ICYMI: MCB Digest–Detroit Tigers Week That Was

Jan 21, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer speaks during an introductory press conference at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

This week was filled with news about a former Detroit Tigers star, Max Scherzer.

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The rest of the moves of the week paled in comparison. The Tigers signed Josh Prince and prepared for the Winter Caravan that will cross the state today’s TigerFest at Comerica Park.

On the slideshow, you’ll see anything you may have missed during this week.

We will start with our Max Scherzer stuff and get it out of the way to be able to finally move on.

Inside the numbers of Max Scherzer’s crazy deal with Nationals

Scott Boras pulled off the near impossible. With a rumored asking price of anywhere from $200 to $216 million, many of the bigger spenders in the game cast Max aside and ruled out signing him. And for months there was really no concrete movement.

All that ended yesterday when rumors began circulating that Scherzer was close to signing with Washington.

The Nationals seemingly came out of nowhere and put the full-court press on Max and landed him. For $180 million, that’s a lot–remembering the Tigers offered him $144 million last spring to sign long-term–but not nearly the amount that Scherzer was reportedly seeking.

Early this afternoon it was announced that Max’s contract is $210 million. That means it is an incredible $66 million more than Detroit offered last March. So while fans scoffed and said he was crazy to turn down that incredible amount, he looks like a genius now by accepting a shockingly high amount.

Washington is not absorbing that hit immediately though. Scherzer’s deal is structured in such a way that, in essence, it’s a 14-year contract instead of a 7-year contract, paying out $15 million annually. While Max and the Nationals are in a relationship through 2021 (when Scherzer will be 37-years old), Washington will be on the hook of paying him through 2028.

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Credit: Flickr Creative Commons, Jeremy Schultz http://goo.gl/91Coru

One more page of Scherzer stuff and we promise to move on, but we look at why Washington decided to make such a splash. We talked with our awesome FanSided affiliate that covers the Nats, District on Deck.

Then we touch a bit on the anger of those Tigers’ fans left behind. Yet anyone angry with Max for taking the money would do so themselves in a heartbeat.

Turning the page on Max Scherzer; Why Washington?

What prompted the Nationals to make such a bold move? DOD: The Nationals made a bold move, but its not one that shouldn’t be seen as surprising. The Nationals have Scott Boras clients on their team in terms of homegrown talent (Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon to name a few), but look back to the winter of 2010 when the Nationals signed Jayson Werth, a Scott Boras client, to a seven-year deal. This is a move that could have originated from Boras going to owner Ted Lerner for this type of a deal. Lerner is 89 years old, and as evidenced by the Rafael Soriano deal from 2013, he will make the deals that he feels can lead Washington to a championship. With the addition of Scherzer, the Nationals become a favorite to win the World Series. The only surprise, so far, in this move, is that either Jordan Zimmermann or Stephen Strasburg weren’t traded before this move happened. I am interested in seeing whether the Nationals do trade one of those guys this offseason or stick with the super rotation and the championship-or-bust aspirations. READ MORE

Don’t blame Max Scherzer for “greed,” you’d do it too

While many fans expressed relief that the Tigers were not the team on the hook for $15 million annually until Scherzer is likely well retired from the game, they still expressed the same tried and true talking points when any player leaves a professional sports team for another via free agency. One of the most popular was it was a “cash grab.” Usually cash grabs can be related to a guy who goes from a good team to a bad team simply to collect a paycheck. This is not the case here as Scherzer is leaving a World Series contender for another World Series contender. The hefty raise is a nice, uh, bonus. Some Detroit Tigers’ fans called Max “greedy” or that he is “only in it for the money.” That may be true, but who among us is not in it for the money? They say that he should have taken lesser money from Detroit to show that “there is still loyalty in sports.” I am here to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that there is NO loyalty in sports and there hasn’t been any for a very long time. Think of it this way: You take a new job and are successful at it for five years. Your company experiences a lot of good times as well, but then it comes time to ask for a raise. Your current gig offers to double your wages while a competitor of your current company offers to quadruple your wages and set up your family financially for life. READ MORE

Oct 26, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning during game five of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Now, on to who is still on the Tigers or who should be on the Tigers…

In the hours before the Scherzer stuff hit the fan, Zane Stalberg looked at how the team should make a play for James Shields.

Bringing James Shields to Motown Makes Sense

In the wake of trades for Shane Greene, and Alfredo Simon, David Dombrowski has repeatedly denounced the idea that the Tigers have any interest in adding to their rotation. But Tigers fans know better. Ask even the most casual baseball fan in the Motor City what the Tigers’ general manager means when he says he is content with the current roster, and they will tell you that a move is on the horizon. And, while the recent rumors of Detroit’s involvement with James Shields may just be leverage in a bidding war between Dombrowski and Max Scherzer’s infamous agent Scott Boras, it may ultimately be more beneficial for the Tigers to focus their attention on Shields, and let Scherzer walk. Tigers fans are familiar with Shields’ most recent work. In 2014, the one-time Tampa Bay Ray helped anchor both the rotation, and the clubhouse, for a Kansas City Royals team that forced Detroit into a divisional race that lasted until the last day of the regular season. However, if Shields sports the Old English D in 2015, Tigers will assuredly warm up to their former foe, and the reasons for that shift are two-fold. To begin, Shields is one of the premier arms in all of baseball. He has pitched over 200 innings in each of the last eight seasons, and in the last four seasons he has a record of 58-39. Shields is enticing for many teams throughout baseball, but he should be particularly enticing for Detroit. Not only is he familiar with the division, but Shields has excelled at Comerica Park in recent history. According to ESPN, in the two games Shields started at Comerica in 2014 he pitched 13.1 innings, went 1-0, struck out 11, walked only two, allowed just three runs, and held the Tigers’ offense to a .156 average. For context, the Tigers led the MLB in team batting average during the 2014 season (.277). READ MORE

Monday, Tom Zahari looked at how the time is now for James McCann.

James McCann Will Get His Shot with the Detroit Tigers in 2015

Alex Avila is easily one of the most polarizing players on the Detroit Tigers’ roster. Many fans called for the Tigers top catching prospect, James McCann, to be called up and get regular playing time. Those fans well get their wish this season as McCann should start the season with the Tigers and get regular playing time against right handed pitching. Against right handed pitching, I fully believe Alex Avila should bat second for the Detroit Tigers. Against left handed pitching however, McCann, not Avila, should get the regular reps. In 66 games against left handed pitching in 2014, McCann had a .336/.396/.469 split with 12 walks and 21 strikeouts. Against right handed pitching, his split was .276/.316/.406 with 13 walks and 71 strikeouts in 102 games. Avila’s split against right handed pitching in 2014 was .215/.340/.380. It is obvious that McCann sees the ball out of the lefty’s hand rather than the righty’s by the walks to strikeout breakdown. An interesting note is that all of McCann’s 7 home runs in 2014 were against right handed pitching. It will also be interesting to see how McCann makes his transition from AAA to the Major Leagues. In 12 at bats with the Tigers in 2014, McCann went 3 for 12 with one double, 2 strikeouts, and a steal. McCann will not only have to get used to hitting against new pitching, but also catching new pitchers. Some players adjust, while others struggle when the “see the big buildings” as Jim Price says. READ MORE

Apr 17, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Josh Prince (25) during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Hannum looked at the acquisition of Josh Prince.

Detroit Tigers signing of Josh Prince is perfect

Unlike many or most moves you’ll hear about in an offseason, this one looks perfect. Small, but perfect. The Tigers had an urgent need to find a replacement after losing a longtime fixture to free agency, and they did just that yesterday in signing Josh Prince to a minor-league deal to replace the departing Don Kelly. When your team is seeking a utility player, what do you want them to look for? 1. Low cost 2. Low risk 3. The ability to play multiple positions 4. The ability to play the most difficult positions 5. Offensive tools that give value off the bench 6. Youth Assuming this is the minor league signing for league minimum (Prince has only a few games to his name at the major league level), that covers the first two bases. If your team has to pinch pennies, you’d rather $2 million went to the ‘pen than to a backup infielder. Remember that utility guys are basically fringe major leaguers by definition, as they are not considered to have enough of any particular tool or tools to start. Any player can do better than or worse than you’d expected, but fringy guys play themselves out of the big leagues (or out of baseball) entirely when things don’t go well. You don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of guaranteed money in these cases. READ MORE

For this week’s edition of Throwback Thursday, we looked at Norm Cash.

#TBT Norm Cash: Detroit Tigers slugger gone too soon (VIDEO)

For baseball fans from the 1960’s who did not have an affinity for the Detroit Tigers, Norm Cash may be remembered for three things: Having a career year in the worst possible season to have a career year Bringing a table leg to bat during Nolan Ryan‘s second career no-hitter Tragically dying way before his time Tigers’ fans remember him for so much more and he is known simply as “Stormin'” Norman Cash. Cash was requested for this feature by MCB reader @darb0484 on Twitter. This one’s for you, Bob. Unlike much of the powerful nucleus that brought the Tigers close to the pennant many times during the 1960’s, and a World Championship in 1968, Cash was not a homegrown talent. The Texas-native was drafted not by a baseball team, but a football team. The Chicago Bears selected him in the 1955 draft, but he chose the diamond over the gridiron, signing a contract with the White Sox. He spent a couple years in the minor leagues and served in the military in 1958 before making his big league debut as a White Sox in 1958. He played sparingly in two seasons (just four homers and a .245 average in 71 regular season games) with Chicago’s famed Go-Go Sox. He was held hitless in four at-bats in the 1959 World Series. READ MORE

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain (44) starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) relief pitcher Joe Nathan (36) and starting pitcher Max Scherzer (37) during player introductions before game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Blair Tatrault wrapped up by giving us all a silver lining and hope for a great upcoming season.

Welcome To The Detroit Tiger Optimists Club

Inching ever closer to Spring Training, the Detroit Tigers received important updates on key injuries this week. Miguel Cabrera is unlikely to be ready before Spring Training was the big news, but the news wasn’t all bad. It seems that the trio of players the Tigers are counted highly upon that are coming off surgeries are on the right track. Miguel Cabrera will not be ready for the start of Spring Training, but getting his walking boot removed is a very good sign to be ready in time for Opening Day (though he will be reevaluated next month). Jose Iglesias is coming around, and running at about 80 percent with no pain. Bruce Rondon is slated to throw off the mound around six times before pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 19. David Price and the Tigers agreed to a record-setting deal to avoid arbitration. Price will get $19.75 for the 2015 before becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. The team also reupped with J.D. Martinez and Alfredo Simon and appear to be close on Al Alburquerque. There was also speculation late Friday that the Tigers may have interest in James Shields. READ MORE

Have a great weekend!

Next: David Price and Cespedes want to stay