Detroit Tigers Rumors: Team focused on keeping Max Scherzer, prepared to spend big

The Detroit Tigers were quiet in the first day of Winter Meetings on Monday while their rivals restocked their arsenal. No news to report from Tigers’ camp on Day 2, but an intriguing rumor sprang up from the account of ESPN’s Buster Olney.

The Tigers' focus is on retaining Max Scherzer. They are prepared to spend big, big dollars. Want to keep Price for 2015, too.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 9, 2014

Scherzer turned down $144 million in the spring from the Tigers, but Detroit really wants him back.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 9, 2014

This is a departure from yesterday when Dave Dombrowski told reporters that the Tigers were content with the five starters they currently have. Those five names: Justin Verlander, David Price, Rick Porcello, Anibal Sanchez and newcomer Shane Greene does not include the name Max Scherzer.

The Tigers have played coy on Scherzer since the end of the season. They never shut the door on him nor have they said they wanted to pursue him. For his part, Max has always said he wanted to stay in Detroit though he has also been quiet about his future since the end of the Tigers’ abbreviated playoff run two months ago.

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Also notable is that the Tigers want to keep David Price. So that brings up the next question, if Olney is right will the team move Shane Greene or Porcello to the bullpen to potentially solve the problems there? Or is Porcello the man to be traded as he was rumored to be in the now reportedly defunct Yoenis Cespedes trade. Could potentially Anibal Sanchez be the man to go?

Max has not been rumored to be visiting any teams at all this off-season and it is generally believed that his agent, Scott Boras, wants to see what James Shields and Jon Lester receive before bargaining with any team, Detroit or otherwise.

Dave Dombrowski usually keeps things close to the vest until something is on the way to being announced–much like happened with Miguel Cabrera‘s big money deal this past Spring Training, which ironically came after Scherzer turned down a $144 contract extension from the Tigers.

The next few days will be very interesting.

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