Detroit Tigers: Assessing whether team can contend in next two seasons

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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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 21: Ian Kinsler #3 of the Detroit Tigers gets out of the way as teammate Jose Iglesias #1 as he throws to first base to get out Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning of the game on July 21, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Tigers defeated the Twins 6-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The reality of the situation

In a perfect world, the Detroit Tigers would be able to play meaningful baseball into July or August next season.

However, that is a perfect world scenario as it is and might be unlikely if some of 2017’s trends repeat themselves.

If Cabrera continues to struggle at the dish, Boyd, Norris and Zimmermann all go through lengthy spells of inconsistency and the bullpen fails to make progress, the team will once again be sunk in the standings.

However, if Detroit can hit on some veteran free agent signings and make some progress across the board, they could eventually build themselves into a surprise Wild Card contender by 2019.

By that point, Franklin Perez, Christin Stewart, Grayson Long, Mike Gerber, Beau Burrows, Garcia and Dawel Lugo should be integrated into the team with the likes of Daz Cameron, Kyle Funkhouser, Sandy Baez and Jake Rogers closer to the Majors.

In conclusion

Baseball is a fickle sport and the standings often fluctuate from season to season. Just look at the Twins.

Minnesota has rattled off win totals of 70, 83, 59 and 85 in the past four seasons.

While the Detroit Tigers seem set for another year (or possibly two) of rebuilding, a lot can happen in two years around the league.

A pennant, or even a playoff berth may too far out of reach in the next two years.

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However, the Tigers have the potential to lay the groundwork for a team that could bring a World Series trophy back to the Motor City in the following years.