Detroit Tigers: Breaking down and reconstructing for next year

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Apr 20, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA;Detroit Tigers third baseman Nicholas Castellanos (9) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Tigers are having a rough season to this point. They cannot seem to find the right element to right the ship. There are serious questions at this point about if they can get back to winning.

Detroit Tigers front office has been vocal about selling anyone they can if the situation calls for it, but what would that leave behind?

General manager Al Avila was recently quoted as saying the following in a recent MLive article:

“I’ve got to keep all options open. If there is any interest out there, I have to open myself up to being flexible and listen to what might come our way.”

There are certain players who shouldn’t be moved, in recent articles I made the case to keep Nicholas Castellanos (can be read here) and Dixon Machado (can be read here).

Then you look at some players whose age and contract make them nearly impossible to deal away, such as Justin Verlander, Victor Martinez, and Miguel Cabrera.

Detroit Tigers clearance sale or 2017 is starting to get very sparse in nature.

It is tough to imagine anyone would touch the pitching staff as it stands right now, except for Michael Fulmer but they won’t offer him at all.

For the sake of the article though we will say the highly improbable happened, Jordan Zimmermann was dealt.

Add in if J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Alex Avila and Justin Wilson all got dealt as well. What a change, huh?

Obviously only one, maybe two, would be dealt. And there would be compensation in the form of players to fill out uniforms for the Detroit Tigers.

Since I cannot predict who those player would be, I want to predict a starting lineup without those players, and filled out from within the organization.

Jun 23, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer (32) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Starting Pitchers

Fulmer, Verlander, Daniel Norris, Warwick Saupold, Chad Bell

That is my five. The first three are pretty standard. Fulmer is the ace, Verlander following, and a progressing Norris as a strong number three.

These are the only guys I would honestly call a lock to be in the rotation next year.

Even with Verlander showing age he will still be a competitor next season and that is what the Detroit Tigers will need.

Even if he gets outshined by the rest of the staff, he should start game two to open the season.

Saupold has been impressive in his starts in Triple A and has been good out of the bullpen this season.

To be more specific, Saupold has a 2.90 ERA in seven starts at the Triple A level. He carries a 2.75 ERA through eleven appearances for the Detroit Tigers.

He has absolutely earned the chance to break into the starting rotation.

Bell has been extremely impressive in the long relief role. In seven appearances he has logged 18.1 innings with a 2.45 ERA.

Out of any bullpen arm in 2017, Bell has been the most reliable and surprising. He should have no problem proving his worth as a starter.

He will soon take over a rotation spot and not let go.

Apr 19, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Wilson (30) during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Bullpen

Long Relief: Shane Greene

Middle Relief: Buck Farmer, Arcenio Leon, Daniel Stumpf

Closer: Joe Jimenez

There are several parts to a bullpen, but here is where I see it standing based on who the Detroit Tigers have already in their system.

Obviously, a bullpen is full of constantly moving parts. But in a general sense, here is what I see.

Greene has been impressive, but has failed in a starting role in recent years. He has been exceedingly good since the move to reliever so there he shall stay.

Leon and Stumpf have struggled in their appearances this year without a doubt. But the team likes them and they will continue to grow into solid arms. The experience from this year will go a long way.

Making the move from starter is Farmer. He has a lot wrong with him to be a starter. But his fastball approach to hitters will work in a middle relief role.

The setup role is pretty similar. Even with one Wilson Brother gone, the other stays put.

The closer is the fun part. Jiménez is a great prospect and he is projected to be the next best closer. So with no Justin Wilson, Jiménez gets his shot.

Jun 17, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a home run in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Designated Hitter: Miguel Cabrera

Miggy makes the move out of the Detroit Tigers infield. His progressing age makes him better in this role. Plus it opens up the infield for flexibility.

Right now, V-Mart is here. He will eventually drop off to become first off the bench to pinch hit.

While Martinez can still be productive, he can’t stop father time. There is almost no chance he will be able to beat out Miggy.

This does net set Cabrera as the only DH during the year, nor does it rule out the occasional start at first. But it does mean he shold get most of the nods in this role.

Even if he is not the hitter of old, he is still producing with runners on base this year and that is key to the lineup.

Whoever is the manager next year, be it Brad Ausmus or his replacement, needs to consider this move.

When that happens, then the team will let Cabrera focus solely on hitting. Which will help the team in the long run.

The hitting ability that Cabrera has makes him a very tough batter if his sole purpose is hitting the baseball.

Jun 19, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) catches a popfly against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Infield

Catcher: James McCann,

First Base: Nicholas Castellanos

Second Base: Dixon Machado

Third Base: Argenis Diaz

Shortstop: José Iglesias

Going through this, Iglesias and McCann are pretty straight forward. They stay put, McCann even gets more playing time.

As I mentioned in my article making a case for Castellanos, first base will make him more comfortable in the field. Thus raising his fielding percentage.

I say this because Castellanos will make the tough plays but boot routine grounders. That means the glove is there, it is just all in his head.

Again I plead for Machado to see time in the Detroit Tigers infield. He will be a valuable asset in future success. He has shown hitting talent and fielding ability.

All Machado needs is more time in the Detroit Tigers lineup to develop into at least a serviceable player. But I see him blossoming into a star.

Diaz is not a well known name. But he has started all over the infield in Toledo, with twenty games at third base.

With Castellanos at first, someone needs to take over third and Diaz is the guy.

He is hitting .276 in Triple-A. He will be a contact hitter, considering he has one home run on the year. But it will be a solid bat at the end of the lineup.

Jun 9, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Mikie Mahtook (15) fields a ball during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Outfield

Left Field: Mike Mathook

Center Field: Andrew Romine

Right Field: John Hicks

In a rebuilding phase this is a fairly weak outfield. Romine and Mathook are both having good enough years to be starters next year in this this theoretical and impossible scenario.

But Hicks may seem like a stretch in right. I disagree with that, I think it is a good fit.

He has played a few games out there in Triple-A. Because of his natural position of catcher he will have the arm to play there.

But mostly he is out there because of his bat. He could play first and shift Castellanos out there, but Hicks has more experience.

With his bat though, creativity will be key. He needs to be in the lineup somewhere.

It may seem crazy to try and use Hicks in the outfield just for his bat, but he is too good of a hitter not to. Even if he proves to be a liability with the leather it is worth it for the offensive production.

Disclaimer

This is a very highly improbable, nearly impossible, and completely theoretical scenario.

The Detroit Tigers will not need to rebuild this much. And they will look externally to make moves as well. That just cannot be predicted.

In doing this exercise it exposes the future from what the Detroit Tigers are grooming in their farm system, and off of their bench.

Next: It's true, the Tigers have pieces to trade some veterans, still contend.

What actually happens will be fun to watch. I have no doubt that hey will be sellers, but the question is who gets sold?

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