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Detroit Tigers 2022 off-season grades have been passed out

By Roger Castillo

Mar 21, 2022; Lakeland, Florida, USA; a general view of the stadium prior to a game featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers during spring training at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2022; Lakeland, Florida, USA; a general view of the stadium prior to a game featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers during spring training at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Tigers
Mar 20, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Javier Baez (28) hits a 2-RBI double during the first inning against the New York Yankees during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Below B average from Yooper (Jon) and Brendan about the Detroit Tigers off-season.

Jon: Grade: C+. On December 1st,  just before the lockout, the Tigers were trending to a much higher grade. They spent November signing two premium free agents and trading for a top-notch defensive catcher at a very reasonable cost. Things were looking up.Eduardo Rodriguez is a high ceiling signing, having once posted a 6+ bWAR season in Boston.

Javier Baez was often Twitter’s fifth most wanted of the five free agent shortstops (you know who you were!) but is still a big upgrade on the Tigers shortstops of the last few years.After the lockout? With several very good players available and with the Tigers still carrying a below league average payroll, the Tigers spent a measly $12M on two pitchers and shut it down. It seems like a missed opportunity and as though Chris Ilitch has never heard the phrase “fortune favors the bold”.Andrew Chafin and Michael Pineda are fine enough signings.

Both can help Detroit compete. But they’re the type of moves that should happen nearly any off-season as teams look to add depth. The Detroit Tigers win ceiling wasn’t moving much in either case.It was an acceptable off-season more than a laudable one.

Brendan: B- here. I would like to another bat off the bench.

Me:  I will give them a B+ and here’s why. They address every position of need this winter, which was a starting shortstop, (Baez), two starting pitchers, (Rodriguez and Pineda) catcher, (Barnhart via a trade) and a bullpen arm (Chafin). But they did something else that seems to me has gone under the radar.

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