Top Five Detroit Tiger Teams Over the Last Decade

The 2010s have fielded some championship-caliber Tiger clubs. We rank each team from the last decade in a two-part series

The Tigers have been through a whirlwind of changes in the 2010s. The first half of the decade was spent relentlessly pursuing wins and trying to get better; while the end of the 2010s was spent trying to win high draft positions. With any ranking, there is certain to be some discretion and subjection; but I will do my very best to explain my choices.

• Rosters will be evaluated by the talent level and overall value each player brought by the team that particular season. Playoffs are very unpredictable in that the best teams do not always win–I will take playoff results with a grain of salt in this ranking.
• Players which were acquired after the season started will be evaluated for the time they were with the club that season. After all, that is how the season really happened.
• Front offices and coaching staffs will not be taken into consideration, as their thumbprint is on the roster and player performance anyway.

Part One of the rankings can be found here. These are the top five clubs over the last decade:

5. 2016 Detroit Tigers – Quick hits: 86-75, 2nd in the AL Central, 40.3 team bWAR

• Rotation:
  • Justin Verlander
  • Michael Fulmer
  • Anibal Sanchez
  • Mike Pelfrey
  • Jordan Zimmermann/Matthew Boyd
• Lineup:
  • Ian Kinsler, 2B
  • Justin Upton, LF
  • Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  • Victor Martinez, DH
  • JD Martinez, RF
  • Nicholas Castellanos, 3B
  • James McCann, C
  • Jose Igleasias, SS
  • Cameron Maybin, CF
• Reserves:
  • Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
  • Andrew Romine, UTIL
  • Mike Aviles, OF
  • Tyler Collins, OF
• Bullpen:
  • Francisco Rodriguez, CL
  • Alex Wilson, SU
  • Justin Wilson, SU
  • Shane Greene, MR
  • Kyle Ryan, L
  • Mark Lowe, MR
  • Bruce Rondon, MR

This was the last-ditch effort made by ownership and GM Al Avila to compete and win a title. After selling at the trade deadline in 2015, Avila would make a flurry of moves in the off-season to re-stock the MLB club in an effort to make a run. The moves, however, were a mixed bag.

Francisco Rodriguez did a nice job in 2016 as the closer after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers during the off-season. Likewise, Justin Wilson, acquired from the Yankees, pitched to a 3.11 FIP in a set-up role. Mark Lowe was signed as a free agent as well–and it felt like Detroit was finally putting some resources toward the bullpen.

Lowe did not have nearly the season he did with Seattle, though, and would pitch to a 5.66 FIP and supply -1.0 bWAR in 2016 across 54 appearances. On the starter’s side, Detroit moved quickly on a head-scratcher in Mike Pelfrey, who the admitted right away was a ‘scout signing.’ Pelfrey would supply an underwhelming .2 bWAR on the first of a two-year deal he signed with the club.

Justin Upton would eventually find his footing, but his debut season with Detroit was slightly below expectations; as he would hit 31 home runs, but only supply 1.7 bWAR partially thanks to some subpar defense in left field.

All in all, some more consistent starting pitching would have allowed this team to make some noise in the AL Central. If the Tigers make the playoffs in 2016, it would be interesting to see where the team would have gone from there. Getting more innings out of Sanchez (-0.9 bWAR) and Pelfrey (0.2 bWAR) would have limited the exposure of bullpen arms like Mark Lowe, who was forced into 54 appearances despite lackluster performance throughout the year.

4. 2014 Detroit Tigers

• Rotation:
  • David Price
  • Justin Verlander
  • Max Scherzer
  • Anibal Sanchez/Drew Smyly
  • Rick Porcello
• Lineup:
  • Ian Kinsler, 2B
  • Torii Hunter, RF
  • Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  • Victor Martinez, DH
  • JD Martinez, LF
  • Nick Castellanos, 3B
  • Alex Avila, C
  • Andrew Romine, SS
  • Austin Jackson/Rajai Davis, CF
• Reserves:
  • Bryan Holaday, C
  • Don Kelly, UTIL
  • Eugenio Suarez, IF
• Bullpen:
  • Joe Nathan, CL
  • Joba Chamberlain, SU
  • Phil Coke, SU
  • Al Alburquerque, MR
  • Evan Reed, MR
  • Ian Krol, L
  • Blaine Hardy, LONG

Quick hits: 90-72 record, AL Central Champions, 43.8 team bWAR

GM Dave Dombrowski is always known for bold moves and the contrast between 2013 and 2014 is no different. The team needed to get leaner and younger, and a pair of moves would help facilitate both of those needs. The team would deal away Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers in November in exchange for second baseman Ian Kinsler, who was fresh off of a 5.0 bWAR campaign with the Rangers in 2013.

The move would effectively allow Miguel Cabrera to shift back over to his more appropriate first base stable and allow young top prospect, Nick Castellanos, to slide in at third base. The team would also claim outfielder JD Martinez off waivers from the Houston Astros; who would, in hindsight, replace the thump that Fielder brought with 23 home runs over 123 games.

Although tempting to move this team higher on the rankings, there are notable performances that cannot be ignored. First, remember that this is one of Verlander’s down years where he was dealing with the core muscle issue. Although he would pitch 200 innings, he would only pitch to an 85 ERA+ and .1 bWAR in 2014.

Also, recall that David Price was acquired mid-season this year, so this team had a period with Austin Jackson and Drew Smyly but no David Price and then another period with David Price but no Smyly or Jackson. The rotation was still solid as Price was able to supply 1.7 bWAR over his 11 starts with the club, but the team would also be without Anibal Sanchez for a period due to injury and would ultimately pitch him out of the bullpen in the 2014 ALDS against the Orioles; a move in which manager Brad Ausmus was highly criticized for in his debut season as manager.

3. 2011 Detroit Tigers

• Rotation:
  • Justin Verlander
  • Max Scherzer
  • Rick Porcello
  • Brad Penny
  • Phil Coke/Doug Fister
• Lineup:
  • Austin Jackson, CF
  • Ryan Raburn, 2B
  • Victor Martinez, DH
  • Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  • Magglio Ordonez, RF
  • Brennan Boesch, LF
  • Jhonny Peralta, SS
  • Alex Avila, C
  • Brandon Inge, 3B
• Reserves:
  • Ramon Santiago, IF
  • Don Kelly, UTIL
  • Delmon Young, OF
  • Andy Dirks, OF
•  Bullpen:
  • Jose Valverde, CL
  • Joaquin Benoit, SU
  • Daniel Schlereth, L/SU
  • Ryan Perry, MR
  • Al Alburquerque, MR
  • Charlie Furbush, L
  • Duane Below, LONG

Quick hits: 95-67 record, AL Central champions, ALDS champions, 41.8 team bWAR

It was pretty impressive how GM Dave Dombrowski was able to improve the team year after year from 2011-2013; each year making upgrades; subtle or otherwise. There were a couple of moving parts this season. The Tigers had been starting Phil Coke to begin the season before swinging a trade before the deadline to acquire Doug Fister from Seattle; which sent away up-and-down outfielder Casper Wells and reliever Charlie Furbush. Coke would then naturally slide into Furbush’s spot in the bullpen and Fister would provide an added punch into the rotation.

Fister greatly helped the starting five; but prior to that, the rotation was not as established as it appears on paper. Max Scherzer was still figuring things out in the majors and would only produce 1.4 bWAR in 2011. Likewise, Porcello was still just 22 years old and would produce .3 bWAR. Brad Penny, while giving innings, was perhaps the biggest head-scratcher move from the start and would be the worst pitcher for Detroit in 2011 by producing a -1.1 bWAR.

The team would get knocked out of the playoffs in the ALCS by the heavy-hitting Texas Rangers; who featured power bats Mike Napoli, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz.

2. 2012 Detroit Tigers

• Rotation:
  • Justin Verlander
  • Max Scherzer
  • Doug Fister
  • Rick Porcello
  • Drew Smyly/Anibal Sanchez
• Lineup:
  • Austin Jackson, CF
  • Omar Infante, 2B
  • Miguel Cabrera, 3B
  • Prince Fielder, 1B
  • Delmon Young, DH
  • Brennan Boesch, RF
  • Jhonny Peralta, SS
  • Andy Dirks, LF
  • Alex Avila, C
• Reserves:
  • Quintin Berry, OF
  • Don Kelly, UTIL
  • Ramon Santiago, IF
  • Gerald Laird, C
• Bullpen:
  • Jose Valverde, CL
  • Joaquin Benoit, SU
  • Octavio Dotel, SU
  • Bryan Villarreal, MR
  • Phil Coke, L
  • Darin Downs, MR
  • Duane Below, LONG

Quick Hits: 88-74 record, AL Central champions, ALDS champions, ALCS champions, 42.9 team bWAR

In a year in which the Tigers would finish 11th in the league in wins, they would ironically go as far as they would in any season during this decade; getting swept by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. The team was very similar to the 2013 squad with a couple of notable differences The club was still using Brennan Boesch and Quintin Berry as right fielders at this point, which would be swapped out for veteran Torii Hunter a year later.

Meanwhile, the club had also found a replacement for the injured Victor Martinez; inserting Delmon Young into the DH slot. Both of these positions were downgrades by virtually every metric in 2012 compared to the 2013 squad; and although the rotation is very similar between years, it was a bit more top-heavy in terms of performance.

Justin Verlander would post an 8.1 bWAR season as a starter in 2012; the year after winning both the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP. The rest of the rotation, while solid, did not compare to the 2013 results. The bullpen was also not as strong; with no arm reaching beyond 1.3 bWAR in 2012.

1. 2013 Detroit Tigers

• Rotation: 
  • Justin Verlander
  • Max Scherzer
  • Doug Fister
  • Anibal Sanchez
  • Rick Porcello
• Lineup:
  • Austin Jackson, CF
  • Torii Hunter, RF
  • Miguel Cabrera, 3B
  • Prince Fielder, 1B
  • Victor Martinez, DH
  • Jhonny Peralta, SS
  • Alex Avila, C
  • Andy Dirks, LF
  • Omar Infante, 2B
• Reserves:
  • Don Kelly, UTIL
  • Bryan Pena, C
  • Ramon Santiago, IF
  • Matt Tuiasosopo, OF
• Bullpen:
  • Joaquin Benoit, CL
  • Drew Smyly, SU
  • Al Alburquerque, SU
  • Phil Coke, L
  • Luke Putkonen, MR
  • Bruce Rondon, MR
  • Jose Alvarez, LONG

Quick hits: 93-69 record, AL Central champions, ALDS champions, team bWAR 53.5

This Detroit Tigers squad was one of the more well-rounded clubs of the last decade. Fate, or God, or luck, or whatever you believe in, however, seemed to be on the Red Sox’ side in the ALCS. The slew of unfortunate events during this playoff series overshadows just how good this team was–Mike Napoli’s Game 3 home run on pitch 100 from Justin Verlander in a 0-0 game, Prince Fielder’s infamous flop in Game 6, or David Ortiz’s Game 2 grand slam that sent Torii Hunter into the bullpen beyond right field are a few moments that continue to haunt Tiger fans to this day and put a sour finish to an otherwise dominate season.

Make no mistake, though: this team was legit. Rick Porcello put up 2.3 bWAR in 2013 as their *worst* starting pitcher; while Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez both posted north of 6 (!) bWAR in the 2013 season. The bullpen never set the world on fire, but Detroit had two players, Joaquin Benoit and Drew Smyly, who both posted north of 2 bWAR out of the pen.

Offensively, stats backed up how formidable the lineup appears on paper. The team would finish 1st in the MLB in team batting average, 2nd in run-scoring, and 2nd in on-base percentage. Notably, Miguel Cabrera would post a season nearly identical to his Triple Crown campaign the year before; hitting .348 with 44 home runs and 137 RBI.

The defense was certainly not a strong suit of this club and has never been a characteristic of any Tiger club over the past decade regardless of the team’s competitiveness. This team performed at replacement level outside of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, but I think Tiger fans can agree that the team is much better with both on the field.

This team did not make it the farthest over the last decade, but they certainly had the best overall club.