Detroit Tigers: 5 Players that will not be back in 2016 (VIDEO)

Sep 24, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of a Detroit Tigers hat a glove before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers have a lot of work to do this offseason to get back into the ranks of contending teams in 2016.

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We’ve talked how this may not be as easy as we once envisioned or predicted because of a number of factors both on the field and off, none more striking than the lackluster and awful play of this team since the July 31 trades.

While we expected them to flounder, I perhaps thought they would embrace the role of spoiler. Yet for most of the games they have been unable to obtain team efforts for wins. In other words, when they score six runs, the pitchers give up 10. When the starters and bullpen have an uncharacteristically solid day, the offense gets shutout.

Of course there has been a ton of issues with this team in the six weeks since the trading deadline. The firing of Dave Dombrowski, the dugout fight and the rumors of the demise of manager Brad Ausmus.

Thus, we know a lot of work needs to be done and a lot of new faces must be brought onto the 2016 roster. With this means several faces will be gone next year. So let’s take a look at the players most likely are playing their last games as members of the Detroit Tigers.

Before we spin through the slideshow, notice one name absent–Alfredo Simon. The Tigers probably will not bring him back, but I think there will be some temptation. Although he has experienced a roller-coaster season, he does lead the team with a dozen wins. When he’s been good, he’s been very good. When he’s been bad–well, you get the picture.

I can’t really get a feel for what they’ll do with Simon. He probably will be gone but if they upgrade their pitching staff this off-season, he is not a bad #5 option–just not the #3 option he was this year.

Next: The end of Wolf Season

Sep 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; aDetroit Tigers starting pitcher Randy Wolf (52) pitches in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Randy Wolf

This one is pretty much a no-brainer. The Detroit Tigers traded cash to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for aging veteran Randy Wolf, who was trapped in the minor leagues.

Wolf came to the Tigers and gave them a couple of quality starts right off the bat, which was surprising. After all, if the pitching-starved Blue Jays (until bringing in David Price from Detroit) couldn’t use him on the big league level, why was he having success with the Tigers?

Of course the bottom fell out quickly and he’s ranged from bad to not terrible in his last couple outings.

What I find interesting is the way Tigers’ fans have reacted to the 39-year-old’s presence on this team, bashing Al Avila for it being his first (and only) notable transaction since ascending to the GM role after his mentor was sent packing last month.

Most of these folks, of course, are the ones who think that firing Dombrowski was a mistake. I am one of those, however I am willing to give Avila the benefit of the doubt. When starters Anibal Sanchez and Daniel Norris went out with injuries less than 12 hours apart, what else are you going to do? They could rely on Buck Farmer or Kyle Ryan to fill those roles, but we’ve seen their inability to handle major league hitters at this stage of their young careers.

Wolf wasn’t perfect, but he served his role. A role that was just intended for a couple of weeks.

Next: Feliz Navidad

Jul 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine (27) hits an RBI single in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Romine

Andrew Romine has served in the reserve specialist role while filling in for Jose Iglesias during his various injuries this season and subbing in late innings at third base for Nick Castellanos. He has quietly put together a decent season for a reserve.

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Headed into Sunday’s double-header in Cleveland, Romine was hitting .254 in 92 games. Not great, but better than the .227 clip he played while splitting time with now-departed Eugenio Suarez at shortstop because of Iglesias’ season-ending shin injury a year ago.

Romine came to Detroit for LHP Jose Alvarez in the days after the Tigers found out Iglesias’ fate in Spring Training 2014. It was a bit of panic mode as the club was not willing to hand the everyday role to young Suarez. Later on, they still were not comfortable with the light-hitting Romine there and added Alex Gonzalez, a move that lasted about three weeks until Romine was given most of the starts until Suarez came up in June.

Unlike everyone else on this list, Romine is actually under team control for next season. He is not eligible for free agency until 2019, but begins his arbitration eligible years this off-season.

Considering his stats and playing time, Romine will not cost the Tigers much in arbitration, but there might be consideration in either non-tendering him (making him a free agent), or inking him and then exploring trade options (which would be limited). It is worth noting that Romine has no minor league options left. So if the Tigers want to send him to AAA, they have to put him through waivers.

The Tigers have both Dixon Machado and Jefry Marte knocking on the door to provide infield depth next season. Marte has filled in for an injured Miguel Cabrera at first base during his injury, but he’s been primarily a third baseman in the organization.

With one or both of these guys probably making the roster next year (sort of how the Tigers kept two utility infielders out of Spring Training this year), Romine might be expendable.

Next: We'll Always have that Walk-Off Grand Slam

Jun 30, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Rajai Davis (20) celebrates after he hits a walk off grand slam in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Detroit won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Rajai Davis

Rajai Davis was a guy that was likely up on the block prior to the trading deadline. Because he had an expiring contract, he was likely available along with David Price, Joakim Soria, Yoenis Cespedes, Alfredo Simon and Alex Avila.

Betsided

Davis did not get picked up in July and the Tigers also decided not to send him through waivers in August in order to set up a possible trade as many expected.

Still, Davis is likely gone after this year. His playing time has been heavily cut (134 games a year ago, 98 games headed into Sunday this year) with the presence of Anthony Gose and Cespedes earlier this season. The Tigers are likely still one of the top suitors for Cespedes’ services in the free agency market, and even if they don’t land him they may want to go with Tyler Collins or Steven Moya at that position in 2016.

Davis has been far from a bust during his two-year career with the Detroit Tigers. He’s been a pretty good player in the field, on the bases and, somewhat surprisingly, at the plate. He’s not an All-Star by any means, but he was solid when he played.

Though it seems so-so long ago, when the two worst teams in the American League this year were the best teams in the AL just 14 months ago, we will always have this lasting memory of Davis:

Next: No-Nepotism Zone

Aug 16, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Avila

We all thought we had a bonafide star catcher in the making with Alex Avila, a young and dominant catcher plucked from within the organization for the first time since Lance Parrish came on the scene in the late 1970’s.

Avila’s first full season was 2010, and he struggled a bit to adapt to the big leagues on a team that underacheived and finished at .500, the last Detroit Tigers team to miss the postseason until this year’s squad. But it was 2011 that helped him burst on the scene.

He earned praise for his masterful handling of a star-studded pitching staff throughout most of his time here, particularly in 2011 when he caught Justin Verlander‘s second career no-hitter and helped the Tigers march their way to their first divisional title in 24 years.

That season he went to the All-Star Game, earned a Silver Slugger Award, hit .295 with a .895 OPS and 19 homers. Sadly, those numbers were never touched after that.

Alex has suffered a number of concussions that had many worrying about his future in the game. This year, he missed an extensive amount of time due to a knee issue. After he came back, his playing time has been limited. He did get some action at first base during Miguel Cabrera’s absence, but rarely sees time at catcher with James McCann and Bryan Holaday in the mix.

Tigers’ fans have a knack of hating on Avila. Certainly his .176 average this year is not good enough to crack the lineup more than perhaps once a week at this point, however he has always been a good defensive catcher and takes a beating behind the plate yet still comes back the next day for more punishment.

When his father was given the GM role last month, many immediately began crying “nepotism” and figured that Alex would soon get a four-year contract extension. These same fans said that Avila was always given a benefit because of his father’s high role in the Tigers’ organization. Something that has been proven to be incorrect since Al never wanted the Tigers to draft Alex in the first place because he knew how it would always be “awkward.”

Yet if you followed this team closely, nothing has changed in regards to Avila. The plan has always been to let him go this off-season as an unrestricted free agent with McCann as the catcher of the Detroit Tigers’ future. In fact they tried shopping him around baseball last year, but the worries about his concussions kept interest to a bare minimum.

This did not change in the Dave Dombrowski to Al Avila transition despite what some nepotism crying fans believe.

Next: 5 Pitching Upgrades for 2016