2023 Pre-Season Profile: Detroit Tigers

 #26

The Detroit Tigers have felt primed for a breakout season for several years now.  Now, as they prepare to celebrate the final season of their future Hall of Famer, has the window for their possible breakout closed?

2022 Predictions

#15 - 2nd in AL Central

MIH - Javier Baez

MIP - Casey Mize

PTW - Spencer Torkelson

2022 Results

#25 - 66-96, 4th in AL Central

Highest WAR (Position) - Javier Baez

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Tarik Skubal

The 2022 Tigers showed a lot of promise.  They had their brand new star signed to a huge deal, they had their former #1 overall pick ready to make debut and take baseball by storm, they had stable of young pitchers all ready to be future aces.  Everything was looking up, but nothing seemed to work out.  Javy Baez had only a 93 OPS+, Spencer Torkelson bounced between AAA and the big leagues while barely hitting .200, and their other former #1 overall pick in Casey Mize only started 2 games before getting injured.  The only thing that seemed to go right was Miguel Cabrera was able to celebrate his 3000th hit.

Additions / Subtractions

The Tigers had a fairly quiet offseason with some potentially sneaky good moves.  The main moves they made brought in veteran starters Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen to round out the rotation and replace other veterans like Drew Hutchison.  The main departures were catcher Tucker Barnhart, third baseman Jeimer Candelario, and reliever Gregory Soto.

Most Important Hitter

Spencer Torkelson

When you take a player with the #1 overall draft pick, you expect an All Star pretty soon after he takes the field for the first time at the big league level.  Although it's still early, so far the Tigers have whiffed on two recent top picks.  Casey Mize, the #1 overall pick in 2018 has yet to do much in 3 seasons (and will probably miss most, if not all, of 2023 with Tommy John).  Then there's Spencer Torkelson.  The top overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State, Torkelson was supposed to be ready to hit at the big league level the second he arrived.  Instead, he struggled to adjust to big league pitching with only a 77 OPS+ in 110 games.  If the Tigers are going to take a step forward, Torkelson needs to be an All Star caliber hitter.

Most Important Pitcher

Matt Manning

The Tigers went from having a potential core of young aces to a starting rotation of mostly veterans.  They need at least one of their young starters to take a huge step forward in 2023.  The most likely to break out is Matt Manning.  In 2022, Manning only started 12 games but pitched well with a 3.43 ERA and a 111 ERA+.  This season is set up perfectly for Manning to have a big year.

Prospect to Watch

Wilmer Flores

If the name sounds familiar, there's a reason.  His brother has the same name and has been an infielder in the big leagues for years.  This version of Wilmer Flores is a big 6'4" right hander that looks about ready to make an impact in a big league rotation and be the latest Tigers pitching phenom to try and be their next ace.  Ranked #95 on MLB's Top 100 prospects, Flores is the last of 3 to make the list.  Although they don't have anyone in the top 50, the Tigers have a pretty deep farm system (which is pretty easy to have when they have this bad for this long).

2023 Prediction

5th in AL Central

I've given up hope on the Tigers.  Too many times over the last few seasons I have predicted the Tigers to make the big leap forward and be a breakout team (last year, I pick them 2nd in the division ... 2ND!!!).  Every year they disappoint me.  I'm done picking them.  No matter what top tier talent they have breaking out this year, they can never figure it out, even in one of the least competitive divisions in baseball.  Now with the balanced schedule, it's going to be even harder for a team like the Tigers to be good.  I hope they surprise me, but I'm not picking the breakout season again until I see signs they are even going to get better.

Fearless Prediction

A.J. Hinch will be fired mid-season.

Before the 2021 season, A.J. Hinch was hired after his year long suspension from the Astros sign stealing scandal to do for the Tigers what he did for the Astros (not the sign stealing, the winning of a World Series).  However, since he arrived, the Tigers have been going backwards.  If 2023 goes the way I see it going, it's obvious the Hinch hire isn't working.

2022 MLB Pre-Season Predictions: #20-11

 #20

Texas Rangers

2021 Prediction: #29, 5th in AL West

2021 Fearless Prediction: Chris Woodward will be fired mid-season.

2021 Result: #28, 60-102, 5th in AL West

Most Important Hitter: Adolis Garcia

Most Important Pitcher: Jon Gray

Prospect to Watch: Josh Jung

2022 Prediction: 4th in AL West

The Rangers spent loads of money this offseason establishing their lineup core for the next decade with Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.  Now they just need to wait for a young wave of players to work their way through the system.  The free agents definitely gave them a jump start, but they still have a ways to go.

#19

Chicago Cubs

2021 Prediction: #21, 4th in NL Central

2021 Fearless Prediction: The only player in the dugout from the Cubs' World Series roster on Opening Day 2022 will be manager David Ross.

2021 Result: #24, 71-91, 4th in NL Central

Most Important Hitter: Nico Hoerner

Most Important Pitcher: Marcus Stroman

Prospect to Watch: Brennen Davis

2022 Prediction: 3rd in NL Central

The Cubs did indeed trade away almost everyone remaining from their World Series run just 6 years ago.  Now they are starting over and rebuilding, but they are a little further along than others.  They still have a legit ace or two, and they signed one of the ultimate wild cards in the free agent pool this offseason in Seiya Suzuki.  They also are in one of the weakest divisions in the league.  They could easily flirt with .500 in 2022.

#18

Tampa Bay Rays

2021 Prediction: #11, 3rd in AL East

2021 Fearless Prediction: Randy Arozarena will hit less home runs in 2021 than he did in 2020.

2021 Result: #3, 100-62, 1st in AL East, lost in ALDS

Most Important Hitter: Randy Arozarena

Most Important Pitcher: Shane McClanahan

Prospect to Watch: Shane Baz

2022 Prediction: 4th in AL East

At some point, they way the Rays operate has to catch up with them and lead to a down year.  They can't keep dominating the toughest division in baseball.  There are only so many wins to go around, and although they have one of the most exciting young players around in Wander Franco, 2022 looks to be the year they struggle.

#17

Minnesota Twins

2021 Prediction: #10, 2nd in AL central, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

2021 Fearless Prediction: The Twins' top starting pitcher entering the postseason is currently not on their roster.

2021 Result: #23, 73-89, 5th in AL Central

Most Important Hitter: Byron Buxton

Most Important Pitcher: Chris Paddack

Prospect to Watch: Joe Ryan

2022 Prediction: 3rd in AL Central

The success of the Twins in 2022 revolves entirely around whether Byron Buxton can stay healthy.  They have a pretty formidable lineup, adding Gio Urshela, Gary Sanchez, and Carlos Correa.  Their pitching is pretty unproven, shown by one of their top prospects making his big league debut starting Opening Day.  This is a team that could make the playoffs or finish in the cellar or end up anywhere in between.  It all depends on their health.

#16

St. Louis Cardinals

2021 Prediction: #1, 1st in NL Central, win World Series

2021 Fearless Prediction: Jack Flaherty win the NL Cy Young Award.

2021 Result: #10, 90-72, 2nd in NL Central, WILD CARD, lost in Wild Card Game

Most Important Hitter: Nolan Arenado

Most Important Pitcher: Steven Matz

Prospect to Watch: Matthew Liberatore

2022 Prediction: 2nd in NL Central

I was really high on the Cardinals last year, picking them for a surprise run to the title.  I thought I had something when they went on their crazy run to end the season and make the playoffs, but ultimately ended up short.  Now I might be a little too low on them.  With star pitcher Jack Flaherty still hurt, their mismatched rotation will have to be strong for their season to be a success.  If nothing else, they will be a fun watch as Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright appear poised to make 2022 a joint farewell tour.

#15

Detroit Tigers

2021 Prediction: #23, 4th in AL Central

2021 Fearless Prediction: Miguel Cabrera will become a 3000/500 hitter in 2021.

2021 Result: #20, 77-85, 3rd in AL Central

Most Important Hitter: Javier Baez

Most Important Pitcher: Casey Mize

Prospect to Watch: Spencer Torkelson

2022 Prediction: 2nd in AL Central

The Tigers are poised for a breakout.  They have amassed a ton of young talent reading to emerge, and they went out and signed a leader to anchor their team at shortstop.  If Baez can live up to his contract, if Casey Mize and others can show their promise in the rotation, and if a phenom like former #1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson can have a solid rookie season, the Tigers might ride this wide open division to a playoff birth.

#14

San Francisco Giants

2021 Prediction: #18, 3rd in NL West

2021 Fearless Prediction: At least two of the Giants' starting infielders will be traded mid-season.

2021 Result: #1, 107-55, 1st in NL West, lost in NLDS

Most Important Hitter: Brandon Belt

Most Important Pitcher: Logan Webb

Prospect to Watch: Heliot Ramos

2022 Prediction: 3rd in NL West

No one surprised quite as much in 2021 as the San Francisco Giants.  I was predicting them to potentially be sellers at the Trade Deadline.  Instead, they had the best record in all of baseball.  Their leader, Buster Posey, retired which will be hard to replace.  If the veterans are able to continue to contribute, and if their pitching staff can dominate again, they could repeat last year's performance, but it will be really tough.

#13

New York Yankees

2021 Prediction: #4, 1st in AL East, lose in ALCS

2021 Fearless Prediction: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton will hit 100+ hone runs combined.

2021 Result: #7, 92-70, 3rd in AL East, lost in Wild Card Game

Most Important Hitter: Josh Donaldson

Most Important Pitcher: Luis Severino

Prospect to Watch: Oswald Peraza

2022 Prediction: 3rd in AL East

The Yankees always look like they should be one of the best teams in baseball on paper, but the pressure of the bright lights in the Bronx prove to be harder to overcome than anyone realizes.  Their lineup is always loaded, with Donaldson being a key addition if he can stay healthy.  Their rotation has some holes, and everyone needs to stay healthy.  I have them just missing the postseason party, which probably will lead to several firings, starting with Aaron Boone.

#12

Atlanta Braves

2021 Prediction: #6, 1st in NL East, lose in NLDS

2021 Fearless Prediction: Ronald Acuna Jr. wins the NL MVP.

2021 Result: #12, 88-73, 1st in NL East, won World Series

Most Important Hitter: Matt Olson

Most Important Pitcher: Kenley Jansen

Prospect to Watch: Spencer Strider

2022 Prediction: 3rd in NL East, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Round

The Braves got hot at the right time and ended up winning it all in 2021.  Then they dropped the ball on signing back their leader in Freddie Freeman.  Instead, they traded away a lot of top talent from their farm system to bring in Matt Olson, who they signed to the extension they wanted to sign Freeman to.  Magical runs like last year don't happen twice.  I have them sneaking into the playoffs thanks to the expanded field, but they won't even host a playoff game.

#11

Boston Red Sox

2021 Prediction: #26, 5th in AL East

2021 Fearless Prediction: J.D. Martinez will be traded before the 2022 season.

2021 Result: #8, 91-71, 2nd in AL East, WILD CARD, lost in ALCS

Most Important Hitter: Trevor Story

Most Important Pitcher: Chris Sale

Prospect to Watch: Jeter Downs

2022 Prediction: 2nd in AL East, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Round

The Red Sox in 2021 proved how much a manager matters.  They were a step away from the World Series with Alex Cora when they were horrible in 2020 without him.  The big question mark for them this season is the rotation.  If they can get healthy and stay that way, they can dominate again.  If not, they will have to outscore a lot of teams (which they have the lineup to do).

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Detroit Tigers

 #23

The Detroit Tigers are a young up-and-coming roster that looks poised to take a leap in 2021.  Will it be enough to be players in the AL Central this season?

2020 Predictions

#29 - 5th in AL Central

MIH - Jonathan Schoop

MIP - Matthew Boyd

PTW - Casey Mize

FP - Miguel Cabrera will retire at the end of the 2020 season.

2020 Result

#28 - 23-35, 5th in AL Central

I had the Tigers' season pretty well prognosticated last year.  They were still a young roster that needed to grow up a little more.  One thing I did not get right is Miguel Cabrera is still around as a veteran presence in the clubhouse.

Additions / Subtractions

The Tigers made minor tweaks to their roster getting ready for the 2021 season.  They brought in Jose Urena from the Marlins to help their rotation and Robbie Grossman to give professional at bats from the outfield.  The rest of the roster is mainly young players needing experience.  The biggest move made that could have a huge impact is the hire of AJ Hinch to replace the retiring Ron Gardenhire.

Most Important Hitter

Jeimer Candelario

The best player in terms of WAR for the Tigers last season was Jeimer Candelario, ending the season with almost a .300 average and a 135 OPS+.  Entering his age 27 season, this could be just the start of his prime.  For a team looking to show some progress in 2021, they are looking for who will be the heart of their future core.  If Candelario repeats the production of 2020, he could become a face of this next wave of Tigers success.

Most Important Pitcher

Michael Fulmer

Michael Fulmer's career couldn't have gotten off to a stronger start.  He won Rookie of the Year in 2016, then made the All Star Team in 2017.  Then in 2018 he got hurt, and it knocked out his entire 2019 season.  He came back in 2020 and was far less than what he was before the injury.  Now with another year removed, he needs to get his career back on track, either to be a veteran arm anchoring a young rotation or to be a trade chip at the Trade Deadline.

Prospect to Watch

Tarik Skubal

The Tigers have built up a strong farm system, boasting five players in the top 25 best prospects in baseball.  Three of those prospects are pitchers that should all be in the Tigers' rotation by the end of the 2021 season.  Although Casey Mize gets a lot of the headlines as a former #1 overall pick, Tarik Skubal might be the more impressive.  Getting drafted in the 9th round of the same draft that produced Mize, Skubal is a big lefty with a fastball that comes close to triple digits.  He was able to log some innings in 2020 with mixed success.  Look for 2021 to be a breakout year for Skubal, Mize, and the third of their three-headed prospect monster in Matt Manning.

2021 Predictions

4th in AL Central

I see the Tigers taking a huge step forward in 2021.  Moving out of the cellar doesn't sound like a big move, but the AL Central has quietly become one of the deepest divisions in baseball.  The addition of AJ Hinch as manager is huge as he has already shown the ability to take a team ready to break out over the top in Houston.  You add to that the potential of an elite big 3 emerging at the top of their rotation, and this is going to be a team contenders are not going to want to face in September.

Fearless Predictions

Miguel Cabrera will become a 3000/500 hitter in 2021.

In one year, my thoughts on the role of Miguel Cabrera has completely shifted.  Before last season, I viewed Miggy as a relic of a bygone era that was on his way out.  Now I see the future Hall of Famer as a veteran presence in a lineup and clubhouse that only has two projected starters over the age of 30 (Cabrera at 38 and Matthew Boyd at 30).  This has the potential of being a huge year for Cabrera if he can stay healthy.  He needs 134 hits to reach the magical 3000 hit plateau and 13 homers to get to the magical 500 home run mark.  He would be only the 7th player to ever reach both numbers.  If he gets both this year, this could be an exclamation point on an all-time great career.  For many reasons, this should be an exciting season in Detroit.

2020 Pre-Season Profile: Detroit Tigers

#29

The Detroit Tigers had been flirting with 100 losses in 2017 and 2018 before finally crossing the line and becoming the worst in baseball in 2019.  There are also only 3 or 4 players left from their roster the last time they were good as they have been stockpiling young talent.  Will 2020 see improvement or more cellar-dwelling?

2019 Predictions

#27 - 4th in AL Central

MIH: Nicholas Castellanos

MIP: Michael Fulmer

PTW: Alex Faedo

FP: Both Nicholas Castellanos and Michael Fulmer will be traded mid-season.

2019 Results

#30 - 47-114, 5th in AL Central

Going into the 2019 season, it felt like there was some stiff competition for the cellar of the AL Central between the Tigers and the Royals.  I didn't expect the Tigers to bottom out quite like they did.  Castellanos and Fulmer held so much importance last season for their trade value.  Castellanos did indeed get traded while Fulmer ended up having Tommy John surgery before the season even started.  Even with Fulmer's injury, the pitching performed okay in 2019 (which isn't a huge accomplishment in spacious Comerica Park).  It was the offense that failed them.  The team posted an overall OPS+ of 78 (100 is league average), with only Castellanos posting a total above average at 105, while only three of the team's top 12 players in terms of WAR were position players (one of which was Castellanos who didn't even play the whole season in Detroit).  My Prospect to Watch failed me as well as Alex Faedo, who was drafted as a potentially MLB-ready battle-tested college arm, struggled to regain the form that made him the ace of a College World Series winning team.

Additions / Subtractions

It's easy to compare the Tigers and Orioles right now as they both are going through some difficult rebuilding years.  However, what makes the Tigers different is they are willing to try and bring in some veterans on one year deals to hold spots for some of the young kids coming up, mentor them along the way, and perhaps be flipped at the Trade Deadline if they have a decent season.  This year's crop of players brought into Detroit include C.J. Cron, Jonathan Schoop, Cameron Maybin, Austin Romine, and Ivan Nova.  Guys like Cron and Schoop actually are still quality players that could bring some real value to the team.

Most Important Hitter

Jonathan Schoop

Honestly, there isn't much interesting or exciting about this lineup outside of the veterans.  Niko Goodrum is really the only homegrown talent in the lineup that has been able to make a mark in the big leagues as one of the better utility men.  So when picking the important hitter, I am going with the most interesting hitter, and that is Jonathan Schoop.  Like I said before, he can bring some real value to the Tigers.  Only three years removed from being an All Star in 2017, he has had a roller coaster career since, being traded into a platoon in 2018 before regaining a little of his old form in Minnesota in 2019.  Now he is in Detroit as a seasoned veteran mid-season trade chip, even though he is just entering his age 28 season.  Is he the All Star of 2017?  Is he the player that will struggle to find the field he was in 2018?  Or is he somewhere in between like he was in 2019?  It is also the first time he will really be looked at as a potential leader on his team.  I am fascinated to see where how this season plays out for Schoop.

Most Important Pitcher

Matthew Boyd

Last year was a disappointment in a lot of ways for the Tigers, but their best player (at least their best player that was still on the roster at the end of the season) was Matthew Boyd.  The lefty quickly became the ace of their pitching staff and became one of the few bright spots for the Tigers throughout the season.  In fact, the most surprising thing about him might have been the fact that he was never traded.  He was at the heart of many trade rumors and continues to be as the 2020 season gets ready to begin.  Only entering his age 29 season and under club control through 2023, as long as Boyd stays healthy he will be one of the most sought after pitchers on the market when the contenders are looking to upgrade at the Trade Deadline.  You might ask why the Tigers would be willing to trade their young ace when they are trying to rebuild.  The answer is simple ... they have several future aces about to burst on the scene in their farm system.

Prospect to Watch

Casey Mize

One positive about being terrible for an extended period of time and trading away all your top veterans is you build a really good farm system.  Last year's Prospect to Watch, Alex Faedo, now can barely hang on in the top 10 prospects in the Tigers' system.  The Tigers have four players in the Top 100 Prospects, with all of them appearing in the top 50.  Three of those four are pitchers, with Casey Mize being the best of the group.  The 2018 number one overall selection in the draft out of Auburn is the top player in the Tigers' system and the #7 prospect in all of baseball.  With an upper-90's fastball and an elite splitter, Mize has the makeup to be the Tigers' ace for the next decade.  Last season, he topped out in AA.  The potentially truncated 2020 season might delay his big league debut a year, but waiting for him, and fellow top pitching prospect Matt Manning, to splash on the scene is one of the few things Tigers fans have to be excited about.

2020 Prediction

5th in AL Central

The Tigers and the Orioles have been two of the worst teams in baseball over the last three season, and this season isn't going to change that fact.  The only reason I am putting the Tigers above the Orioles is because they brought in some more impact veterans and have their top prospects potentially debuting and having an impact this season.  With all that said, the Tigers are not going to be ready to compete until 2022 or 2023.

Fearless Prediction

Miguel Cabrera will retire at the end of the 2020 season.

One of the last holdovers from the Tigers' glory days is Miguel Cabrera.  Cabrera is one of the greatest hitters of this generation, winning the Triple Crown in 2012, and an easy first ballot Hall of Famer.  However, he is now entering his age 37 season, and his body has broken down so much that he can't really do anything but DH.  Even with that, last year he only totaled 12 home runs and 59 RBI's while posting an OPS+ of 96, making him now a below average hitter.  It is hard to see the greats hold on too long, and I'm afraid Miggy already has.  This really could be his last season, especially if the injury bug hits him yet again, however there are three reasons he might stick around longer.  First, he is 185 hits shy of 3000, a total he can reach by the end of 2021 if he stays healthy.  Second, he is 23 home runs shy of 500, which again is attainable by the end of 2021.  Third, the Tigers are committed to pay him over $30 million per year through 2023.  So there's that.

2019 Pre-Season Profile: Detroit Tigers

#27

The Detroit Tigers are definitely in a rebuild mode in the weakest division in baseball.  Can they take advantage of the poor division and be a surprise this season?

My 2018 Predictions

5th in AL Central

2018 will be Victor Martinez's last season, and he will not finish it on the Tigers' roster.

2018 Results

64-98, 3rd in AL Central

Your division must be pretty bad if you almost get 100 losses and still finish third in your division.  Manager Ron Gardenhire's first season in Detroit wasn't spectacular, but it looks like he is steering it in the right direction.  As for my fearless prediction, it somehow came true.  After a season that truly showed that Victor Martinez had nothing left in the tank, he walked away from the game with a great farewell gesture about one week before the end of the season.  It was a fitting end for a great player that will have a fascinating argument for Cooperstown in five years.

Additions / Subtractions

Outside of the Victor Martinez retirement, there were only a few subtractions.  Catcher James McCann, pitcher Francisco Liriano, and shortstop Jose Iglesias hit free agency and went elsewhere.  They replaced them with some short term veteran players to fill in the gap while they wait for some of their prospects to develop.  So in comes shortstop Jordy Mercer, super utilityman Josh Harrison, and starters Tyson Ross and Matt Moore.  All of these players are just looking for an opportunity to show that they still have some value to teams who might be looking for help at the Trade Deadline.

Most Important Hitter

Nicholas Castellanos

There are only a few players left from the previous Tiger core that can still have some value on the trade market.  Possibly the most notable of these is Nicholas Castellanos.  Even through the lean years in Detroit, he has been a model of consistency, putting up solid season after solid season.  This will only be his age 27 season, and he will not be a free agent until after the 2020 season.  This Trade Deadline would be the ideal time to move him, but he has to prove he can continue his All Star caliber play to make the most impact on the market.

Most Important Pitcher

Michael Fulmer

A year younger than Castellanos, Michael Fulmer has been an anchor to the Tiger rotation since he broke into the league in 2016 as the Rookie of the Year.  He followed it up with an All Star appearance in 2017, but 2018 was disappointing as he fell below average (according to ERA+) for the first time in his career.  Fulmer, like Castellanos, has been rumored to be a trade chip for quite awhile.  He has to return to All Star form for Fulmer to be valuable to the Tigers on the trade market.

Prospect to Watch

Alex Faedo

The reason the Tigers might be eager to move on from Michael Fulmer is their farm system.  The Tigers have five right handed starters listed in the top 100 prospects in all of baseball that are set to break into the big leagues in the next couple seasons, including Casey Mize, last year's number one overall pick.  The pitcher out of this group most likely to make his debut and have an impact in 2019 is Alex Faedo, the Tigers' first round pick from 2017.  The 23 year old pitcher out of Florida made it to AA in his first full season of pro ball in 2018.  If he continues on this fast track to the big leagues, look or him to be in the Tigers' rotation by the end of the season.

2019 Prediction

4th in AL Central

The Tigers are still a couple years away from being relevant, but they are on the way back and will at least be interesting.  Their farm system will be slowly bringing their new core along over the next couple seasons.  Until then, Tiger fans will have to instead ask themselves questions like, "Will Miguel Cabrera stay healthy enough to play the whole season?"  And people wonder why teams are now hesitant to sign players to the mega deals...

Fearless Prediction

Both Nicholas Castellanos and Michael Fulmer will be traded mid-season.

The Tigers have an outstanding farm system when it comes to pitching, but they are lacking the studs offensively.  If you aren't planning on these two being a part of the plan in this next wave, the sooner you trade them the better.  There is no reason for either of these two to have bad years, which means their trade value should be as high as it will ever be come the Trade Deadline.  Move on and keep going on the rebuild.

2018 Pre-Season Profile: Detroit Tigers

#29

The Detroit Tigers started to hit the reset button on their roster at the end of 2017.  Was it enough to compete with a new core in 2018, or will they have further to fall before they get better?

My 2017 Predictions

3rd in NL Central

Brad Ausmus will be fired mid-season.

2017 Results

64-98, 5th in NL Central

The Tigers were a much better team than their final record ended up showing.  However, once they decided to start selling key pieces like Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez, and Justin Verlander, the season went south in a hurry.  Brad Ausmus was always touted as one of those players that would make a great manager, but his marriage with the Tigers was a trainwreck.  I predicted he would be fired mid-season.  It was announced he would be fired before the end of the season, but he was allowed to finish the year.  I hope he gets another opportunity to manage at some point.  I am not willing to write him off as a failure just yet.

Additions / Subtractions

The Tigers continued to transition into re-build mode throughout the offseason.  The biggest name moved over the offseason was All Star second baseman Ian Kinsler being traded to the Angels.  There were rumors surrounding players like Miguel Cabrera and Michael Fulmer, but nothing ever materialized.  Outside of a a veteran signing here or there of guys like Leonys Martin, the Tigers felt content with developing a new young core alongside the remaining veterans they can't / refuse to move.  Possibly the biggest offseason transaction was hiring Ron Gardenhire as their new manager.  One of the most respected coaches in all of baseball, Gardenhire will be a welcome stabilizing force after the dysfunction that marred Ausmus's tenure as manager.

Most Important Hitter

Miguel Cabrera

Even through a rebuild, the Tigers start and end with Miguel Cabrera.  We seemed to watch him age 10 years before our eyes during 2017, going from one of the greatest offensive forces of his generation to a broken down veteran on the brink of retirement in one season.  In his age 34 season, Miggy had a negative WAR in 2017.  Outside of his rookie season, he has only posted a WAR below 3.0 once (his first season in Detroit).  There has to more in the tank, at least the Tigers are hoping so.  He is under a behemoth contract through 2023, with two option years on top of that.  Cabrera needs to be more than the shell of himself he was in 2017, either so Detroit can get more production out of his contract or to give him trade value so someone is convinced he is worth dealing for.  Either way, this is an important year for Miggy and his relationship with the Tigers.

Most Important Pitcher

Daniel Norris

Daniel Norris was the key piece the Tigers received back in the David Price trade with the Blue Jays in 2015.  He was thought to be a potential ace of the staff moving forward.  However, his Tiger career has been defined by injuries and disappointment instead of production and success.  The ability of a player like Norris to finally deliver on his potential will determine how long this Tiger rebuild will take.

Prospect to Watch

Franklin Perez

Franklin Perez was the key piece Detroit got back in last year's Justin Verlander trade with the Astros.  Sometimes, it takes years to see the true results of a prospect-laden deal like this one, however Perez has a good chance of playing a role for the Tigers this season.  This 20 year-old hurler should be a fun rookie to watch the second half of this season, especially if the Tigers are out of contention.

2018 Prediction

5th in AL Central

Unfortunately, it looks like the Tigers are still working their way down to rock bottom before they can start getting better.  They do have some decent prospects working through their system, especially on the pitching end, but most are not as close to contributing as Perez.  They remind me of the Philadelphia Phillies a couple years ago.  They got stuck being over-committed to some veterans past their prime that they needed to stick with before they could move on and improve.  The Tigers are hoping this isn't the case quite yet with guys like Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and Jordan Zimmermann, but they are looking more like terrible investments that will hurt the franchise for the next few years.  The highlights of the Tigers' season will occur in July when Tiger legends Alan Trammel and Jack Morris are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Fearless Prediction

2018 will be Victor Martinez's last season, and he will not finish it on the Tigers' roster.

Victor Martinez is entering his age 39 season, which is also a contract year for him.  After injuries plagued his 2017 season, Martinez needs to show he can still be of value to a team.  Either he shows there is still a little in the tank and gets traded to a contender, or he shows that the tank is empty and the Tigers release him.  Either way, he doesn't end the season as a Tiger, and this is probably his last dance.