FanSided

The 2014 Detroit Tigers: Where are they now?

By Danielle Obal |
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: Don Kelly #32 (L) of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo with teammates (L-R) Max Scherzer #37, Miguel Cabrera #24 and Torii Hunter #48 after giving them an assortment of 2013 season awards. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: Don Kelly #32 (L) of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo with teammates (L-R) Max Scherzer #37, Miguel Cabrera #24 and Torii Hunter #48 after giving them an assortment of 2013 season awards. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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It was a balmy evening on Aug. 13, 2014 at Comerica Park as the Detroit Tigers battled the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Brad Ausmus signals to the bullpen and Joe Nathan is called to the bump. Nathan faced four batters, lobbed 20 pitches, earned two walks, and poetically flipped off  Detroit Tigers fans all in the span of one inning pitched.

Family-friendly baseball, am I right?

It’s easy to get caught up in the past and be nostalgic about your favorite teams and some of the more “distinguished” moments such as the one I just described.

The good, the bad, and in the words of Los Angeles Dodger Max Scherzer “Man, how did we not win a World Series while we were here?”

Graceful gestures aside, 2014 is one of those seasons in Tigers history that fits in with the latter. This team, in particular, was nothing short of elite, with players going on to win Cy Young awards, Triple Crown, and MVP titles, and some are, no doubt, future Hall of Famers.

I’ve selected a handful of fan favorites and reviewed their stats on Baseball-Reference and it’s almost laughable the depth and amount of talent the Detroit Tigers had in years prior and in 2014 specifically.

But where are they now?

ST LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 24: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on August 24, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 24: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after hitting a solo home run during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on August 24, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers infield

Alex Avila
Washington Nationals

Alex Avila, son of General Manager Al Avila, spent eight seasons with the Tigers. Between the time he called Detroit home, and the time his father traded him before Thanksgiving dinner, Avila earned a trip to the All-Star game and a Silver Slugger award in 2011. During his tenure with the Tigers, Avila had a career slash line of .245/.350/.404 and now plays for the Washington Nationals with a meager .187/.357/.347.

Miguel Cabrera
Detroit Tigers

Before he was Hall of Fame lock Miggy, Miguel Cabrera was a World Series winner when he played with the Florida Marlins in 2003. As we’re all aware, Cabrera has dominated the game of baseball ever since, luckily mostly accomplished in a Tigers uniform. Since being picked up by the Tigers in 2008, Cabrera hit the career milestone of  500 home runs and is well on course to 3,000 hits. He’s a 2x MVP, 11x All-Star, 7x Silver Slugger, and a Triple Crown winner. In 2014, Miggy hit .313/.371/.524 as opposed to a slower-paced .263/.326./.402 this year. We have been witness to a legend in the making.

Ian Kinsler
Retired

Where do I begin? Probably when Ian Kinsler tossed up the “binoculars” when Chris Sale accused the Tigers of stealing signs and simultaneously stealing our hearts. A 4x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove winner, and 2018 World Series winner, Kinsler is a true (and literal) “rub some dirt on it,” type of ballplayer. Batting .275/.307/.420, Kinsler knocked 17 home runs and 92 RBI in 2014, ending his career averaging .269/.337/.440. Recently, Kinsler joined the men’s Israeli baseball team at the Tokyo Olympics and continues his work with Warstic.

Nicholas Castellanos
Cincinnati Reds

Nicholas, formerly “Nick,” Castellanos struggled at times with the Tigers, particularly during his stand-in right field. At just 22 years of age, Castellanos had a slash line of .259/.306/.394 in 2014. The Reds All-Star quickly found his groove and there’s a drive deep into left field by Castellanos and that’ll be a home run. Meme aside, Castellanos has matured at the plate batting .315/.370./.574 with 28 home runs on the year. And still interrupts with them at the strangest times.

CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 7: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after popping out to first to end the top of the ninth inning at Progressive Field on July 7, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers 11-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 7: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Detroit Tigers reacts after popping out to first to end the top of the ninth inning at Progressive Field on July 7, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers 11-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers DH and outfield

J.D. Martinez
Boston Red Sox

Just typing out J.D.’s name hurt my soul and it’s still probably one of the more difficult dealings I’ve witnessed as a Tigers fan. With 23 home runs and 76 RBI and an OPS of .912, Martinez had some of the better Tigers batting stats in 2014. He’s a 4x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, 2018 World Series winner,

and still dominates in a Red Sox uniform with 25 home runs on the year.

Victor Martinez
Retired

Although plagued with knee injuries, Victor Martinez had the best numbers during the 2014 season: .335/.409/.565 and a remarkable OPS of .974. With both Miggy and V-Mart in the batting order, there was never a shortage of astonishing skill on display. The 5x All-Star and 2x Silver Slugger ended his career in Detroit with .295/.360./.455 and then went on to fulfill his other dream of becoming a cattle farmer.

Don Kelly
Pittsburgh Pirates, Bench Coach

I saved the best of the batters for last: utility man, Don Kelly, baby. When writing my notes for each individual player, the highlighted point for Kelly was “pure joy.” With a career .230/.294/.334, Kelly went on to resume his baseball career as a bench coach for the Pirates. He may not have been number one in batting stats, but he’ll always be number one in our hearts. They can’t stop Don Kelly.

If I haven’t already made you cry thus far, well, I haven’t taken a crack at pitchers yet. Have your tissues at the ready.

BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 02: Max Scherzer #37 of the Detroit Tigers throws a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during Game One of the American League Division Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on October 2, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 02: Max Scherzer #37 of the Detroit Tigers throws a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during Game One of the American League Division Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on October 2, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers Pitchers

Justin Verlander
Houston Astros

We all know what I think about Justin Verlander, who is signed with the Astros but will be a free agent in 2022. Over his sixteen-year career, Verlander has struck out 3013 batters, has a 3.33 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and has a lengthy scroll of accomplishments ranging from MVP, 2x Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, 8x All-Star, 2017 World Series winner, and ALCS MVP. Not to mention, he’s tossed three no-hitters, two of which were against the Toronto Blue Jays. He is the best of the best, no questions asked.

Rick Porcello
Unsigned Free Agent

I’ve had conversations with a few people where we often sit and wonder, “whatever happened to Rick Porcello?” Original Tigers Twitter knows we were blessed with the “Mundane Porcello” Twitter account, but 2014 was one of Porcello’s better years as he ended the season with a 3.43 ERA in 32 games pitched, tallying three shutouts. Post-Tigers, Porcello won a World Series in 2018 with the Red Sox alongside Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez, and David Price and went on to secure a Cy Young title. Kate Upton would like to have words.

Robbie Ray
Toronto Blue Jays

Robbie Ray obviously picked up some of the habits of Verlander, because the man walks up to the mound in a Blue Jays jersey with his pants painted on. The main difference between now and 2014 is that Ray put up an 8.16 ERA in nine mound appearances, whereas he’s been shutting batters down in 2021. Currently, Ray has a 2.69 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and is making it an interesting race for AL Cy Young candidate.

David Price
Los Angeles Dodgers

David Price is an important piece of Tigers history for a few reasons, but one that stands out is when the Tigers acquired him in a three-man trade, sending Drew Smyly and Willy Adames to the Tampa Bay Rays and Austin Jackson to Seattle. Bolstering the rotation, Price ended 2014 with a 3.59 ERA and was offered up as a trade piece to the Toronto Blue Jays to acquire Matthew Boyd and Daniel Norris. Price joined fellow teammates Kinsler, Martinez, and Porcello to win the World Series in 2018.

Hang onto your hats, kids.

Max Scherzer
Los Angeles Dodgers

I will go on record in saying that Mad Max is my all-time favorite baseball player. A 3x Cy Young winner, 8x All-Star, and 2019 World Series champion, Scherzer is a bulldog on the mound mowing players down with ease. He has a career of 3003 strikeouts, 2.17 ERA on the season, and is in line to secure the NL Cy Young with the stellar year he has had.

That’s where many of the notable 2014 Tigers have ended up, but let me put one thing into perspective for you. Of the starting pitching rotation, Verlander was the “worst” one tallying a 4.54 ERA on the season, with Scherzer coming out on top at 3.15.

I have one thing left to say.

How the heck did we not win a World Series title with this star-studded lineup?

What it truly comes down to is that we have been truly fortunate to witness baseball greats play for the Detroit Tigers.

Bless you, boys.

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