Detroit Tigers: Way too early 2022 roster predictions

The Detroit Tigers are winding down the 2021 season and it has been a reasonably enjoyable ride. However, the looming off-season is setting itself up to have some definite roster madness if they start to pursue marquee upgrades to contend in 2022.

The possibilities are widespread. Fans and columnists have been speculating about the Detroit Tigers making a huge splash for an elite shortstop in this year’s market for well over a year.

A.J. Hinch has been stoking speculation with quotes seemingly targeted toward free agents about the bar being raised in Detroit and now is the time to hop on.

Chris Ilitch has mentioned more than once he’d be ready to be aggressive when the time is right. If not now…when? We’ll see if the “fire inside to compete” he touted himself as having is for real or just the rumblings of a bad food truck decision.

Justin Verlander and his brother Ben have talked about a Tigers reunion at various times. As exciting as that prospect is…does it make sense?

The new CBA is going to be fought over this winter as well…what kind of monkey wrench does that throw into the mix? Will it give owners the excuse not to spend? Right now, we don’t know. I do suspect “service time manipulation” will get addressed with some satisfaction landing on the side of the union. This could get Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson to Detroit soon.

Let’s get crazy with this Detroit Tigers roster

This exercise will be strictly about what your kind and friendly author would do. This isn’t what Chris Ilitch will do. It’s not what Al Avila will tell you it’s what he wanted even though we may suspect Hinch is calling the shots.

Here’s how I see it. The Tigers offense is in need of a fair amount of help. They scored a lot of runs in June and July but there was some mirage factor involved. I coined the offense that was struggling in April as “The 2-Run Machine”. They were reliable for two runs a night. That disappeared for a while. However, it’s reappeared in late August with the club currently having scored 2 runs or less at the end of nine innings in 12 of its last 15 games. (Twice in Toronto they were able to add runs in extra innings with help of the ghost runner rule)

The lineup is in desperate need of depth. Jeimer Candelario is a fine player but one gets the sense he should be batting 6th or 7th on a good team instead of 3rd or 5th where he currently works.

This bit of roster speculation will also attempt to stay fiscally sane. Mike Ilitch isn’t rising up from the grave to order a leap toward luxury tax territory. We’ll stay within reason.

At the same time, this organization should comfortably be able to add $60M in payroll to push toward $140M to $150M. I refuse to allow this organization to make an excuse for being over $40M under the league average payroll or having a payroll slightly less than the Oakland A’s. Brad Pitt isn’t playing Al Avila in this movie.

The Tigers just don’t have a ton of trade depth from this view. It’s hard to see anyone the Tigers don’t consider part of the young core having real trade value. Michael Fulmer, Matthew Boyd, Robbie Grossman, and a few others aren’t bringing back a whole lot at this stage.

It really does seem like free agent investments are the way to go at this point while the organization does build depth it can deal off for big league help.

It would be great to work out a deal for Arizona’s Ketel Marte, for instance,  but such a deal likely means parting with Tarik Skubal, Dillon Dingler, and others. They might even want Riley Greene. Trading for Marte would sting because of what would need to be offered up, no doubt. Probably not what the Tigers are looking to do.

Will there be a small swap or two by Avila? Most likely. But it’s hard to see a blockbuster looming. Tampa Bay is always looking to shed some money and/or create roster space. Taylor Walls and Brandon Lowe would be interesting targets…but again Detroit’s ammo is limited. If a deal for either is out there for either it could be worth pursuing.

Detroit Tigers Free Agent Adds

Marcus Semien SS/2B

Semien will cost some real money but he won’t cost “Carlos Correa money”. Locking up an up-the-middle player who had an 8 bWAR year in 2019 and a good shot at a 7 WAR year in ‘21 would be a huge addition. 4-years/$90M with a fifth-year club option that can vest if Semien performs well should get the 31-yr old Semien on board.

Starling Marte CF

Marte is completing a fine season once again, this time in an Oakland A’s uniform. He’s currently on a stolen base binge and sporting a .400 OBP. His legs are obviously still good at age 32. His presence in the lineup would be immense. 4-yr/$72M

Justin Verlander SP

Just read this…but skip the part about the Cards playing in the ‘35 World Series. Hey…it was late when I wrote it.

Get creative on the deal. Defer some money to later years. Give Verlander an opt-out after the second year. Get a club option after year three. Load it up with incentives Verlander can strive to reach. Get it done. The man will compete and his riding ride will lift all boats.

3-yr/$54M with incentives everywhere.

Collin McHugh RP

McHugh is having a big comeback season in Tampa. Shutting everyone down. We know Tampa will likely try to create the next McHugh instead of paying him because that’s what Tampa does. Detroit should be able to get McHugh for 2-yr/$7M after he made $1.8M this year.