Detroit Tigers Farm System Too Valuable to Trade at Deadline

In less than one year, the Detroit Tigers have managed to create a farm system with value. And, they were not willing to part with the pieces that show the most promise.

Those young members of the Detroit Tigers farm system can be found at all levels. Despite the pressure that the Cleveland Indians have added with Andrew Miller, the Tigers are still not going to counter at the cost of the valuable future Tigers.

The Tigers are following the old adage about patience paying off. Instead of throwing them into the harsh daily grind of the MLB, these young players are being properly taken care of in Grand Rapids, Erie, Norwich, Toledo, and Lakeland.

While it might seem silly for the Tigers to not trade them away for the “Win It Any Cost” mantra that the team has been using for the several years, saving these young guys was the right thing for Al Avila do.

The current 25-man roster of the Tigers is loaded with All-Stars, MVPs, and plenty of younger players who are on their way to greatness. If this team cannot do it, adding one or two more players is highly unlikely to make a difference. The cost is too great for such uncertainty. It is perfectly clear that buying the best talent isn’t the only way to win.

True to his form, Al Avila stuck to his word. At the end of the 2015 season, Avila said he would get pitchers. He did. He beefed up the late-innings pitchers and he added a necessary left fielder. He said he wasn’t going to do anything at the Trade Deadline and he didn’t. Nice work, Al. As a fan, it’s nice to not have any crazy surprises.

So now what? The Tigers are what they are, which continues to change with every series. But, in case you haven’t noticed, the changes seem to be in the right direction – the winning direction.

More from Detroit Tigers News

• Detroit Tigers: Victor Reyes finding ways to get the job done
• The Detroit Tigers must cut their losses and release Jonathan Schoop
• Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
• Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
• Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?

The Tigers are going to live with Mike Pelfrey and Anibal Sanchez. The roles of Justin Verlander and Pelfrey are set. Jordan Zimmermann will be back soon and he will make it back into the regular grind of the rotation. It is safe to expect the rotation to run with Verlander, Zimmermann, Pelfrey and then a combination of Matt Boyd, Daniel Norris, and the incredibly valuable Michael Fulmer. It is also safe to say that Anibal Sanchez might continue to get thrown into the mix occasionally.

The bench will remain the same with Mike Aviles, Andrew Romine, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia filling in when the time arises. While it would be quite nice to see Tyler Collins find an occasional role in the outfield, his lack of infield experience makes him less valuable than Aviles and Romine.

Next: Mike Pelfrey Leaves Game with Back Tightness

Those young players in the Minor Leagues will begin to slowly trickle into Detroit. The first one will most likely be Joe Jimenez who could make an appearance soon in a limited bullpen role. The rest of the younglings will have to wait a few more seasons so they can get a little more seasoning.