Detroit Tigers: The Winter Meetings are here and what you should expect

Here at The Corner, we round up Detroit Tigers news and rumors around the Tigers blogosphere so that you don’t spend hours surfing the web searching.

The Detroit Tigers GM Al Avila has joined other MLB executives in Las Vegas for the yearly Winter Meetings.  MLB.com has a list of each team’s needs heading into the Winter Meetings. The Tigers top priority seems to be the infield, and Jason Beck writes that Avila aims to make the team younger and more efficient.

Chris McCoskey, of the Detroit News, writes that the Tigers will shop the bargain bin for free agents to fill their existing holes.  McCoskey notes that Avila wants to follow the Brewers model of rebuilding. It’s generally the same model which the Astro’s and Cubs used. If the Tigers successfully followed it they’d be competing again by as early as 2020.

The biggest hole which the team will need to fill is at shortstop. The team isn’t searching for a long-term option. They’re looking for a one-year veteran to fill a temporary void.  Anthony Fenech, of the Detroit Free Press, has five options for the Tigers to pursue during the Winter Meetings. With the Tigers looking for a one-year deal they probably won’t get the best deal possible. Most of the available free agents are probably looking for a multi-year deal.

The Detroit Tigers also have the fifth pick in the Rule 5 Draft. Beat writer Anthony Fenech has five prospects who you should keep an eye on. In last year’s draft, the Tigers selected Victor Reyes who ended up making the Tigers Opening Day Roster.

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Franklin Perez had a disappointing 2018. He missed most of the season due to injury. First with a lat injury than he was shut down for the season in late July. Chris McCoskey, of the Detroit News, writes that Perez is looking forward to putting last season behind him.  Finally, pitching prospect Alex Faedo is left-handed in everything but pitching according to Tony Paul of the Detroit News.