By: Kenneth W. Paczas
Dave Dombrowski loves to play chess. He sits in his office during lunch and just plays. All the moves he has made during the past year or two have been pointing to this offseason.
Dave Dombrowski loves to play chess. He sits in his office during lunch and just plays. All the moves he has made during the past year or two have been pointing to this offseason.
2010 was supposed to be a throwaway year. Detroit wasn't expected to compete. The Damon and Valverde signings certainly made for some interesting conversation, but people still pointed to 2011.
That's the year Detroit would have more than $65 million to add proven talent to a young, gifted roster ready to take the next step. The year Dave Dombrowski's career-threatening signings -- Bonderman, Robertson, Willis -- stopped backing the front office into financial corners.
That's the year Detroit would have more than $65 million to add proven talent to a young, gifted roster ready to take the next step. The year Dave Dombrowski's career-threatening signings -- Bonderman, Robertson, Willis -- stopped backing the front office into financial corners.
Well welcome to 2011. Problem is, some of the guys you thought would fill holes (Scott Sizemore, Alex Avila) have fizzled. The Tigers have a number of pressing problems that will have to be addressed this offseason -- and, it doesn't seem like they'll have the time or the money to answer each question. And so, instead, it seems that they'll have to place a value on each problem. (Is having a hot-hitting catcher more important than adding a left-hander in the starting rotation?).
It’s why I believe signing Brandon Inge, was the right move. You don’t have a third base prospect that can play right now. The rest of the free agent class is terrible. Getting Inge for 5.5 a year, is the right move for this team right now. Now you have 60 million to play with, and if you pick up Jhonny for 6 million as expected, you are looking at 54 million.
So if we are assuming that, your team looks like this. 1st-Miggy, 2nd- Rhymes, 3rd- Inge, SS- Jhonny, C- Avila, RF- open, CF- Jackson, LF- Raburn, DH - Guillen. Also assuming Sizemore/Worth, Santiago, Boesch, is in the back up roles. That leaves two spots, Right Field, and Catcher as your two open position spots.
Your starting pitchers are Verlander, Max Scherz, Porcello, and I guess Phil Coke. Valverde, Perry, Zumaya, Bonine, Schlereth, and Weinhardt are in your bullpen. That leaves one starter and one reliever spot to fill.
With that extra money, this is exactly what they should do. They need to sign Jason Werth, Victor Martinez, Ted Lily, and Matt Guerrier to fill those four holes.
I would love to have Carl Crawford, but the amount of money it would take would out weigh what else you could do. Werth is a cheaper option and a more realistic option. Martinez adds a big bat, and someone who can play first base if Miggy would find himself needing a day off. Lily is a left handed starter who would be the perfect spot for the fourth starter. Finally MG would be a great 7th inning guy, as Perry works his way into that set up role.
Imagine this opening day lineup.
1 - Austin Jackson - CF
2 - Carlos Guillen - 2B/DH/DL
3 - Victor Martinez - C/DH/1B
4 - Miguel Cabrera - 1B/DH
5 - Jayson Werth - RF
6 - Ryan Raburn - LF
7 - Jhonny Peralta - SS
8 - Brandon Inge - 3B
9 - Will Rhymes/Scott Sizemore/Brennan Boesch
2 - Carlos Guillen - 2B/DH/DL
3 - Victor Martinez - C/DH/1B
4 - Miguel Cabrera - 1B/DH
5 - Jayson Werth - RF
6 - Ryan Raburn - LF
7 - Jhonny Peralta - SS
8 - Brandon Inge - 3B
9 - Will Rhymes/Scott Sizemore/Brennan Boesch
Your pitchers would be Verlander, Max, Porcello, Lily, and Coke.
As long as Zoom Zoom could stay healthy, you’re looking like a team ready to compete.
You like chess Dave, well it’s your move.
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