MLB NEWS

Is the Detroit Tigers window still open?

The Sports Xchange

February 19, 2015 at 8:08 pm.

 

The Tigers need Anibal Sanchez to return to form in 2015. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

The Detroit Tigers may learn this spring whether age and payroll have finally caught up with owner Mike Ilitch’s efforts to bring a World Series winner to the franchise.

This marks the fourth year the Tigers have entered spring training as the defending champion in the American League Central Division. Each one has seen prognosticators point to the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals or Cleveland Indians as ready to push Detroit off the throne.

While the question marks are plentiful, Detroit’s core is still talented enough to make a World Series win a reality.

“We’ve won four straight division crowns, yet there is an empty feeling because you haven’t brought that big prize home,” Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. “The one big difference compared to other seasons is there are more unknowns this year. We’ve run so many people out there in the past that people could relate to — this guy is playing here, this guy is playing there and maybe there was one open spot.

“When you sit back and analyze this club, we’re in a spot where we really like our club. We feel we have a very good chance to bring home another division championship and hopefully a world championship.”

The uncertainties abound.

The starting rotation did not meet expectations last season and is now minus right-hander Max Scherzer, gone to Washington as a free agent after spurning a long-term offer from Detroit a year ago, and right-hander Rick Porcello, traded to Boston for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Right-hander Justin Verlander, 32, is widely viewed as sliding down the backside of his career mountain, largely due to a drop in his velocity, but that overlooks the fact he won 15 games in 2014. Right-hander Anibal Sanchez, 31, was limited to 22 games by injury.

Lefty David Price, who will pitch at age 29, was only 4-4 in 11 starts for the Tigers and is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. Backing up the top three are right-handers Shane Greene, 26, acquired from the New York Yankees (5-4, 3.78 ERA in 15 games) and veteran Alfredo Simon, 34, who was 15-10 with a 3.44 ERA in his first extensive season as a starter.

Questions concerning the aging of Detroit’s pair of middle-of-the-lineup hitters are common with first baseman Miguel Cabrera, 32, coming off two seasons where he played through serious stomach and foot injuries, and designated hitter Victor Martinez, 36 this season, going through his second left knee operation in three years.

Shortstop Jose Iglesias is a health concern after missing the entire 2014 season with stress fractures in both legs. He, Cabrera and Martinez are likely to be rested frequently during the early season’s cold weather. Alex Avila, 28, enters his free agent season with a history of increasing concussion issues.

“When I look at our ballclub,” Dombrowski said, “our infield, Miguel is gonna be 32 so it’s not like he’s near the end of his career. (Ian) Kinsler, a young shortstop, a young third baseman, in right field we’re not very old, we’ll see what happens in center with (Anthony) Gose but he’s young, we’ve got a young outfielder named (Steven) Moya who we like, we have a lot of young catching, we’ve got a lot of good, young pitching.”

That said, clouds remain even on the sunny side. Such as whether the .315, 23 home runs and 76 RBIs performance of outfielder J.D. Martinez in 123 games was a fluke or a reflection of his completely reworked swing. Nick Castellanos was statistically the worst third baseman in the league but he did hit .259 with 11 home runs and 66 RBIs in a solid rookie season.

Cespedes will replace right fielder Torii Hunter, now with Minnesota, in the lineup and should give similar production. Detroit traded for a new center fielder, Gose, formerly with Toronto, but he hasn’t hit enough to keep his excellent glove and arm in the lineup to this point. Outfielder Rajai Davis remains as a better-offense, worse-defense option and platoon partner.

The bullpen continues to be a source of concern outside the Tigers’ front office and nothing major was done to improve it. Right-handed closer Joe Nathan was erratic last year despite 35 saves (4.81 ERA) and this year gets paid $10 million for turning 40.

The Tigers signed Tom Gorzelanny to replace Phil Coke as the main lefty reliever and will wade through several candidates to find a second southpaw. Fireballing right-hander Bruce Rondon returns from Tommy John surgery; a year ago he was seen as a setup candidate until his elbow gave out.

Right-hander Joakim Soria is now seen as the setup man after the Tigers exercised a $7 million option to retain his services. Soria was coming off surgery last year and was erratic after coming over in a deal with Texas.

“It’s just a less certain club, and as I say that, I mean there are more unknowns,” Dombrowski said. “But there’s a difference. They aren’t question marks to us. It’s not like they can’t play, it’s just that they are unknown and people aren’t quite sure how to take that. But I am comfortable with this club and I really like this club.”

Last year’s backup catcher, rookie Bryan Holaday, will try to fight off rookie James McCann as Avila’s sub and two infielders who are out of options, veteran Andrew Romine and young Hernan Perez, are battling for a reserve infield role. Tyler Collins is hopeful of being the fifth outfielder while promising rookie Steven Moya is scheduled to play at Triple-A Toledo unless Cabrera or Martinez isn’t healthy enough to open the season.