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Detroit Tigers: Could negative perceptions hurt chances at top free agents?

By Matt Pelc |
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Apr 6, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) and second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) hold up a flag for the 2014 AL Central Division Championship prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

By going to the American League Championship season three straight years from 2011-13, the Detroit Tigers put themselves on the map as being one of the most consistently solid franchises in baseball.

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A couple years later, that can no longer be said. After a quick ouster in last year’s postseason, the Tigers will be on the outside looking in to the playoffs for the first time since 2010, with a likely last place finish for the first time since 2008.

This season has been an unmitigated disaster. This season has featured chocking away 6-0 and 10-2 starts, shipping off players with expiring contracts at the trading deadline, firing the general manager in-season, a dugout fight, a manager basically being fired in the press and players calling out fans.

Yet many believe the Detroit Tigers will right the ship next year. They really have the ability to do just that, with a number of contracts freeing up salary and ownership telling new GM Al Avila the plan to win a World Series continues (meaning the team will still spend to win).

That belief needs to be realized by the Tigers being able to attract big named free agents to the team. But with everything that has gone on here the last 14 months or so, will it be as easy as everyone thinks?

Let’s take a look at certain factors that the Detroit Tigers have going for them and against them in attracting top-flight free agents to the mix for 2016 and beyond.

Next: It's about the money, stupid!

Money

Let’s face it, the biggest factor in 99% of athletes signing with teams in any sport is the money. If your team has enough of it, and is willing to spend it, you have a chance with pretty much any free agent out there.

Over the last decade or so, the Detroit Tigers have never shied away from giving out money to players in order to win the ultimate prize, coming into 2015 with the fourth highest payroll in baseball. This put them ahead of perceived bigger markets such as San Francisco, Los Angeles (Angels), Chicago (both teams) and New York (Mets).

As we have already said, the Tigers will be spending money this offseason, but will they be able to go the extra mile to get the big named free agents?

While the Tigers have spent a lot of money in recent years, a lot of that has been to lock-in their future free agents such as Justin Verlander (extension in 2013) and Miguel Cabrera (extension in 2014). It has been awhile since they competed with other teams to land a big-named free agent, likely since the 2012 signing of Prince Fielder.

While signing Torii Hunter before the 2013 season was a big pickup, Hunter had the Tigers on his short list and, at the beginning of the downside of his career, did not have a whole lot of suitors.

Perhaps spurned by his refusal of a $144 million contract extension, the Tigers did not attempt to resign Max Scherzer this past off-season. They were also not involved in trying to get the second-best pitcher on the market, James Shields.

They seemed to be putting all their faith into keeping David Price, which leads us to our next topic….

Next: The Price was never right

Jul 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher David Price (14) talks with manager Brad Ausmus (7) in the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The David Price Factor

David Price certainly seems to be having the time of his life in Toronto over the last seven weeks, hasn’t he? Of course, winning makes everything better, but Price never seemed to fit and/or was comfortable as a member of the Detroit Tigers.

He even admitted so, saying he had a tough time with the transition from Tampa Bay to Detroit last year. Going from Detroit to Toronto has not been any biggie for Price, however. Although the Tigers lost in the playoffs, they still make it so Price was pitching in meaningful games, so it is not like he went from a winner to loser.

So what went wrong here? Why could Price not feel comfortable and/or why could the Tigers not make Price feel comfortable?

Perhaps it was leaving a place that he grew as a young man, in Tampa/St. Pete, with a team that he had been with his entire professional career in the Rays. Now that he’s experienced a trade once, he knows how to handle it and knows what to expect.

Nonetheless, it might be on some players’ minds, wondering why it would not work here for Price and thinking perhaps it wouldn’t work for them as well.

To close the book on David Price, while we discuss who would be better in the Tigers’ rotation, Johnny Cueto, Jordan Zimmermann, or someone else, one name that is never mentioned with the Tigers is Price.

That ship has clearly sailed….

Next: Fan support

Sep 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Fans hold up K signs for Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (not pictured) during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Fan Support

One thing a free agent could look forward to by playing in Detroit, is plenty of fan support–whether it is negative or positive.

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Case in point, last Friday the Detroit Tigers had 32,000+ fans in attendance for a late September game with a division rival. If this was 2011, ’12, ’13 or ’14, that would not be surprising as those teams were putting the finishing touches on divisional titles. Meanwhile, the 2015 team is trying to not finish in last place.

Yet in that game, Justin Verlander was not happy with fans booing manager Brad Ausmus. He now joins with several Tigers’ veterans who have made statements about the attitude and/or booing of fans over the last few years. A list that also includes Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, Nick Castellanos, Joe Nathan and Ian Kinsler.

So it is a double-edged sword. The fans show up, but they are not as kind to the players as perhaps they would like.

Take, for example, the Cleveland Indians on that same Friday night. After a horrendous start to a season filled with a lot of expectations, the Indians have had a very good second half and have an outside shot at a playoff berth. Certainly it is a long-shot, but better than most.

Yet the Indians drew just 16,000 fans to Progressive Field in their 12-1 destruction of the Chicago White Sox. 16,000! This is nothing new for Cleveland, who have made playoff runs and near-playoff runs in recent years and played to sparse crowds.

So perhaps a free agent will have to ask himself: Do I want to go to a place where I will play in front of full and mostly-full stadiums and run the risk of being booed or go somewhere where no one bothers showing up?

I think this advantage will be Detroit…

Next: Still a desired destination?

Feb 18, 2014; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski during a team practice at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

2015 Issues

As we discussed in the first slide, the Detroit Tigers have had a ton of controversy this season and a bit from the season previous. Does the luster of the franchise being one of the most professional organizations in baseball still apply after this year?

Will this be a factor for players? Will they have this in the back of their mind while they listen to Al Avila’s pitch on why they should become a Detroit Tiger?

Probably not. Nonetheless, while this may not be fresh in free agents minds, it might be in their agents as they arrange visits and ratchet up mutual interest between teams and their clients.

Again as we said, money is the ultimate deciding factor, but if money is equal, the chance to win now may be the tie-breaker.

Are the Tigers a team that will still be considered a World Series contender in 2016 and beyond? It might have a lot to do with the other deals they are able to pull off this coming off season. This includes not only free agent shopping, but also trades they might be able to pull off.

So the Detroit Tigers will have several pros and cons this season, but perhaps they will not be as cut-and-dry in the pro column as they once were.

Next: 5 Tigers players that will not be back in 2016

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