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.

Mark Lowe
Age: 33
Position: Relief Pitcher
Contract Expires Following the 2017 Season

Brought in with Rodriguez and Justin Wilson to help the back end of the bullpen, Lowe struggled in his first campaign in the Motor City.

Over the span of 49.1 frames, the veteran right-hander turned in an ERA of 7.11.

While his 5.66 FIP and 4.07 SIERA suggest he was much better than his sky-high ERA would suggest, Lowe wasn’t the same reliever who logged a 1.00 ERA in the first half of 2015 with Seattle.

There’s hope for a rebound next year, as Lowe posted a 2.95 ERA over his final 21.1 innings.

Potential Long-Term Replacement: TBD

While Rodriguez has a defined role, therefore making it easier to tab a replacement, Lowe doesn’t.

After losing his gig as a setup reliever, the longtime Mariner didn’t have role in the bullpen for much of the season—often pitching in blowouts.

Should Lowe begin to pitch late in games again during the 2017 season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see one of the team’s young power relief prospects.

Adam Ravenelle, Paul Voelker and Drew Smith all fit the bill as hard-throwing relievers who could eventually serve as setup men.