Detroit Tigers Roundtable: Contract Extensions, Free Agent Wish Lists, Divisional Threats, and Breakout Players

The Motor City Bengals staff gathers to discuss some questions surrounding (1) the Detroit Tigers’ offseason and (2) the upcoming 2014 season. If you have mailbag questions for future editions of the MCB Roundtable, feel free to tweet them @MCB_Tigers.

Last year the Indians finished only a game behind the Tigers in the AL Central. Who poses the biggest threat to Detroit’s division crown at the moment?

Sep 18, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) is caught in a run down between Cleveland Indians first baseman Nick Swisher (33) and second baseman Jason Kipnis (22) in the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Emmerich: I suppose KC. The Indians outperformed their third-order wins by 6 games. They haven’t done enough this offseason to fend off the expected regression in 2014, although the rotation could develop into a real force. The White Sox seem finally committed to a full-throated rebuilding effort. The Twins added some intriguing arms to their strike-out averse rotation but they still don’t scare. That leaves the Royals, who have more promising young players entering their prime than anyone else in the division. The bullpen will probably regress but should still be strong. But the rotation, behind Shields, is an issue, especially if Santana signs elsewhere. No matter who is in the  rotation they will be helped by one of the best defenses in baseball. If the Moutaskas hits all season like he did in the first half and Homer and Pérez continue their ascent towards stardom and a few other things fall into place the Royals could win close to 90 games, enough to make the Tigers sweat–a little.

Tom Zahari: The Cleveland Indians are still the biggest threat to the Tigers. Even though they overachieved in 2013, the Indians qualified for the American League Wild Card where they lost to the Tampa Bay Rays and they have a solid core built around Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley. If the Indians can put together some solid pitching, they could be a serious threat.

The Kansas City Royals have the best bullpen in the division, but their starting pitching and lineup are too inconsistent to be the biggest threat. Every year we hear how this is the year of the Royals, but it never is. I am in a place of believing it when I see it with Kansas City.

Matt Pelc: The last two years, I’ve been convinced that the Kansas City Royals would step up and challenge the Tigers’ supremacy in the AL Central. I was way off in 2012, but in 2013, KC showed signs of the solid team they’ve been building and rebuilding for years. Cleveland will take a small step back, which will open the door for the Royals.

Matt Snyder: I really like what the Royals have done this offseason with their offense. They signed Omar Infante to a reasonable deal and made a heckuva trade for underrated outfielder Norichika Aoki. They still have starting pitching concerns (especially without 2013 Ervin Santana), but they may be better positioned to compete with the Tigers than the Indians (who have their own pitching issues without Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir).

Grant Stoye: I am, once again, petrified of Kansas City. Getting Infante really sealed the deal for me, and if Moustakas can get his act together they have a stacked lineup, a hearty bench, a ridiculous bullpen, and they’re one starter away from a good rotation.

If the Tigers were to sign one more (moderately priced) free agent this offseason, who should it be?

Oct 7, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Home plate umpire Gary Darling (37) gets between Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez (41) and Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour (50) in the ninth inning in game three of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Oalkand won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Emmerich: I just don’t see many moderately priced bullpen guys worth pursuing on the free agent market. A lefty-hitting bench guy with a bit of pop would be nice but that guy also doesn’t exist.

I worry about going into the season with Bryan Holaday as the backup catcher so I’d consider someone like Kelly Shoppach as a cheap veteran backup to the always fragile Alex Avila. He has a little power, walks some, and hits lefties better than Avila.

Tom Zahari: The Detroit Tigers’ biggest need has been building up the bullpen. There are still a few names on the market that have closing experience and could be valuable in the Detroit Tigers bullpen in 2014. The two names that come to mind that should be cheap are Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan. There are still six former closers left in free agency that include Bailey, Hanrahan, Kevin Gregg, Rafael Betancourt, Fernando Rodney and Grant Balfour. All six could be a fit in Detroit, but Bailey and Hanrahan should be the cheapest because of their injury issues.

Matt Pelc: Grant Balfour is still on the market and, after failing a physical with the Baltimore Orioles, he may come at a reasonable price for a year or two. If Detroit doesn’t have to overpay for him, go get him for the set-up role. That will free up Bruce Rondon for middle innings and would increase bullpen depth. Of course he and V-Mart will have some amends to make from last year’s ALDS, but they both understand it’s a business and will be fine.

Matt Snyder: I’m still on the Ryan Madson bandwagon, especially if we’re only talking a minor league contract with a spring training invite. He’s missed a couple of seasons due to arm trouble, but he could pay off big in the bullpen if he’s healthy.

Grant Stoye: I’m all about either Oliver Perez or Pat Neshek. I love the way they can handle their business, be it against righties (Neshek), lefties (Perez), or potentially both (Perez). I know Neshek would be much cheaper, however.

Which player (if any) must the Tigers absolutely work out a contract extension with?

Aug 26, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Emmerich: I’m not sure there is anyone who is a must. Scherzer is a pitcher entering his thirties with unstable delivery mechanics. Giving him a Verlander-like contract seems fraught with peril. Everyone assumes the Tigers will resign Cabrera. His historical comps suggest he will age well. Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, two guys Baseball Reference suggest Cabrera most resembles statistically, both remained fabulously productive into their late thirties. Cabrera’s career could very well follow the same arch. But the Tigers should play this thing out until 2015, making sure 2014 isn’t another injury-riddled season and that Cabrera doesn’t have a Pujols-like plummet in the next two years.

Tom Zahari: Miguel Cabrera without a doubt. Cabrera is the best hitter in the game and there is no question about it. He hits for power; he hits for average; he hits to every part of the field. I doubt the Tigers will be able to resign Max Scherzer unless he is given the money that it will take to resign Cabrera, and I would much rather have Cabrera around for the next seven years. If there is one person to extend, it is the best offensive player in the game and a player that will go down as one of the greatest in Detroit Tigers history.

Matt Pelc: Miguel Cabrera. The two notable Tigers who have contracts up are Miggy and Max Scherzer. Max has really put it together the last few seasons and there’s no reason to believe he won’t continue to be very solid (though a repeat of last year is probably not going to happen), but Miggy is truly a rare, once-in-a-generation talent. As much as I’d hate seeing Max heading elsewhere, the thought of Miggy finishing his career in another uniform is sickening. He has plenty of great years ahead.

Matt Snyder: I really think the Tigers should lock up Austin Jackson for the long-term. Fans get frustrated with his elevated strikeout rate, but he’s been a very productive player in each of his four major league seasons, averaging either 3.5 WAR (FanGraphs) or 4.5 WAR (Baseball-Reference) per season, depending on your taste in computation (either way, $20 million+ in value). Detroit still holds two years of team control on the will-be-27 year old, but I’d love it if they could lock him up for five more years or so (through the traditional ‘peak’ years).

Grant Stoye: I love Scherzer, but Cabrera is the centerpiece of this whole team, and hopefully he can retire a Tiger. He should be priority number one.