Detroit Tigers: Predicting 2020 Opening Day roster

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 15: Mikie Mahtook #15 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers, Ian Kinsler #3 of the Detroit Tigers, Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers and Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Detroit Tigers after hitting a walk-off single in the ninth inning to drive in Candelario and defeat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 at Comerica Park on September 15, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 24: Michael Fulmer #32 of the Detroit Tigers throws a first inning pitch while playing the New York Yankees at Comerica Park on August 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Starting pitchers: Michael Fulmer, Franklin Perez, Matthew Boyd, Grayson Long and Daniel Norris

In a perfect world, the Detroit Tigers will be able to parlay Jordan Zimmermann’s contract into a prospect at some point in the coming seasons.

In that same perfect world, the veteran would turn things around before a trade.

It should be noted that, per Spotrac, the veteran has a full no-trade clause through 2018 and a limited no-trade clause in 2019 and 2020.

In that regard, a trade is easier said than done.

Should Zimmermann be dealt or Norris fail to stick in the rotation, the Tigers should have a number of prospects close to graduating from the minors by the 2020 campaign.

These include Kyle Funkhouser, Beau Burrows, Sandy Baez, Tyler Alexander, Gregory Soto and Matt Hall.

Additionally, Matt Manning and Alex Faedo shouldn’t be far from the Majors by the time 2020 rolls around.

It’s also possible that some of those pitchers could make their way to the bullpen on a temporary basis if the rotation is full.

All told though, it’s not hard to get excited about a rotation headlined by Fulmer and Perez.

This rotation has playoff potential if everything clicks, especially if Manning and Faedo make some kind of an impact.