Detroit Tigers: Francisco Rodriguez Acquisition the First of Many Moves

The Detroit Tigers made the first step in the right direction when they traded for Francisco Rodriguez for a minor league prospect and a player to be named later, but they also showed their hand.

Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; National League pitcher Francisco Rodriguez (57) of the Milwaukee Brewers throws against the American League during the seventh inning of the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

In recent seasons, the Tigers would have acquired the top free agent on the market and overpaid for him. This time, the Tigers waited for the right price. They had opportunities to trade for Joaquin Benoit, Craig Kimbrel, and Aroldis Chapman, or preemptively sign Joakim Soria to a more expensive than desired deal before they could have found their next option.

The Tigers have shown that they will probably not be buyers for the top players on the market: they will need to find players in the second tier. Earlier this offseason, Al Avila said the budget was limited compared to years past and this move signals that reality.

The K-Rod move is a success on its own, but the Tigers need to surround this move with other budget-friendly acquisitions to make it a complete success.

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers cannot be done making moves to have success in 2016. They still need to add more pieces to the bullpen. They had a strong 9^th inning with Soria as a closer, but the Tigers could not hold a lead and get the ball to him.

The Tigers need to keep making moves and acquire bullpen pieces like Darren O’Day, Soria (if his price goes down), Ryan Madson, Tony Sipp, Edward Mujica, Tyler Clippard, Burke Badenhop, or Joe Blanton. They also need multiple starters and an outfielder to complete their roster.

The Tigers have made the first move to have a successful offseason. Now, they need to pair this K-Rod move with other budget friendly, second tier moves.