ICYMI: MCB Digest–Detroit Tigers Week That Was

The Detroit Tigers and the rest of baseball experienced a quiet holiday week. The Tigers will cruise into the seven-week period before Spring Training with a team they feel comfortable with, unless of course they’re not.

More from Motor City Bengals

• Detroit Tigers: Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan’s First Gem
• Detroit Tigers: Prospect Colt Keith is making up for lost time in AFL
• 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

Just because the team was quiet doesn’t mean our writers were. Let’s take a look at the week that was here at Motor City Bengals and catch up on anything you may have missed while welcoming in the new year.

Zane Stalberg started the week out by discussing how the Tigers shouldn’t be lulled into falling back into the Max Scherzer sweepstakes. They simply need to rely on a rejuvenated Justin Verlander as their ace and move on.

The Detroit Tigers Should Count On Verlander, Not Re-Sign Scherzer

Lately, it feels as if Justin Verlander’s life off the mound has trumped his prowess between the white lines. Highlights of his MVP season have been replaced on ESPN by court-side appearances with Kate Upton. And, in that time, Verlander himself has been replaced in the minds of many by Max Scherzer as the ace of the Detroit Tigers. However, the Tigers would be wise to show faith in Verlander in 2015, and beyond, rather than spend $200 million on Scherzer. While many Tigers fans, and media outlets, have given up on Verlander, Dave Dombrowski, and the Tigers’ front office, should not. Verlander has been a key cog in the Tigers’ recent success and his competitive intensity cannot be overlooked. Taking a chance on the former MVP is far less risky than adding another massive contract to the laundry list of payouts that have damaged the Tigers’ future, and have yet to bring them a championship. READ MORE

Speaking of starting pitching and Scherzer, it came out that the Tigers and David Price were not negotiating a long-term contract extension. Price, a free agent after 2015, is seemingly bound to test the open market. But could the Tigers decide that trading him and making a run at Max would be in their best interest?

Detroit Tigers and David Price not discussing long-term deal

The Detroit Tigers have been very busy this off-season and when not busy they have been steeped in rumors galore. Most of those rumors have had to do with Max Scherzer and the possibility of coming back to Detroit, but one name that hasn’t been mentioned much is David Price. This is because not much has happened on the Price front. According to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the team and the left handed starter have not engaged in any extension talks during the off-season and that the Tigers may be viewing Price more of a trade candidate, which could free up potential future money for Scherzer. Whatever Scherzer’s demand are, (reportedly anywhere from $180 to $216 million) if he were to sign and the Tigers didn’t deal Price before the season, it would make for a whopper of a payroll in 2015, especially for the starters. Price, due one more year of eligibility before unrestricted free agency prior to the 2016 season, figures to command more than $20 million for his one-year arbitration salary, the highest of any arbitration-eligible player in baseball this season. READ MORE

Credit: Flickr, Arturo Pardavilla III http://goo.gl/0Xu219

We discussed prospects a lot this week on Motor City Bengals.

Dan Byrne offered his take on one Tigers’ prospect who is quickly becoming well-regarded within the organization. 

Derek Hill: #1 Prospect On the Rise

We celebrate another birthday for Derek Hill today. That’s 19 of them now. Derek Jeter made his debut the same year the younger Derek was born. The Tigers may have missed out on that other kid from Kalamazoo, Michigan, but they have been far wiser in their pursuit of this other Derek from Elk Grove, California. And a tad lucky, too. Derek’s dad, Orsino Hill, is a career baseball man, having spent his playing days in the minor leagues with teams from seven different MLB affiliates before becoming an area scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before the draft this year, it was expected in many circles that the Dodgers would be the beneficiary of the Hill & Hill California connection and wind up with Derek in the first round. After all, they picked ahead of the Tigers! Somehow the high school phenom stayed available and was promptly plucked by David Chadd and the Tiger braintrust. Derek is blessed with track-star type speed, probably his greatest asset. That speed impacts both offensively and defensively. He reads the ball off the bat, gets great jumps, and tracks down then gloves many gappers and goners anywhere within the neighbourhood of centre field. He has been clocked at 6.44 seconds in the 60 yard dash. He regularly legs out infield hits, reaching first base in about 4 seconds. From the right side of the batter’s box! Muy rapido. Scouting reports indicate an accurate and very strong arm. 92 mph from an outfielder! Yoenis Cespedes and Derek may have some good-natured throwing competitions in Lakeland this coming spring. READ MORE

Josh Scramlin checked in on New Years Day with his top resolution for the Tigers for the year: sign Casey Janssen.

Detroit Tigers New Year Resolution: Sign RP Casey Janssen

2014 is officially in the books, and society is once again tasked with functioning for another 365 days. Once the ball drops in Times Square, everybody’s New Year’s Resolution are put into effect, though many of them are broken a few days into the new year. Let’s hope the Detroit Tigers declare a resolution and follow through with it: sign reliever Casey Janssen. The Tigers have barely done anything to cure their bullpen problems, the very issue that has hindered them from further success the past few seasons. Alex Wilson was acquired in the Rick Porcello–Yoenis Cespedes deal, and either Alfredo Simon, Kyle Lobstein, or Shane Greene will be a reliever this coming season. But that is not enough, the Tigers need a reliable foundation in their bullpen, and Casey Janssen is the man for the job. The veteran right-hander is a free agent for the first time in his career after spending eight seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s also one of the remaining impact relievers on the market. READ MORE

May 30, 2014; Toledo, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski in the stands against the Charlotte Knights at Fifth Third Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Blair Tatrault highlighted the Tigers latest offseason endeavor to stay relevant and keep the championship window open.

Detroit Tigers Try To Keep Championship Flame Burning

You only get so many shots at glory before the lights go out. In the case of the Detroit Tigers, the sandman may already be reaching for the dimmer switch. After the Tigers were edged by Boston in a tight ALCS series in 2013, they were a consensus choice to represent the American League in the World Series last year. But they struggled to win their division and then ran into a hot Baltimore team in the first round of the playoffs, and were swept unceremoniously out of MLB’s postseason tournament. This off season, with the Tigers in a state of flux and a number of teams opening up their purse strings to pursue top talent, Detroit is attracting significantly less national attention and is generally absent from the short list of World Series contenders. Now that may or may not be a good thing, and it’s still early January. But it’s an open question whether this long-of-tooth Tiger team is still capable of pouncing on its prey, or if it will instead surrender to the ennui that inexorably undermines aging teams. READ MORE

Finally, I ended the week by discussing how Steven Moya could be a wanted piece this season by other teams, but will Dave Dombrowski trade away yet another top prospect? The amount of top prospects traded last year will shock you.

Is Detroit Tigers top prospect Steven Moya safe from Trader Dave?

Let’s fast forward to July 31, 2015, shall we? The Detroit Tigers are in the middle of a three-team race for the AL Central crown with the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox. The trio, along with occasional surges by the Cleveland Indians, have been meandering in and out of first place all season long. The wild-card is a tricky proposition as well. In addition to the AL Central teams, the Angels, Mariners, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles, and Yankees are all pushing hard for the postseason. The Texas Rangers have had another terrible year and are on pace for 100 losses. They are desperate to rebuild and cast a wide net, making Yu Darvish available to the highest bidder. They have interest in Steven Moya. If the trade happens, it will allow one of the starters–Shane Greene or Alfredo Simon–to go to the bullpen and improve the unit for the stretch run and postseason. If you are “Trader Dave” Dombrowski, do you make that deal? Do you MAKE that deal? READ MORE

Thanks for reading!

Next: Steven Moya Mud Hen, Youth Movement