficiencies. The team likely needs at least one setup reliever, maybe two if Bruce Rondon has permanently turned off the coaches and front office after being sent home in late September because of a poor “effort level.” Rondon will be only 25 when spring training begins and has been viewed as future closer material for years, so the Tigers may give him another shot. But the team may also decide it’s time to move on as his major league performance has never lived up to his minor league promise.
Alex Wilson, Al Alburquerque and left-hander Blaine Hardy will be in the mix, but will probably form the soft middle of the bullpen, rather than contribute to the late-inning corps tasked with holding leads and saving ballgames. The free agent market has plenty of options that could help. Shawn Kelley and Mark Lowe would fill a seventh- or eighth-inning role nicely. Tyler Clippard may have pitched himself into a more affordable price range as well. If getting a left-hander is a preference, Antonio Bastardo or Tony Sipp might be targeted. Jerry Blevins might be a less expensive possibility too.
The question is whether the Tigers need one or two relievers, depending on how they feel about Rondon. (Some feel that Michael Fulmer, the team’s No. 1 prospect, could pitch in relief next season.) And if the answer is two, does Detroit have enough money for that?
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 24: Gerardo Parra #18 of the Baltimore Orioles singles to lead off the game in the first inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 24, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Still Need an Outfielder?
Going into the offseason, getting a left fielder was among the Tigers’ top needs. But the trade for Maybin probably took care of that concern. It’s possible that the right-handed hitting Maybin could be a center field platoon with Anthony Gose, or even in left field with Tyler Collins.
Yet coming off his best offensive season (.267 average, .697 OPS, 10 home runs, 59 RBI, 23 stolen bases), Detroit likely views Maybin as an everyday player. And maybe he’ll provide just enough offense in left field, along with his defense (though he was terrible in center last season with -16 Defensive Runs Saved), for Avila not to regret pursuing a better corner outfield bat.
The Tigers may not have much choice at this position. Fans would love for the team to bring back Yoenis Cespedes, which was the hope as soon as he was traded to the Mets at the July 31 deadline. But with the contract he’s likely to get on the open market, Detroit can’t afford him unless owner Mike Ilitch signs off on significantly boosting payroll and exceeding the $189 million luxury tax threshold. The same would obviously apply to the likes of Jason Heyward and Alex Gordon.
Can Detroit afford someone such as Gerardo Parra? If his price has come down after a disappointing 55 games with the Orioles (.237 average, .625 OPS, five homers), the 28-year-old would be a nice fit in the lineup and an upgrade over Collins or Gose. Otherwise, there aren’t many free agent alternatives that look better than what the Tigers already have on their roster. Perhaps Avila can follow our editor’s suggestion of trading for Nick Markakis. That obviously wouldn’t keep payroll down, but Detroit might not be able to do that and hope to compete in the AL Central this coming season.
