Detroit Tigers: Projecting Long-Term Replacements for Veterans Part 2

Detroit Tigers rosters have generally consisted of veteran players in years past. However, the team will eventually need to get younger. Here are some long-term replacements for some of Detroit’s veterans.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen plenty of impact veterans over the years.

From the likes of Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Ivan Rodriguez to Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, these vets have been key in Detroit’s decade-long run as a contending team.

While the likes of Cabrera, Verlander, J.D. Martinez and Ian Kinsler will once again help the Tigers make another push for the World Series, the team will eventually become younger.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that a rebuild is coming.

Anibal Sanchez (32), Mike Pelfrey (33) and Mark Lowe (33) could all potentially hit free agency after the coming season.

Simply by letting those players reach the open market, Detroit—by definition—will get younger.

With Cabrera and Verlander showing no signs of slowing down, the Tigers won’t have to worry about finding a new offensive catalyst or ace any time soon.

However, there are other veterans on the roster who could conceivably move on.

Detroit gotten better about integrating young talent over the past few years. Some of that talent will be tasked with replacing veteran performers.

Here is a look at some long-term replacements for some of the Detroit Tigers’ veteran players.

Francisco Rodriguez
Age: 35
Position: Closer
Contract Expires Following the 2017 Season

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila made a number of shrewd trades early in his tenure in charge.

While bringing in Cameron Maybin and Justin Wilson proved to be excellent acquisitions, Avila’s best work came in a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Tigers flipped infield prospect Javier Betancourt and a player to be named later, which later turned out to be catcher Manny Pina, to the Brew Crew for closer Francisco Rodriguez.

Betancourt showed promise, but was blocked by Jose Iglesias, Ian Kinsler and Dixon Machado in Detroit. Meanwhile, Pina joined the organization in 2014, and mainly served as a depth piece in Triple-A.

Rodriguez meanwhile, solidified the back end of Detroit’s bullpen.

The veteran notched 44 saves while finishing 55 games. What’s more, he allowed just six home runs and 21 walks while striking out 52 in 58.1 frames.

Potential Long-Term Replacement: Joe Jimenez

This may be the easiest fit in terms of an ideal successor.

Jimenez has done nothing but dominate in his time as a minor league pitcher. The right-hander owns a sparkling 1.59 ERA and 13 strikeouts per nine innings.

All told, the prospect struck 204 of the 543 batters he’s faced.

While the strikeouts obviously catch the eye, Jimenez also limits mistakes. He allowed 4.4 hits, 0.2 home runs and 2.9 walks per nine innings.

In fact, the reliever has allowed just four home runs and 40 walks total in his lifetime as a professional pitcher.

Andrew Romine
Age: 30
Position: Utility Player
Contract Expires Following the 2019 Season

After primarily spending his first two seasons in a Detroit Tigers uniform as a utility infielder, Andrew Romine added outfielder to his resume in 2016.

The former Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim saw action at all three outfield spots while continuing to fill in across the infield.

On offense, Romine posted a .626 OPS to go along with 21 runs scored, eight stolen bases and five doubles. The veteran set career highs in triples (two) and RBI (16) while also tying his previous career-best in home runs (two).

The bench cog also chipped in with a 1.8 BsR, a wRC+ of 71 and a 0.6 WAR.

Potential Long-Term Replacements: Dixon Machado, Dominic Ficociello or Jason Krizan

Utility players like Romine don’t come along too often, so Detroit could have trouble finding a like-for-like replacement.

If both shortstop and second base remain blocked, Dixon Machado could be a fit.

Like Romine he’s a solid defender, however Machado has only played the middle infield positions at this point.

Dominic Ficociello, who has seen time at first base, second base and third base, as well as left field, could develop into a utility player.

Rounding out the list is Krizan, who enjoyed an encouraging Triple-A debut in 2016.

Over the course of 32 games, the 26-year-old hit .310 with a .769 OPS. He also chipped in with 12 runs scored, 10 RBI, seven doubles and a home run.

Next: Long-Term Replacements for Victor, J.D. and Ian

Defensively, the former eighth-round draft pick has logged innings across the outfield and at both first and second base.