tOfficial Tigers 2008-2099 Offseason thread

[RPMadMSU]

Since it seems like this season will never end how about we lump all the off season talk into one thread now.

With the announcement today of not giving Rent his cash what do the Tigers need to figure out?

1. Closer - no one on their roster took the rains and ran with the job so they need to find someone who can close a game.

2. Middle Relief - this is such a skittish position who knows what we, or anyone else has...but we need to improve the competition here and hope someone can bridge the starters to the closers.

3. SS - Got to be strong up the middle, or the rest of your D doesn't matter. Don't think Iorg will be ready next year, have my doubts whether Santiago can do it full time, probably need a vet.

4. C - Likewise with SS. I think Ryan will give every opportunity to get the job, but we can't rely on him next year. We need to get a vet to at least split time.

5. LSP - Right now with Rogers likely retiring, and Willis and Robertson likely continuing to suck the Tigers need to get a Lefty Starter, probably a mid level vet. I think they bring back Garcia, and let him compete with Willis and Robertson for the back end, and the front end is probably set (I know you don't want to hear this, but their not going to spend on a front line guy. ) So you are going with Gallaraga, Bonderman and Verlander at the top with a whole cadre of mediocre to bad pitchers competing for the last two spots. The top 3 are all righties, so anyone you bring in probably is going to be a lefty to compete.

Sheff will more than likely be back at DH whether you like it or not, Guillen is going to prep all off season for an OF move and split and Inge will probably play 3rd base (according to rumblings from Tiger Town).

Also...Need a new Pitching and Bullpen Coach...don't forget those!

[RPMadMSU]

Also, sorry. Mods please remove the extra "e" from the title as...Sometimes my fingers move faster than my brain.

[ancientspartan]

Originally Posted by RPMadMSU

Also, sorry. Mods please remove the extra "e" from the title as...Sometimes my fingers move faster than my brain.

..or is that "....my brein"? Hint: see #1 in your post!

[P Rob]

this thread = epic fail

[85Grad]

this thread = epic fail

Don't you mean "this thred?"

[spartanmike17]

vry fnny gys

[Leave Cousins in!!]

tigers will pick between 8-10 in the draft. Not sure how tiebreakers work.

[Leave Cousins in!!]

Tigers flopped under the weight of high hopes - USATODAY.com

[bulldogg]

SIGNED
SP Jeremy Bonderman ($12.5M), SP Dontrelle Willis ($10M), P Nate Robertson ($7M), OF Magglio Ordonez ($18M), 1B Miguel Cabrera ($15M), DH Gary Sheffield ($14M), OF/3B *Carlos Guillen ($10M), 3B/C Brandon Inge ($6.3M), 2B Placido Polanco ($4.6M), OF Curtis Granderson ($3.5M), SP Rick Porcello ($1.2M)

UNDER TEAM CONTROL
P Zach Miner, OF Matt Joyce, RP Freddy Dolsi, SP Armando Galarraga, RP Aquilino Lopez, C *Dane Sardinha, UT Ryan Raburn, SP Eddie Bonine, RP *Macay McBride, SP Chris Lambert, RP Clay Rapada, SP Virgil Vasquez, C Dusty Ryan, 3B/1B *Mike Hessman, IF Mike Hollimon, IF Jeff Larish, OF *Brent Clevlen, OF Clete Thomas

ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE
SP Justin Verlander, IF *Ramon Santiago, RP *Bobby Seay, RP Joel Zumaya, OF *Marcus Thames, RP *Fernando Rodney, RP *Gary Glover

FREE AGENTS
SS Edgar Renteria, SP Freddy Garcia, SP Kenny Rogers, RP Todd Jones, RP Kyle Farnsworth, C *Vance Wilson, RP Casey Fossum, RP Francis Beltran, RP Francisco Cruceta

* Out of options

[AUAlum06]

if we want to contend next year we will try to sign CC or Frod, if we don't want to compete we won't sign them

[bulldogg]

Originally Posted by AUAlum06

if we want to contend next year we will try to sign CC or Frod, if we don't want to compete we won't sign them

Oh, I think we will try to sign them ... I doubt that we will though. And I don't think that means that we don't want to compete though.

[AUAlum06]

Originally Posted by bulldogg

Oh, I think we will try to sign them ... I doubt that we will though. And I don't think that means that we don't want to compete though.

oh i agree, we will spend some cash on arms but without one of those two I have doubts about us being competitive in the division.

[bulldogg]

Originally Posted by AUAlum06

oh i agree, we will spend some cash on arms but without one of those two I have doubts about us being competitive in the division.

All depends on the $$$. The KRod contract just has the feeling of one of those that could cripple the team in like 3 years (ala Bobby Higginson's)

[bulldogg]

One thing is certain, the bullpen has to look very different next year. Seriously, I think the only one that is safe is Dolsi.

[See Their Team Is WEAAAK!]

Originally Posted by bulldogg

One thing is certain, the bullpen has to look very different next year. Seriously, I think the only one that is safe is Dolsi.

Rodney is getting back to form a little bit, I think he can be salvaged as a setup guy, and you never know with Zumaya. The rest=epic fail though.

As far as FA signings, I think we can make moves without having to go out and get K-Rod and Sabathia. Lowe and Fuentes would both be big upgrades, IMO.

[bulldogg]

Originally Posted by Polanco's Melon

Rodney is getting back to form a little bit, I think he can be salvaged as a setup guy, and you never know with Zumaya. The rest=epic fail though.

As far as FA signings, I think we can make moves without having to go out and get K-Rod and Sabathia. Lowe and Fuentes would both be big upgrades, IMO.

I just don't know about Rodney. I would say that he is probable to be back, but it all depends on his $$$ demands. Maybe a good pitching coach could get his head screwed on right. Maybe he needs a change of scenery (traded).

As for Zumaya, just how fragile is this guy? The trainers need to be honest with management. The guy is up for arbitration and will be making millions of dollars if kept. If he is hurt, it may be the right move to cut ties. I'd try to sign him to a very incentive laden contract.

[bulldogg]

Laird to the Tigers?
Texas Rangers must decide on starting catcher | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

Not sure who the Rangers would want in return though. The Tigers certainly don't have pitching to give up.

[burnsmi4]

the tigers failed so this thread might as well too.

anyways i want to see saltalamacchia in detroit

[bulldogg]

Dombrowski addresses offseason | tigers.com: News

The moves will not be meant to slash payroll, Dombrowski indicated, nor will the Tigers be taking on another big payroll boost. They're somewhere in between, and their focus will be on building a pitching staff and supporting cast around their core offensive talent that can allow them to contend.



"At this point, I would be surprised if we're real big participants in free agency," Dombrowski said. "We have a solid core of players. ... If you look at the top of our lineup, our first six guys, they're stars. I don't know that they'll have good years or bad years, but they're star players.



"So we need guys that can fit in and contribute and maybe do the little things a little bit. We don't need to go find an All-Star at every position. We need some guys that can fit in and give us a little hop in our step, mix some young guys in here."



While Dombrowski listed pitching and defense as the most pressing needs, he put special emphasis on bolstering a bullpen that has blown 27 save opportunities and lost 13 games when leading through seven innings.

[IGGcitable]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...0010372/&imw=Y

Leyland wants an extension -- and does not get it.

Smells like things are setting up for another of his customary stomp-offs.

[RPMadMSU]

Originally Posted by AUAlum06

if we want to contend next year we will try to sign CC or Frod, if we don't want to compete we won't sign them

Neither is going to happen. CC is going to play for huge money on the west coast, and Rodriguez is going to get a lot of money and a long term deal for an arm that could be used up by year's end. smart teams are going to stay away.

If this is what you are looking for in the offseason, prepare to be disappointed.

[RPMadMSU]

Originally Posted by bulldogg

Laird to the Tigers?
Texas Rangers must decide on starting catcher | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

Not sure who the Rangers would want in return though. The Tigers certainly don't have pitching to give up.

I like Laird, he'd be good to platoon with Ryan. I don't think he'll be that expensive due to the fact that most already know that he's an odd man out. I don't think he's good enough to start a bidding war.

[IGGcitable]

YOW!!!

Lynn Henning, one of the more devoted Leyland jock-sniffers (among many) in the Detroit media, in effect takes him to town. And once again Leyland sounds off:

Tigers manager Leyland's view out of whack | The Detroit News | detnews.com



More and more this is starting to smell like one of Leyland's patented stomp-offs, except this time he wants to get fired rather than quit (i.e. collect the last year of his contract).

Leyland's continuing to sound off in the media looks like a ploy to force Ilitch/Dombrowski's hand. You know they won't put up with much more guff out of a guy who just brought the team in about 25 games behind where they expected to be.

[bulldogg]

Just one writers opinion, but he doesn't even consider the Tigers contenders for CC. I pretty much agree with his take though:

Giants little more than longshot in Sabathia sweepstakes
A's (50 to 1): Hometown discount goes only so far.
Giants (10 to 1): At least his agent isn't Scott Boras.
Brewers (10 to 1): It's hard to imagine he was anything but a rental.
Cubs (8 to 1): Only if he wants to assure he'll never win a World Series ring.
Red Sox (5 to 1): Another championship would be a nice bargaining chip.
Yankees (4 to 1): The palace that is the new Yankee Stadium will be used to woo him.
Mets (4 to 1): Johan Santana has a $137.5 million contract. Would the Mets make it two lefties in a row?
Angels (3 to 1): They'll have plenty of money if they don't re-sign Mark Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez, Garrett Anderson and Jon Garland.
Dodgers (5 to 2): He had a lot more fun pitching in the NL this year than the AL. It's no secret the Vallejo native would like to relocate to California - despite his comments last week that it doesn't matter (agent speak) - and the Dodgers have the money, upside and need to attract him.

[bulldogg]

So, the types of free agents (and potential free agents) are posted for relievers:
Type A - KRod, Damaso Marte, Darren Oliver, Ryan Dempster, Russ Springer, Juan Cruz, Doug Brocail, Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood, Jason Isringhausen

Type B - Jamey Wright, Dennys Reyes, Alan Embree, Trevor Miller, Joe Beimel, Jeremy Affeldt, Salomon Torres, Brian Shouse, Bobby Howry, Dave Weathers, Trevor Hoffman, Eric Gagne, Brandon Lyon

And for starters:
Type A - C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe, Jamie Moyer, John Lackey, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina

Type B - Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Randy Wolf, Greg Maddux, Braden Looper, Tim Wakefield, Jon Garland, Paul Byrd

No Tigers made the list. Farnsworth was almost a lock for a Type B when traded for but then imploded with the Tigers.

So, which of these free agents look appealing if you are the Tigers brass?