Detroit Tigers: “Spooky” Offseason Scenarios To Avoid

Happy Halloween Detroit Tigers fans!

In the spirit of the holiday let’s take a look at some of the scariest possible outcomes that could affect the Detroit Tigers this offseason…

The Detroit Tigers don’t land the big free-agent shortstop

Tiger fans have been buzzing about the possibility of landing a big fish, ala Jaws, after general manager, Al Avila said the team is planning for a “big push” in 2022.

Avila also made it clear that the organization wasn’t going to spend like a “drunken sailor.” Does he mean this drunken sailor?

In the spirit of the 1975 horror classic about the shark that terrorizes Amity Island, fans are collectively stating, “You’re gonna need a bigger (budget).”

The big-name floating around the club with his fin above water has been the current Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. Whether it’s Correa, or Trevor Story, or even Marcus Semien, it’ll be considered a blockbuster hit by the fanbase.

If none of those free agents put pen to paper for Detroit, and the shortstop position is a question mark on the roster heading into spring training, fans will be treating this offseason like it was Jaws 4.

The team trades one of its high profile prospects

High draft picks in recent years and pretty solid selections in mid-to-later rounds by Avila and his scouting team have given the fanbase some young superstars that could be foundations of Motown cats for years to come.

Well, if team ownership comes in (with a hockey mask on, perhaps), ready to slash the minors to improve the majors via trades, it would be like the young teens of a certain franchise getting discarded one by one.

It’s nerve-wracking to think management may overreact trying to improve the team after, let’s say missing out on the aforementioned big fish, by trading Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, Dillon Dingler, or one of the other up-and-coming superstars. That would be equivalent to a Tigers fan’s worst nightmare coming to life. 

An offseason injury derails a key player

I remember I was walking the streets of New York City on a brisk February day in 2015 when I innocently picked up my phone unaware of the horrifying events that were about to play out. It wasn’t quite the same as what happened to Casey Becker, but equally shocking was the news of Victor Martinez’s knee injury.

No one saw that twist coming.

This kind of news happens once in a blue moon and has you howling in pain at the uncertainty and randomness of it all. Ok, maybe that last one was a stretch – literally if you watched the clip – but ever since that February day, I’ll never let bad news sneak up on me again. Side note – that scene terrified me so much as a kid. Silly clowns. Second side note – by “kid” I mean 12 years old. Poltergeist is the best.

Spencer Torkelson recently left the Arizona Fall League with a sprained ankle. Let’s hope “Tork” heals up soon and is ready to go for 2022.

While all of these situations are definitely fright-inducing, let’s all remember – it’s just a game. Oh no!!! Not that kind of game!

Happy Halloween!