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

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