Detroit Tigers Links: Gorzelanny solid signing, Scherzer watch, Prospects

Its been a week since Tom Gorzelanny signed on the dotted line with the Detroit Tigers.

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As with any move by the Tigers–or any sports team for that matter–the trade was hailed from everything from an awesome move to stupid move to MEH. One writer thinks it is exactly what Detroit needed.

It’s been what, five days since we brought you a Max Scherzer update? The update is–wait for it….there is no update. But Tigers’ beat writer for MLB.com talks of the ramifications on Max himself as he heads into mid-January with no imminent deal and no rumored suitors.

We end with Bleacher Report’s look at the top prospects for the Tigers heading into 2015.

Why Tom Gorzelanny Is the Perfect Signing – Know Hitter

"Detroit’s bullpen will be a very different looking bunch in 2015. Two of the team’s most consistent performers, Joba Chamberlain and Blaine Hardy, aren’t likely to feature as prominently. Chamberlain is a free agent and unlikely to return, while Hardy struggled down the stretch and will face competition from the likes of the returning Bruce Rondon and Ian Krol as well as newcomers Alex Wilson, Josh Zeid and Angel Nesbitt.Gorzelanny is the also the perfect deputy for new starting pitchers Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon.Should either Greene or Simon struggle, they can shift to the bullpen and work on improving while Gorzelanny fills in for a few starts.In addition, should Simon have trouble replicating his All-Star numbers from 2014 (which is completely possible given his second-half struggles with the Reds last year), manager Brad Ausmus can flip-flop the two. Gorzelanny has experience in the rotation, while Simon has had success in a relief role. He turned in a 2.78 ERA in 99 relief outings for Cincinnati from 2012 to 2013. He threw 148.2 innings over that span, striking out 115."

As the Scherzer watch continues – Jason Beck, Beck’s Blog

"It’s mid-January, and we’re not much clearer on Max Scherzer’s market than we were over the holidays. Here’s one scenario on how it might play out:At some point, after weeks so far of teams saying they’re not in active pursuit, someone will be in active pursuit. A team will make an offer that meets enough of Scherzer’s criteria to draw serious consideration, presumably for more than six years. And then, Tigers owner Mike Ilitch will have a decision to make.If Ilitch wants to keep Scherzer in a Detroit uniform, it’s probably going to happen. If Ilitch decides the price isn’t worth the impact, short term (payroll tax) or long (payroll committed through the decade), or if he decides the team’s offer from last spring was its best one, Scherzer will probably go somewhere else.It’s not a right of first refusal, which agent Scott Boras insists the Tigers will not get. It’s the chance to top an offer, the leverage Boras has used expertly over the years, and the opportunity Ilitch used to keep Anibal Sanchez two years ago. Just as no active pursuit doesn’t necessarily mean no interest."

Detroit Tigers’ Top 10 Prospects for 2015 – Mike Rosenbaum, Bleacher Report

"It certainly didn’t help the state of Detroit’s system that it traded arguably its top three prospects before the July non-waiver deadline, with right-handers Jake Thompson and Corey Knebel going to Texas in the Joakim Soria deal, and highly touted 19-year-old shortstop Willy Adames going to Tampa Bay as part of the three-team trade for David Price.The Tigers have continued to ship off prospects in trades this offseason, trading second baseman Devon Travis to the Blue Jays, Robbie Ray and Domingo Leyba to the Diamondbacks, and finally, right-hander Jonathan Crawford (and Eugenio Suarez) to the Reds.However, pitching prospects Kevin Ziomek and Austin Kubitza, the team’s respective second- and fourth-round picks in 2013, are still in the picture, with both coming off equally successful seasons as part of Low-A West Michigan’s starting rotation."

Next: Miggy will not be ready for start of Spring Training, updates on Iggy, Rondon