News broke this morning that Max Scherzer has signed a contract with the Washington Nationals. The level headed Detroit Tigers fan had long since said goodbye to him after he did not accept the contract offer they offered him this past Spring Training and was not shocked that he is gone. Best of luck to him. I'm glad he is pitching in the National League. The Tigers won't have to face him unless it is during interleague play or the World Series.
With that said, I need to call all the over reacting Tigers fan back off the ledge as everything is going to be okay. As long as the Tigers are busy this year or next with signing pitching. If they don't do anything, then we can all panic together. So where does the rotation sit right now? They have three starting pitchers (Verlander, Sanchez, and Greene) under contract after this year, and two that can walk after this year (Price, Simon). I'm not saying that the Tigers are in a rebuilding stage, more like reconfiguring. When you hear the words 'rebuilding stage' you think of a team trading off all their big name players for younger talent and a team that won't contend for four or five years. The Tigers still have a win now mentality. What will get them through the upcoming year is depending on a mixture of veteran players and younger talent. Much like how the Red Wings managed last season as their young players learned to play at the top level. The problem is that the Wings' farm system is vastly superior to the Tigers'.
They traded for both Price and Simon this past year. One would assume that they did not give up players just to have these guys for one year (or more than one year as is the case with Price who came over from Tampa Bay during the season) and let them walk just a year later. David Price is obviously a big name pitcher. When they traded for him last season, I figured it was because they knew they would not be getting Scherzer back. They trade for Price and offer him a contract to keep him around long term. That is how I saw the trade. This makes sense in my mind. They signed him to a one year contract just recently to avoid arbitration and have him locked up for the upcoming season. There has been rumors that he is not comfortable in Detroit (whatever that means) and could possibly want to test free agency next year. There are some baseball minds out there that think the Tigers can use Price to lure James Shields (a free agent this year) to Detroit. They are very close friends and if they could bring Shields into the fold, this could entice Price to stay long term. However, Dave Dombrowski has been quoted as saying they are staying with the pitchers they have now.
Alfredo Simon I don't know much about, honestly. That's what happens when you pitch in the NL Central. All I know is that they gave up some prospects to get him during the Winter Meetings and that he has had mixed results during his MLB career. A lot of ups and downs, and they traded for him after one of his 'up' seasons. All I do know is that a lot of Tigers fans were either confused or pissed about the trade. Maybe he is only going to be a stopgap this season and they let him walk after the year. Or they move him to the bullpen where he has pitched in the past. Or, Dombrowski knows something that we fans do not (which happens from time to time) and likes the potential that he sees. You know what I see? A 33 year old pitcher with mixed results during his MLB career. For a team that needs younger talent and younger arms, this is not the best candidate for a long term contract.
Another option is to let both of the pitchers walk after the year is over and go after some free agent pitchers during the next off season. Again, the Tigers only have three starters under contract after this year so maybe they are playing the long game and looking to make a splash next off season. There is going to be a fair amount of good to great pitchers on the market next year. Players like Doug Fister, Jordan Zimmerman, and Johnny Cueto are sure to be top targets along with David Price, but there are other pitchers out there that can (and will) draw attention. It would make the Tigers fanbase rejoice if next year they sign Fister. I know I would be happy. Seeing as how that trade was just horribly lopsided. Another free agent pitcher next year is Rick Porcello. I was surprised when he was traded away, but how devilishly delightful would it be if the Tigers signed him next off season after he spends the upcoming year with the Red Sox? I don't think that'll happen though. He has Scott Boras as an agent and he will be going after big money.
Whatever the pitching future holds for the Tigers, the upcoming season will be interesting. Personally, I would like to see them sign Price to a contract and go after another big name free agent next off season (coughcoughcoughDougFistercoughcough). And that is what I think most Not only because this pitching staff is intriguing, but because the rest of the AL Central got better. Even the Twins. I see this year being one of the most fun, entertaining, frustrating, demoralizing, and satisfying for the division in a long time. Because all the other teams got a little better this off season, it will make for a division where you could have three or four teams playing for the divisional title into the late days of August and beginning of September. Of course it would be great to see the Tigers win another divisional crown, but it won't be as easy as it was two or three years ago.
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